1 1 V^/H/OV I HO CI 1V1 THf BRUNSWICKftKACON
Hi Iv Krj Li lvj iS^j I| THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1994
B INSIDE THIS SECTION:
? Births , Page 3
? TV Listings , 6- 7
Making A Joyful Noise
Local Trio To Release Christmas Album Just
In Time For Holidays
BY LYNN C ARLSON
During several hot days this summer, three local
men were filled with the holiday spirit and mak
ing a joyful noise in a Tabor City music studio.
The result, due locally in early November, is "A
Brunswick County Christmas," an album of traditional
and original Christmas songs paying homage to the local
love of gospel music and the memory of a murdered
teenager.
By day they're a sales representative, a grocery work
er and a surveyor, but on their own time Jim Cox, Mark
Christy and Chris Stanley ? like hundreds of other tal
ented Brunswick Countians ? arc committed to a min
istry in music.
"It was a small idea," explains Cox, who ased to sing
in barrooms but now promotes Christian music. His
Brunswick Christian Publications was formed to protect
"the many talented writers and singers in this area from
rip-off song sharks who <*sk them to put up their own
money to publish their songs."
It was through an area talent show sponsored by his
company and a local radio station that Cox met Mark
Christy, a grocery worker and former Calabash
Volunteer l^nergency Medical Services chief.
"We were fifth and six in line and hadn't known each
other before," Cox said. I asked him if he'd be interest
ed in doing a Christmas album, and he was."
I^Scr, Cox learned that Chris Stan'-y. a fellow mem
ber of Shallottc First Baptist Church, was a singer, too
The album trio was born. "A Brunswick County Christ
mas." which will be released on cassette tape, ended up
as a collection of traditional Christmas songs and origi
nal songs by Cox and Christy
They decided to dedicate their effort to the memory of
Amy Fnnk. a Shallottc teenager who was murdered in
June and to whose family all three had tics The album
package includes a poem Christy penned about the still
unsolved murder
Though their release will be a joyful one ? with such
favorites as "O Holy Night." "Silent Night" and "Away
in a Manger" ? the work of all three has been tinged
PHOTO CON I Kl BUTE D
LOCAL MUSICIASS (from left ) Mark Christy, Chris Stanley and Jim Cox record "A Brunswick
County Christmas " at a Tabor City studio.
with other personal tragedy. Stanley saw Brunswick Like in Heaven?" was written after his mother's death
Countians rally around him several months ago during three years ago. Cox's "One Special Candle," co-written
his treatment for cancer Christy's "What's Christmas by Charlie Johnson of Holden Beach, was in memory of
Cox's brother, who died last month, and for Amy Frink,
whose loss rocked the entire community. All say their
lives and their music are in the hands of a higher power.
"It comes from the Lord," Cox said. "He just lets us
put it on paper."
Christy agrees. "The idea for 'What's Christmas Like
in Heaven?' came to me while I was putting up bread"
while working at the Seaside Food Lion. About the loss
of a loved one, he says, "You think you might know
what it would be like until it really hits you."
On the album, Stanley sings "O Holy Night;" Christy,
"Silent Night," "What Child is This?" and "What's
Christmas Like in Heaven?": and Cox, "Away in a
Manger," "One Special Candle" and his own "Salvation
Comes from Jesus, Not From Santa Claus." Together,
they performed "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem."
The tapes, with will carry a suggested retail price of
$7.99, will be available through churches, fire and res
cue squads and fundraisers, some of the proceeds con
tributed to their churches and charities.
"Half my royalties will go back to my church,
Bonaparte Baptist," Christy said. "I've done my beet
work in my church. It's a small group and they've kept
abreast of what's been going on and have helped me
along every step of the way."
Christy was organizer of a talent contest last year in
Calabash to raise funds for Brunswick County Sheriff's
Detective David Crocker, who at the time was undergo
ing treatment for a malignant abdominal tumor. "I was
overwhelmed by the love in this community and the tal
ent of those 19 contestants," he said.
The three plan community performances throughout
the holiday season to promote their album and spread
their spiritual messages.
Have An Idea?
Your suggestions for "under the sun" features are
welcome. Call Lynn Carlson, editor, at 754-6890 if
you have an idea.
?5
CLUB. CHURCH HELP WITH PROJECT
Garden Will Honor
Teen's Memory |
BY SUSAN USHER
After (he brutal June 24 Maying of
her daughter Amy. Shallottc resident
Birdie I'rink
asked (wo fellow
members of the
I jong Bay
Garden Club to
help her create a
garden honoring
Amy's memory
1 attic did she
know that thus
request mur
mured to friends AMY
would result in a club effort that will
be shared and enjoyed by others.
By spring at the latest, a back cor
ner of Camp United Methodist
Church's properly on Main Street,
Shallottc. will be transformed from a
clump of boxwoods and a utility
pole into a tranquil garden over I (Hik
ing the Shallottc River
"Anything our club can do to
make it easier for Birdie." said club
president Deloris Evans of Ocean
Isle Beach Mrs hrink is a long-time
member of the club, having served
two terms as its president, and is a
devoted member of Camp Church,
whose leadership readily agreed to
support the projcct
"She had always given, given and
given. She never said no," said
Evans "This is our opportunity to
say 'we care'."
The Amy Caroline Frink Mem
orial Garden will be placed in a spot
chosen by Mrs Frink. where Amy
once played as a child "She said she
could still sec Amy playing there,"
said Evans
Club plans are in keeping with
Mrs Frink 's desire for the garden to
be "simple and serene." Members
plan to hire a mason to install an
openwork brick retaining wall con
toured to the land Against that
backdrop will go a fountain with the
Figure of a young girl, blooming
shrubs and a small grassed lawn.
Beds of annuals that will change
with the seasons will accent the
fountain.
On Nov. 19, men from Camp
Church plan to underbrush the river
bauk down to the edge of the marsh,
improving the view of the river and
clearing the garden tract
"Until then we really don't know
how much space we have to work
with," said Evans. "We would like
to relocate the utility pole and to add
seating. That would be ideal."
"We want to get this completed as
soon as possible, by spring at the lat
est." she said. "You will see garden
club members hauling bricks and
dirt and doing whatever else needs
to be done."
The club also intends to create a
miniature version of the garden at
the home of Birdie and Barry Frink,
for their private use.
Amy Frink left home early June 23
on her way to CherTy Grove, S.C.,
but never arrived. Her body was
found June 24 in the Brooksville,
S.C., community just south of the
state line North Carolina and South
Carolina law enforcement agencies
arc involved in the continuing inves
tigation.
Anyone wishing to contribute to
the garden project can do so through
Camp United Methodist Church,
designating funds for the Amy Frink
Memorial Garden, P.O. Box 376,
Shallotte, N.C. 2K459.
Fly Away Home
A polyphemus moth, one of the family of giant silkworm moths, was sighted by a subscriber in front of
The Brunswick Beacon office at 106 Cheers St., Shallotte. Nature columnist Bill Faver identified the
creature as Antheraea polyphemus, which in addition to being large and yellowish-brown, has round
window-like snots near the center of each wing and a wingspan of about six inches. Faver said the
moth probably is male because of the plume-like antennae. His resource manual was "Peterson 's Field
Guide to Insects of America North of Mexico."
Pokeberries For The Birds
PHOTO BY WU FAVfB
| CLUSTERS of purple berries of the poke berry offer food for
many birds.
?
BY BILL FAVER
We may pay little attention to the small white and purplish flowers on
this common weed of roadside and abandoned fields and homesites.
Pokeberries, or "poke," or "pokeweed," or
"inkberry" are best known for the large purple
berries developing in hanging clusters in late
summer and early fall.
Close observation reveals racemes of
white flowers, green berries and mature, pur
ple berries on the same plant. Scientific name
of this large perennial plant, which can get as
tall as 10 feet, is Phytolacca Americana.
The pokeberry is a common plant in the
southeastern United states and has spread to
many adjacent areas as well. Many older peo
ple in rural areas tell of eating "poke salad"
made from the tender young leaves of the
plant in spring. We are cautioned by the ex
perts that the plant leaves, stem, and berries
are poisonous and should not be eaten. Tales
of young children dying from eating the color
ful berries is enough to alert most of us to the
dangers.
FAVER Berries are not poisonous to the many
bird species who relish the purple fruits in the
fall. Mockingbirds, catbirds, thrashers, towhees and many others make reg
ular trips for berries even after they have dried. Bird droppings help spread
the small seeds and new plants begin along fences, hedgerows and utility
lines.
In colonial times ink and dye were made from the purple berries of the
pokeberry. In more recent times, activities from summer campers have
sometimes included making ink for letter writing and block prints from the
berries. Many a T-shirt has been tie-dyed in the purple squeezings.
Whether or not we want to try "poke salad" or experiment with poke
berry dye, we have to admit this is a most interesting weed. It is an impor
tant food plant for birds and some animals and it gives us a colorful re
minder of the variety of life around us.
.. RRSTAl'RANT
& PIZZERIA
DNESDAY NIGHT SPECIALS
C3> Buy 1 pizza at regular price & get a 2nd
pizza of equal or lesser value for 1 12 price.
isy Two Lasagna Dinners
with Salads & Garlic Bread $10.95
THURSDAY NIGHT SPECIALS
All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti
?y Sauce & Garlic Bread $3.99
w Meatballs & Garlic Bread $4.99
FRIDAY NIGHT Homemade Italian Feast
(Salad & Garlic Bread Included)
w Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells $7.95
w Chicken with Pasta Alfredo $7.95
?? The Italian Combo Platter $8.95
SATURDAY NIGHT SPECL\LS
All-U-Can-Eat Baked Italian Chicken
with Pasta & Garlic Bread $5.99
NEW FALL HOURS
Ocean Isle Holden Beach
579-4999 842-4999
Open Wed.-Sat. 11:30-9 Open Wed -Fri. 4:30-9, Sat. 11:30-9