Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 19, 1991, edition 1 / Page 13
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\ "V THE BRUNSWKK'ftlEACON THURSDAY. DECEMBER 19, 1991 Dj New Ocean Isle Commissioner Stays Involved In Community I?Y DOR I COSGROVE GUKGANUS Wanct Sanders, a comparatively new resident ot I CXean Isle Beach, says she's excited about win ning one of the two available commissioner's seals on Nov. 5, garnering the second largest number of votes rcccivcd. "I'm very excited about tomorrow," she said the evening before her first town board meeting, admitting to being a little nervous about it. This lour-year term is her first time serving as a government official. She has worn many different hats in her roles as wife, mother, volunteer and airline employee, but what made her run for public office? "1 wanted to be involved in what was going on," she said, noting that "most everywhere I've lived I've been involved." Mrs. Sanders chosc to run, she said, because of her interest in Ocean Isle from the viewpoint of a resident. She and her husband, Adam, moved to Ocean Isle Beach around two and a half years ago from Lake Norman, where they had previously lived for five years. Before that they lived in Winston-Salem, where Mrs. Sanders has her roots. The two discovered the island in a manner slightly different than most other people. They were traveling in a sailboat down the North Carolina coast about three years ago on a month-long trip from Oriental to Charleston, S.C., and noticed the beauty of the Brunswick County islands. Ocean Isle Beach especially appealed to them as they sailed along the intracoastal waterway. They decided to find out more about the community. They finally relocated here in the fall of 1989 and had a house built on a canal near the east end. Adam is what he calls "semi-retired," and runs a charter fishing business. They have two children, but only one lives at home. Jennifer, 22, is a student at Brunswick Community College in Supply, and Adam Jr., 25, is a member of the police force in St. Simons Island, Ga. Mrs. Sanders said that many activities originated through her children and kept her involved in communi ty life. They include the PTA, the neighborhood recre ation association when her children were on the swim team, and the March of Dimes, an organization that funds research on birth defects. Back in Winston-Salem, she was on the board of di rectors of the March of Dimes and was a volunteer with the Mother's March. It was her duty to organize shifts for telethons and to make sure that everyone showed up to answer the phones while the cameras rolled. When a telethon goes into the early hours of the morning, Mrs. Sanders explained, tins isn't always easy. "Nobody wanted the 3 a.m. shift," she said, but final ly somebody would accept the time slot. Until the family relocated to Brunswick County, however, Mrs. Sanders was a reservation sales agent for 10 years at Piedmont Airlines, before US Air took over. She quit when she and her husband moved here, and said that not going to work every day took some getting used to. "I loved my job," she said. "It was a wonderful job, and it ux>k about a year to get over not going someplace every day." Luckily, through a neighbor, she heard about and vol unteered to work at the new Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle. The museum, which opened in May 1991, offered "We fee! it's very special here. Ocean Isle is a very special place . We re very lucky." -Janet Sanders Newly-elected commissioner /iw STA'f PHOTO BT OOKI C. GURC.ANUS "THIS IS WHAT I DO," says newly-elected Ocean Isle Beach Commissioner Janet Sanders of her passion for knitting. Above, she's surrounded by sweaters she's made, including one that won best of show honors in competiton. Mrs. Sanders a way U> meet people in the community. "At first, it started as something to do," she said of her volunteer lime at the museum. "But it became a chance to meet visitors, and to talk to people." And she must have talked to a lot of them, since she reports lhat 13,(XX) people came through the doors dur ing the museum's first season. Sometimes she guides school groups through the ex hibits, but mostly she takes admission lickcLs or riniis up purchases. "When you lirst move into an area, you have to find thing > to do," Mrs. Sanders said. She said she's glad she found the museum, and enjoys volunteering there dur ing its regular open season. In addition to the museum, she serves on the hoard of directors of the Ocean Isle Heach Property Owners Association. Being so visible in the community must have paid off, because she received enough votes in November to put her on the board of commissioners. "I enjoyed the campaign," she said The couple invit ed the entire community to a pig picking at their canal home on the island as a way to let the voters get to know her. "It was a good way to sec all the people," Mrs. Sanders said. She was sworn into office Dec. 9, and attended her lirst meeting as a commissioner the following morning. Nervous? "Yes, I'm nervous about my first meeting!" she said the evening before, but showed no signs ol it the next day. Mrs. Sanders said that she expccts to enjoy being on the town board, and that she plans to try her best to en sure that Occan Isle remains a peaceful, family commu nity. "We feel it's very special here. Ocean Isle is a very special place," she says of her husband's and her feel ings about the place. "We're very lucky." These days, there appears to be more than enough ac tivity to cat up any spare time Janet Sanders might have. She mentions enjoying taking her own 14-foot boat out in the canals to dig for clams and set crab traps. Family and friends come to visit often, she says, so she frequently takes guests out on the water. She won't admit to being a golfer, but instead says "I own a set of clubs, but I wouldn't say I actually play." Golf is more of a social pastime and sometimes she plays when her sisters, one of whom is her twin, come to visit. Under slight prodding, Mrs. Sanders admitted to an avocation, a hobby of choice. "Well, I knit," she said, indicating the sweater she was wearing at the moment. "1 always have a sweater on the needles." added. Mrs. Sanders knits for herself and her sisters. Her efforts are not always so private. One of works of art won "Best of Show" honors in the Southeastern Yamcrafters Association competition in 1 C>S7 at l.ake Norman. "Anybody can do it," she said humbly as she brought out examples of her work. But it was readily evident that Mrs. Sanders' efforts are the result of skills beyond those gained from just a few lessons or reading a book. Each sweater combines complex textures and styles, or shows elegant simplicity. She knits when she has free time ("It helps to have a lot of spare lime." she said), and the results have he come j wardrobe <*>f lovely sweaters and light jackets that she said she really enjoys creating. "You could say that this is what I do." ^he said of the hobby. Mrs. Sanders doesn't anticipate problems with over lapping activities, even with her newly acquired respon sibilities. "I do several things, but each one dix'sn't take that much time. I know I'll be able to do it," she said. "I just want to be involved in seeing that Ocean Isle is kept as a family place for people to live in and visit." A Joyous Holiday To All Thank you to all our valued friends and customers for their support during the past year. Coastal Drugs Main St., Shallottc, 754-6563 Season's Greetings We wish all our friends and customers health and happiness in the new year. It's been a pleasure to serve you! Atlantic Telephone Membership Corp. 754-4311 # Season's Greetings No heart is ever fur from home during ( lit- holidays. lit ?re's hoping Christinas finds you near to i,' , those you love. rMi* i v> SHALLOTTE r- ? INSURANCE y^JJUJIffil Shall?Ur*7i> 4-8 I f> I A ^?J' Holiday Thank You Especially during this holiday season, we thank all our friends for their support and encouragement. We're proud to be celebrating our sixth Christmas with you. Sincerely Jim & Mike TTi AUTO XU S ELECTRIC Royal Oak Rd & Hivy. 17 N., Shallot te Business 754-7656 ? Home 754-9963 Harrelson's Garden Centel ?Norfolk Pines 'Christmas Cactus *Bulbs 'Wild Bird Seed ?Poinsettias ?Christmas Trees ?Pansies -Rye Grass Beautiful tropical plants make super gifts that keep on giving. Hwy. 17 S. (Just off the bypass) Shattotte^ 754-6373 Tis the season to bejolly...and to say 'thank you' for your continuing confidence in us. ' Brunswick Islands Medical Associates Marcus R. Williams, MD ? Michael W. Wilkerson, MD Gary D. Ross, MD ? Samuel W. Kirtley, MD South Brunswick Islands Medical Park llwy. 17, 4 miles south of Shallotte ei?i the brunsw ? *
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 19, 1991, edition 1
13
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