Belville Farmers' Market, Ribbon Cutting and Llama Kissing

Have you ever been kissed by a llama? If not, you missed your chance this morning at the Belville Farmers' Market. SunMist Pastures had two very sweet llamas in attendance and if you were nice, and didn't do the dog thing and stick your hand out for them to smell (I forget why, exactly, but recall llamas don't like that), but instead speak softly and get close, they'll kiss you. At least it happened to me, and I saw a few other folks get bussed as well.

SundMist Pasture's llamas and llama wool products were just one of the features at the Belville Farmers' Market. Other booths had produce, flowers, meat, chocolate (!), hand made dog treats, herbs and seasonings, wooden porch swings, and all manner of great stuff.

The Belville Farmers' Market is one of many programs supported and promoted by the Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program (SENCFS). Check out their website at www.feastsoutheastnc.org. UNCW's Leslie Hossfeld is the Program Director and Jane Stiegerwald is the Assistant Program Director. Both were on hand for the ribbon-cutting this morning on the open field just to the south of the Olde Waterford Shops.

Joan Winkler and Jeff Chalfant's Choco Geo booth was a favorite. (Guess what they produce?)

Look at the size of these pumpkins by one of the booths.
Here's Tony Vlach checking out the dog treats for his beloved dog at My Porch Dawg.

Chef Skip Laskody, author of "Cape Fear Cookery" was in a tent with his "Gourmet spice blends for everyday cookery".


Jimmie Cooper's Paradise Swings are colorful and inviting.

It was early but we had music to dance by, or at least tap our feet.


The ribbon-cutting went without a hitch. From the left end of the ribbon to the right , below, are Linda Mehner, Todd Godbey, Belville Mayor Chuck Thurlow, Waterford developer Bert Exum, NBCC Executive Director Terry Grillo, NBCC President George Murray, Leslie Hossfeld, Jane Stiegerwalk, Franklin Rouse, Brenda Bozeman, Roy Lettieri, and Ken Schiess.

Mayor Thurlow is bullish on Belville.

Frank Williams, Todd Godbey, and Jeff Harvell.

Franklin Rouse and Frank Williams.

Gina and Ken Schiess.


Jane Stiegerwald, Terry Grillo, and WWAY TV3's Shontrelle Robinson.
There was one other booth with an interesting story. Ron Koster's Tarheel Beef Co. has prime locally raised angus beef. Unfortunately my photo didn't come out, but you can reach Ron at (910) 256-3234 or visit his store at 2107 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington.

So come out any Thursday morning to Belville's Farmers' Market. This is a great time of year to get out in the early morning and pick up some fresh produce and meet some great people. And, if you're good, you might just get kissed by a llama.

REALTOR event at The Tropics in Waterford of the Carolinas

This Wednesday Pointe South Realty and Waterford of the Carolinas hosted a REALTOR luncheon in the Tropics section of Waterford of the Carolinas to present some new floorplans.



The luncheon was held in The Banyan model in the Tropics section of the community.
One of several cool features of the The Banyan model home is this (optional) caged pool that overlooks one of Waterford's many canals. In the shot below on-site agent Jason James and famed Sea Coast agent Peter David discuss the community. It was a bright day and the camera auto-exposure favored the outside, (sorry for the silhouette effect of Jason and Peter).

The photo below, with Marketing Director Kace Koble at the far end of the pool, is much more pleasing.

Broker Relations Manager Angela Batchelor speaking about the new floorplans and a special event (and great deals) this weekend.



When you're looking for new homes in the Leland area, be sure to include Waterford of the Carolinas. And if you'd like, I'd be honored to show you around and represent you as a buyer at this or any of the other fine new home communities in North Brunswick County. Just call my cell anytime (910) 297-8753 or e-mail bruce@lelandnewhomes.com .

Dogs and Music at Paw Jam, Crafts and Business at Waterford May Day - A Leland Spring Saturday

Saturday May 2nd, 2009 was a typical busy day in the greater Leland area. Simultaneous events ran on the western bank of the Cape Fear River at USS North Carolina Battleship Park and at the Shoppes of Waterford in front of Waterford of the Carolinas. These events played against a backdrop of the 2009 Spring Parade of Homes thoughout our whole area.

As points of "technical fact" neither of the events, Paw Jam 2009 or May Day at Waterford actually took place in Leland, though most people would think so and say so. Battleship Park is on a small slice of land west of the Cape Fear River that's actually part of the City of Wilmington in New Hanover County and the Shoppes of Waterford are in an area that's actually a segment of incorporated Belville. Whatever, we'll assert that they were in the greater Leland area and move right along.

Paw Jam is an annual event, this was the 8th year, that combines lots of dog-related, dog-fun activities and booths. It's held in Battleship Park in the shade (almost) of the battleship USS North Carolina in a grassy park that's right on the river. It's a convenient, pretty site, with plenty of parking. The first 7 years Paw Jam was held in early June but the past 3 years it was so hot for dogs and people this year they decided to try early May. It was still warm, but not hot, though it was a bit windy at first and some very light rain fell late morning.

One of the first people Pepper and I saw when we entered Paw Jam (which benefits animal rescue centers throughout the area) was Anna Platz, a young old friend.

Here's the official poster for the event (I intentionally made this the second image in this blog post so Anna and Pepper's photo would show up in RSS feeds).


As you can see, there were plenty of booths, many under trees.


Looking the other way.

There was a large tent for shade in the middle of the park and plenty of water buckets. Here's Pepper doing her best to drain a large water container. Someone soon after said, "Ew, your dog slobbered on me." LOL, not exactly, but her beard does carry a bunch of water if not wiped.

Our buddies Mike and Meredith Moshofsky had a booth backing up to the river. Meredith sells Flint River Ranch human-grade dog and cat food. See those blue tubs in the background? Those were there for dog cooling - didn't need 'em as much this year as in recent years, but great that they were there.

When the band started playing Pepper paid attention.

Some more booths on the river, with the Riverside Hilton and PPD building in the background across the river.

We had a nice time at Paw Jam 2009 but also wanted to go to the May Day event at Waterford.

This was the first time the Waterford Shoppes had an event in the spring - last year's Fall Festival was the first and it was rockin'. This season's event was a bit more laid back - possibly because the wind was so heavy in the early AM some vendors decided not to set up.

The electric bikes and scooters were there in force, however.

As was the ices booth.

Some really nice crafts booths.

Artists, businesses, and restaurants.

An animal rescue group.

King Tiger Martial Arts school, with loads of demonstrations.


Our always buddies from NBM Magazine - including Ava Williams, who was on hand but is hard to see in the photo.

Artist Ronald Williams displayed orginal coastal and landscape art.

The electric scooter guy

The ever-ebulliant Bullards of Bugsy's Cigars!

And Diane and Jay Merritt of Victory Church - good friends involved with Manna Minstries.

Overall a fine day in Great Leland!