BeLocal North Brunswick County

09/23/2026

⚓ BEFORE THE FRYING PAN TOWER… THERE WAS A SHIP.

If you’ve lived around Brunswick County for a while, you’ve probably heard of Frying Pan Shoals and the Frying Pan Tower.

But you may not know what came before it.

Beginning in 1854, a lightship was stationed at Frying Pan Shoals, serving essentially as a floating lighthouse. Its job was to warn ships away from the shallow, dangerous shoals extending off Cape Fear.

For generations, these ships sat offshore through rough seas, storms and hurricanes, marking one of the most hazardous stretches of water along our coast.

The final Frying Pan Lightship had been on station since 1930.

Then, on November 27, 1964, an era came to an end.

The lightship sounded its whistle to its replacement, the newly constructed Frying Pan Light Tower, which would take over the job of warning vessels away from the shoals.

And the old ship didn't immediately disappear from local history.

After being retired, it was moored for a time near the Oak Island bridge and later moved to the foot of Howe Street in Southport, where there were plans to turn it into a nautical museum.

That plan never came to be, and the ship eventually left Southport.

Pretty wild to think that before the tower became the landmark so many people recognize today, a ship sat out there doing the job.

⚓ Just another piece of Brunswick County history hiding in plain sight.

📷 Photo courtesy of The State Port Pilot. Used with permission.

09/22/2026

📍 TUESDAY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT | SOUTHPORT

This week we’re staying right in Southport and highlighting two businesses that are practically neighbors!

And these are two businesses I’m genuinely happy to have as part of BeLocal North Brunswick County.

Eastern Sunrooms

Bill and the team at Eastern Sunrooms have been with BeLocal for a while now, and they’re just good people who do great work.

If you’ve spent any time around here, you know how much we love our porches and outdoor spaces. Eastern Sunrooms helps homeowners get even more enjoyment out of them, whether it’s adding a sunroom, enclosing an existing porch, installing WeatherMaster windows, or creating a comfortable space you can use more of the year.

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Bill, and I appreciate his continued support of BeLocal and the new residents we’re trying to help.

Chris Matthews Automotive

Then right down the road is Chris Matthews Automotive.

One of the biggest challenges when you move somewhere new is figuring out who you can trust. Who’s your mechanic? Who do you call when something goes wrong? Those relationships take time to build.

That’s one of the reasons I’m so glad to have Chris and his team in BeLocal.

They’re a locally owned Southport shop handling everything from everyday maintenance and inspections to brakes, diagnostics, tires, A/C work and more. But more importantly, they’re the kind of local business we want new residents to know about.

Two Southport businesses. Two great local teams. And both right there on the same road.

Bill and Chris, thank you for being part of BeLocal North Brunswick County and for helping us welcome new residents to the community. We’re lucky to have you both!

📸 Eastern Sunrooms | Chris Matthews Automotive

09/21/2026

Fall might be one of the best seasons to live in Brunswick County. 🍂🌊

The summer crowds start thinning out, but the weather usually sticks around long enough to enjoy plenty of warm days.

The beaches get quieter.
Restaurants get a little easier to get into.
Fishing picks up.
Festivals and local events keep rolling.
And there are still plenty of evenings that make you want to stay outside a little longer.

Hurricane season is still hanging around, of course, so we’re not completely in the clear yet.

But for a lot of people, September through November is hard to beat around here.

What’s your favorite thing about fall in Brunswick County?

Photo by Kate Magill Walters Photography

09/19/2026

🐊 BRUNSWICK COUNTY SURVIVAL GUIDE: YES, THESE GUYS REALLY DO LIVE HERE.

If you’re new to Brunswick County, here’s something that may not have been mentioned in the welcome packet…

We have alligators. And probably more of them than you think. 😳

Alligators are native to coastal North Carolina, and they can turn up in ponds, lakes, canals, creeks, marshes and other waterways throughout our area.

The good news? They generally want nothing to do with us. But living in Brunswick County means knowing a few simple rules:

🐊 Assume there could be one in the water.
Just because you don’t see an alligator doesn’t mean one isn’t there.

🐕 Keep pets away from the water’s edge.
Keep dogs leashed near ponds and waterways, and don’t let them swim or drink from water where alligators may be present.

🌅 Be especially aware around dusk and dawn.
Alligators tend to be more active during these times.

🎣 Don’t toss fish scraps into the water.
You don’t want an alligator learning to associate people with an easy meal.

🚫 NEVER feed an alligator.
Feeding them can cause them to lose their natural fear of humans, creating a dangerous situation for everyone.

📸 Want a picture? Give it plenty of room and use the zoom.
No Facebook photo is worth getting that close. 😂

And one thing that surprises a lot of newcomers: simply seeing an alligator in a neighborhood pond usually isn’t an emergency. They’re part of the wildlife we share this beautiful coastal area with.

Now we want to hear the stories…

👇 Where have YOU spotted an alligator in Brunswick County? And how big was it? 👀🐊

📸 Photo courtesy of Mickey Cockran

Brunswick County Survival Guide

Helping newcomers learn the things you don’t always find in the brochure.

09/18/2026

🎉 WEEKEND PLANS? HERE ARE 3 BIG ONES + A BONUS! | SEPT. 18–20

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, there’s a LOT happening around Brunswick County and just across the bridge in Wilmington. And if you love live music, this is an especially good weekend. 👇

🎸 WIDESPREAD PANIC | FRIDAY + SATURDAY

Widespread Panic is taking over Live Oak Bank Pavilion for two nights this weekend!

📅 Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Live Oak Bank Pavilion, Wilmington

Two nights. One of the biggest jam bands around. And judging by their shows, expect a pretty incredible atmosphere. 🎶

🎤 FOREIGNER: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS | SUNDAY

Now THIS one should bring back some memories.

Foreigner celebrates 50 years with a Sunday night show featuring a catalog packed with songs most of us know by heart: Cold as Ice, Hot Blooded, Urgent, Juke Box Hero, Waiting for a Girl Like You and I Want to Know What Love Is.

📅 Sunday, Sept. 20
⏰ 8:00 PM
📍 Live Oak Bank Pavilion, Wilmington

🏍️ OLD FOLKS ROCK POKER RUN | SATURDAY

Back here in Brunswick County, this one combines a fun day out with a really good cause.

The Old Folks Rock Poker Run travels to stops throughout Brunswick County before wrapping up at Shuckin’ Shack in Leland with live music, prizes, games and a 50/50 raffle.

Best part? Proceeds benefit Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc., supporting seniors right here in our community. ❤️

📅 Saturday, Sept. 19
📍 Stops throughout Brunswick County, ending at Shuckin’ Shack Leland

☕ BONUS: WILMINGTON COFFEE FEST | FRIDAY + SATURDAY

Coffee lovers, we didn’t forget about you.

Friday night kicks things off with a free Latte Art Throwdown, followed by Saturday’s Coffee Fest street fair in The Cargo District featuring coffee tastings, local roasters, bakeries, tea, artisans and more.

📅 Friday, Sept. 18 | Latte Art Throwdown, 6–8 PM
📅 Saturday, Sept. 19 | Coffee Fest, 9 AM–3 PM
📍 The Cargo District, Wilmington

☀️ Big concerts, a great local cause and plenty of coffee. Not a bad September weekend around here!

Which one would you pick? 👇

📸 Widespread Panic official press kit / Live Oak Bank Pavilion

BeLocal North Brunswick County | Helping you live like a local

09/17/2026

These guys are amazing!

Chris Matthews Automotive

Southport may be coastal, but the vehicles here range from Wranglers to luxury sedans. 🌴

Chris Matthews Automotive blends big-city experience with neighborly care so you never feel like just a number.

Stop in and see the difference. 🤝

09/17/2026

THURSDAY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Some businesses start with a business plan. Carlen started with “a mop & a dream.” And look what she built. 💙🪣

This week, we're shining the spotlight on Carlen and Beach Babes & Buckets, and this is one we're especially excited to share.

Carlen is an incredible local businesswoman who has grown Beach Babes & Buckets into an award-winning professional cleaning company serving Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.

And when we say award-winning, we mean it. 🏆

Beach Babes & Buckets has been recognized year after year, including Wilmington's Best, Neighborhood Favorite, Star News Best Home Cleaning, Wilmington Community Best, Best of Cape Fear Home Cleaning and NC CommunityVotes.

That's a pretty impressive run of recognition from 2020 through 2025.

But there's something even more important when you're choosing a company to come into your home:

🔐 TRUST.

The Beach Babes & Buckets team is professionally trained, background-checked, fully insured AND bonded. Those aren't little details when you're trusting someone with your home and everything inside it.

From recurring home cleaning and deep cleans to move-in/move-out cleaning and vacation rental turnovers, Carlen has built her company around professionalism, reliability and taking care of people.

And sometimes the best recognition isn't a trophy at all.

It's a customer leaving a handwritten “Thank you Beach Babes!” after a job well done. 💛

Carlen has built a great business, a great team and a reputation that speaks for itself.

👏 Carlen, this spotlight is yours.

We're proud to have Beach Babes & Buckets as part of the BeLocal North Brunswick County family and proud to introduce our new residents to another outstanding locally owned business.

📍 Serving Brunswick, New Hanover & Pender counties
🌐 beachbabesandbuckets.com

BeLocal North Brunswick County
Connecting new residents with the local businesses and people that make our community feel like home. ❤️

09/16/2026

Ever notice how “just down the road” in Brunswick County can turn into a 35-minute drive? 😂

One thing that surprises a lot of people here is just how spread out Brunswick County really is.

You can be in Leland, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte, Ocean Isle or Sunset Beach and still be in the same county, but getting from one side to another can feel like a mini road trip.

And it’s not just distance.

A few things make getting around here feel longer than people expect:

🚗 There aren’t always direct routes.
Waterways, bridges and marshes mean you often have to go around instead of straight across.

🌉 A bridge can completely change your drive.
If traffic backs up near one of the main crossings, a normally easy trip can get interesting pretty quickly.

🏖️ Beach traffic changes everything.
A drive that feels easy in January can be a very different animal in July.

🌲 There’s a lot of space between communities.
Brunswick County isn’t one big connected city. It’s a collection of towns, beach communities, neighborhoods and rural areas spread across a huge area.

🛒 Where you live can really change where you shop, eat and get services.
Someone in Leland may rarely head toward Shallotte, while someone near Ocean Isle may almost never have a reason to go to Leland.

It’s one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until you actually live here.

And maybe that’s part of what makes Brunswick County feel so different.

What’s one drive around here that always seems longer than it should? 👇

📸 Photo courtesy of Tommy Brown, Drone Pilot UAG 25 LLC

09/15/2026

🔥🥐 TUESDAY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

This week we’re shining the spotlight on two great BeLocal partners: Blossman Gas & Appliance and Burney’s Bakery of Southport!

🔥 BLOSSMAN GAS & APPLIANCE

We’d like to introduce Sonny, the new manager at Blossman Gas in Bolivia!

Blossman has been serving families for more than 70 years, and they offer a lot more than many people realize. From propane delivery and tank installation to fireplaces, gas appliances, grills, water heaters and whole-home generators, their local team can help keep your home comfortable and ready year-round.

Something else that really stood out to us is how seriously Blossman takes being invited into someone’s home. Safety is their #1 priority. Employees undergo background checks, they take steps to protect your home while working, and they make sure you’re comfortable using your new gas system or appliance before they leave.

For new residents trying to figure out who they can trust in their home, those details matter.

📍 3465 Southport-Supply Rd SE, Bolivia

Welcome to your new role, Sonny! We’re happy to have Blossman Gas & Appliance as part of the BeLocal family. 🔥

🥐 BURNEY’S BAKERY OF SOUTHPORT

Now let’s talk about something considerably sweeter...

Mitch & Sharon are the partners behind Burney's Bakery, and if you’ve never been, their famous glazed croissants are a pretty good reason to fix that.

Burney’s is known for their signature glazed croissants, including several filled varieties, but you’ll also find cakes, pies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies and plenty of other treats waiting behind the counter.

Whether you’re picking up breakfast, bringing dessert to a get-together or just treating yourself, Burney’s is one of those Southport stops worth knowing.

📍 808 N. Howe Street, Southport

We’re proud to have Mitch & Sharon and Burney’s Bakery of Southport as part of the BeLocal North Brunswick County family. ❤️

👇 Burney’s regulars: what’s the ONE thing a newcomer absolutely has to try?

09/14/2026

Okay Brunswick County, let’s hear it…

What do we have TOO MUCH of… and what do we still NOT have enough of?

TOO MUCH OF:
Storage units?
Car washes?
Apartments?
New development?

NOT ENOUGH OF:
Restaurants?
Medical care?
Entertainment?
Roads?
Parks?

Your turn: pick ONE from each category. 👇

📸 Photo courtesy of Tommy Brown / Drone Pilot UAG 25 LLC