By Tom Dareneau For many, the holiday season means full tables and familiar faces. For others, it can be the loneliest — and hungriest — time of year. Each winter, when the regular Meals on Wheels deliveries pause over the Christmas and New Year holidays, a community effort begins. For the eighth consecutive year, the Coastal Pender Rotary Club has partnered with the Topsail Senior Center and Share the Table to deliver holiday food baskets to local residents in need. This p

1. Tell us a little about yourself, including the position you are running for and what are your qualifications for the position you are seeking. I am Thomas Johnson, and I am running for United States Senate in North Carolina's 2026 Republican primary. My story is one of overcoming. I was born into foster care and adopted at age five, arriving in my new home with a stutter, undernourished, and filled with fear. Through my mother's prayers and my own determination, I rose

Pender County Cooperative Extension is urging residents to remain alert following reports that unsolicited seed packets are again being mailed to U.S. addresses. In 2020, mysterious packets of seeds originating from China were sent to households across the country. In early 2026, the Texas Department of Agriculture confirmed that similar shipments have resumed, with 16 known seed packets recently delivered to locations across Texas. At this time, no seed packets have been re

I only have one question coming into this new year - who exactly thought a McDonald's McRib was really made of ribs? Is a lawsuit necessary to bring to light that we live in a society that enjoys foods made by machines and shaped in a pleasant way? Nonsense. Do better people.  Were you one of the hundreds of people that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean for the Dolphin Dip or the Shrimp Dip on New Year’s Day? Bravo to you if you took the dip!   This year our area celebrated th

– Free interactive tool helps North Carolina residents assess current habits, build personalized plans to improve brain health — Visuals: Healthy habits stock photos courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter is encouraging all North Carolina residents to try its new Brain Health Habit Builder , a free web-based tool designed to empower individuals to assess their current habits and take proactive steps to improve t

On December 17th, the United States Senate passed Congressman Rouzer’s (R-NC-07) legislation, H.R. 474, the Lumbee Fairness Act .  This legislation grants full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, marking a historic milestone in the Tribe’s generations-long pursuit of recognition.  The Lumbee Fairness Act was included in S.1071, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and now heads to the President’s desk for signature. “Today is truly a great a

The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest following an extensive investigation into the death of a juvenile that occurred in December 2025.  Around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, deputies responded to a 911 call about a missing child at 236 Old Timber Road in Jacksonville.   Shortly after deputies arrived, they found a 16-month-old boy unconscious and submerged in water inside a container on the front porch of the home.   Deputies and Emergency Medic

By Joanna Cho I am writing to emphasize the value of sports and reading in our community. Both activities can greatly benefit children, teens, and even adults of our area. According to ISM Sports, “Sports encompass much more than mere recreational activities; they are an integral part of our lives, shaping individuals and communities. They provide a platform for individuals to showcase their skills, compete, and connect with others with similar interests. Moreover, sports c

By Chelsea Layton When I heard of the untimely death of the young actress Isabelle Tate at age 23 due to complications from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), my heart broke for her family. Though most people have never heard of CMT, I know this rare, degenerative neurological disorder all too well. I have CMT. Growing up, I always knew I was different from my peers, although I tried my best to mask my disease. As I entered into adulthood and my symptoms progressed, I was n

Hailing from Surf City, NC, Crooked Parker delivers a fresh surge of alternative rock infused with the emotional grit of Sheryl Crow, the raw honesty of Miley Cyrus, and the unapologetic edge of Alanis Morissette.  ‘Neworld.’ her debut full-length album, is an eleven-track sonic journey built on high energy and emotional intensity. From driving guitar riffs to expressive, powerhouse vocals, the album carries momentum through every verse and chorus—blending power with vulnera

Patty’s Place is held its grand opening on Monday, January 5,   2026 ,   at 106 West Courthouse Street in downtown Burgaw.   Owned and operated by Chef Khristen Hunter, Patty’s Place is the fourth restaurant project   from Richard Johnson ,   founder of Burgaw Now and the Own Your Own initiative. Chef   Khristen was a finalist in the Own Your Own Competition held in Burgaw, NC, in 2023. At   Patty’s Place, she will be serving up stacked omelets with pancakes, along with a fu

The Pender County Museum is housed in the first brick house ever built in Burgaw (circa 1917) known as the Burton-Noel. In 1979, the house was donated to the Pender County Historical Society in memory of Kate Buck Noel by her daughters. The Historical Society restored the house and dedicated the new museum in 1982. Step inside and step back into the past among numerous displays of artifacts associated with the town's history, located at 200 W Bridgers Street, Burgaw, NC

A Common Sense Approach I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to run for the North Carolina State House because it sounded like the next political step. I’m running because I care deeply about where we live, the direction we’re headed, and the kind of future we’re building for our kids and for the families who call Pender County and southern Onslow County home.  My wife and our children are at the center of that decision. Like so many families in District 16, we are raisi