The Nine Irony By Tom Rieber

The Nine Irony, the latest in the Nick Thomas Mysteries series by Local Author Tom Rieber is now available online.

Nick Thomas is a little bit of all of us; believable, lovable, tough when need be and sensitive. He is a man who got a second chance at life after hitting bottom and turned his life around.

And life was good, that is until one fateful day the walls of his life came crashing down and he finds himself framed and wanted for the murder of his estranged ex-wife.

Nick has no choice but to go underground and try and find the real killer before the police find him.

Pick up your autographed copy and join Tom’s loyal fans. You won’t be disappointed!

Buy It Here! $14.95

Shipwrecked at Sunset

Want a great romance read for your days at the beach? Check out Shipwrecked at Sunset by renowned local Romance Novelist Jacqueline DeGroot

Shipwrecked is a story of love so strong it survives time and treachery. It is a story of forensic discovery rich with southern history.

A Confederate soldier’s body is discovered buried under the remains of a Civil War ship under the beach at Sunset Beach, NC. The wreck, uncovered in the aftermath of a hurricane on the North Carolina coast, holds secrets that will change lives.

A reluctant pathologist, Dr. Ben Kenyon, is sent to identify the body and tie up the loose ends for the state. One of those loose ends turns out to be Shelby Laine, an inspector for the Division of Coastal Area Management.

She is a willful woman, passionate in more ways than one in her dedication to preserving the history and coastal environment of the South. Ben and Shelby work together to unravel the poignant story of a plantation owner’s son and the slave woman he loved. They also find a deep attraction to each other. The history of a beautiful southern plantation is changed forever by their discovery of passion, desire, and love.

$14.95

Click here to buy Shipwrecked at Sunset at the Islands-Art.com website!

Islands Art features Giclée Prints by nationally renowned local nature photographer and artist, Ken Buckner, the books of Miller Pope, mystery novelist Tom Rieber and renowned local Romance Novelists Jacqueline DeGroot and Peggy Grich.

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Here’s an excerpt:

Her next stop was the pier at Sunset Beach where she was to meet with Mayor Cherri Cheek, Town Manager Linda Fluegel, and the pier’s owner, Marc Kaplan. The hurricane had effectively ruined the emergency ramp to the beach, torn out the decking around the gazebo and washed away yards of asphalt from the parking lot. In some places the parking lot had pot holes so deep and so wide that you could lose a car in them.

Cement structures beyond the dune lines were not necessarily a concern under C.A.M.A., the Coastal Area Management Act. In this case however, dunes had been compromised and it was necessary to bring in a backhoe to build them up again. This required permits, permits that were her job to recommend or deny. This one would be a no-brainer, but there were certain protocols that had to be followed and far be it from her to stand in the way of the red tape mongers. She would fill out forms, fax forms, and sign forms. She’d do her part to push everything forward from here. Still, it would probably be a few weeks before the damage could be reversed unless different channels, more direct channels, were utilized.

After seeing the breech and measuring the nearby swash, she phoned her boss and requested an immediate response. If the breech was not taken care of before the next storm surge, the town would have considerably more damage to contend with including unnecessary flooding, which in turn would cause unnecessary pollution. And since the local oyster and mussel beds hadn’t been free of runoff bacteria from the last hurricanes, more flooding certainly wouldn’t help things. At the rate the bacteria was building, without the added destruction caused by hurricanes, the local fishermen wouldn’t be able to harvest these beds for at least another decade.

Satisfied that she had done everything she could, she walked over to where a large group of people stood looking down into what appeared to be a huge pit. Linda, having finished some paperwork of her own, followed her. “That’s the Vesta. It was buried under the parking lot. In the sixties, it was visible at low tide through the slats at the end of the pier. That’s how built up our beach has become over the years, it’s way back here now, hundreds of feet from the existing pier.”

“What was it?”

“A blockade runner with an unusual history.”

A blockade runner, huh? Interesting, Shelby thought. That man at the museum said the gun I found was probably from a blockade runner. Although the gun she had found in the sand had been dug up three beaches north of Sunset Beach, it was still quite a coincidence to her way of thinking. “What’s going to happen to it?”

“It’ll be recovered when they dig all this up. The Senior Conservator has decided that they want it,” Linda said as she indicated the parking lot that reminded Shelby of craters on the moon. Where the asphalt wasn’t completely missing, it was cracked or layered on top of itself. It was as if underground volcanoes had erupted here and there but left no lava or steam.

“The force of mother nature is amazing! I sure have seen some unbelievable sights this week.” Shelby murmured.

“I’ll bet you have,” Linda commented. “We were lucky this time, this is all we lost. Thought for a while that the water tower might buy it. The guys in the fire station said it was groaning the whole night of the hurricane. Like to drove them crazy! But, the ‘amazing wonder’ made it through another one. Trees and flooding were our biggest problems this time. Water, water, everywhere. Miss Glynnis managed to hit just right on the lunar cycle, the surge was incredible. But we were still very lucky.”

“How’d the evacuating go?”

“Oh, once they announced a category four was on its way, we had no problem getting people off the island and off the mainland. Glynnis was all alone and in the dark when she arrived. Guess she didn’t appreciate the hospitality, so she left us with this big mess!”

“It’s not too bad. At least you’ll get to see the ship raised.”

“Get us those permits we need and I’ll save you a front row seat.”

“They’re in the works. I’ll bet they’ll be here before you can find yourself an idle backhoe.”

“You may be right about that. I guess I’d better go see if I can scare one up.”

“When should I come back to see the Vesta?”

“I’ll call you. Not inside of a week, I’m sure. Probably more likely two. These things generally take years to work out, but Cherri told the historians that if they wanted the ship, it was now or never. She told ‘em we weren’t waitin’ for ‘em. If they didn’t get it out of here by the end of the month, it was going to be buried real good this time.”

“She’s a tough one, that Cherri. By the way, good job on the bridge.”

Linda beamed back at her, “It’s the reason my hair is gray. But what a party we’re going to have when it’s completed!”

Two weeks later, Shelby stood beside Linda and Police Chief Kerr as the remains of the Vesta were carefully uncovered and lifted by crane onto the back of a huge government flatbed. The area had been siphoned out; but still, the muck the ship had been mired in for many years sucked against it and held it firmly in place for one last second before releasing it from its watery crypt. With one loud, sucking slurp, it was free. Up, up, and over it went as the tall crane lifted and deposited its dripping and oozing carcass on the back of the super-sized truck. With loud, clanking and crashing sounds, it settled and tilted.

Men jumped from the cab of the truck and began securing it with heavy nautical chains. It was going to the navy shipyard in Wilmington where its fate would be determined. Everyone was hopeful that it would find its way to a museum or be set up as a memorial somewhere in the south.

Shelby watched, fascinated, as the men worked. There was hardly any wood left to speak of; but from the metal skeleton, you could tell that this had once been a very large ship. Her new friend at the Maritime Museum in Southport had provided her with a sketchy history of its past, but nothing had prepared her for the size of it.

Suddenly, a loud scream reverberated in the air behind her, and everybody turned to see what had happened. A woman holding a small boy by the hand was sucking in big breaths of air and letting them out as ear-piercing shrieks.

Chief Kerr and a few of his men, who had been watching the Vesta being loaded, ran over to where the woman and boy were. One officer, Lisa, a young mother herself, gently took her and the boy aside as the others looked into the hole the Vesta had just been taken from. The wide-eyed look of shock on their faces, along with their frantically pointing hands and their hastily-curtailed outbursts of obscenities brought everyone else to their side.

There, in the middle of the muck, flattened and colored with mud, shells and debris, was what appeared to be a man in uniform—no hat, no face, no flesh, but still identifiably a man. He wore a heavy jacket over massive shoulders, now threadbare in many places, a tattered shirt that once could possibly have been white or cream-colored, long trousers with stripes on the sides, and heavy boots where the thick-corded trousers ended. Everything was orangish-red from the clay in the mud except where it was gray from the sand. His light-colored hair was plastered to his scalp and tiny crabs were picking their way through it. His hands, clenched by his side, were missing fingers.

Shelby’s hand went to her throat as she gasped. Fascinated, she could not take her eyes from the sight. All around her, women were sobbing and men were cursing but she didn’t pay them any attention. As gruesome as the scene before her was, she was morbidly drawn to it. Who was he? And how did he get there under the ship?

Great Golf! The Pearl!

The Pearl’s fast rolling greens and finely manicured fairways are cut through the southern North Carolina forest and border the coastal marshland and Calabash River.

This dramatic property has been enhanced with an array of gardens and water features that add to the difficulty and splendor of each hole.

In addition to the magnificent landscaping, The Pearl is home to a variety of wildlife. You’ll share the course with herons, egrets, eagles, deer, and our resident gators. The Pearl is as challenging as it is beautiful.

In 1988, one year after it opened, The Pearl was nominated “Best New Public Course” by Golf Digest. Both Courses have also been ranked among the top courses in the Carolinas.

The Pearl East is a traditional course and The Pearl West is a links style course. Select East or West below for more in depth description of each course and hole by hole tips.

888-947-3275 – 910-579-8131 Click Here to download our scorecards

2012 Free Summer Golf!

The best golf value at the coast is at The Winds Resort Beach Club!

With rates that include a full hot Southern Breakfast Buffet each day there is no better golf value around!

2012 FREE SUMMER GOLF – 6/01/2012 to 8/31/2012:

We’re talking free green fees for all Winds’ guests on a selection of top area courses FREE. All you pay in, addition to your regular lodging rates, is carts and tax.

2011 courses included: Azalea Sands, Brierwood, Carolina Shores, Valley at Eastport, Sea Trail Byrd, Sea Trail Maples, Farmstead and Meadowlands.

After 12:00: Rivers Edge

Sign up on our Home Page to receive all the latest golf news and specials updates!

To book this golf package please call the The Winds Resort Beach Club Toll Free: 800-334-3581 or Email:reservations@thewinds.com

“Its All About Golf At The Winds!”

The Winds Resort Beach Club offers golfers a choice of oceanfront suites overlooking palm trees, subtropical gardens and our breathtaking powder-sand island beach or, for groups, our spacious 4, 5 and 6 bedroom Resort Cottages.

All packages include a Hot Southern Breakfast Buffet and use of all of The Winds Amenities: Three Pools (one indoor), Garden Bar Restaurant and poolside oceanfront Tiki-Bar.

The Winds’ deserves its reputation for being “a golfer’s paradise”, boasting nearly 20 of the “Grand Strand’s” best courses within 8 miles, and close to 100 courses within 30 minutes drive. Golfers love our FREE Summer Golf Program!

Free Summer Golf!

The best golf value at the coast is at The Winds Resort Beach Club!

With rates that include a full hot Southern Breakfast Buffet each day there is no better golf value around!

FREE SUMMER GOLF – 6/01/2011 to 8/31/2011:

We’re talking free green fees for all Winds’ guests on a selection of top area courses FREE. All you pay in, addition to your regular lodging rates, is carts and tax.

2011 courses included: Azalea Sands, Brierwood, Carolina Shores, Valley at Eastport, Sea Trail Byrd, Sea Trail Maples, Farmstead and Meadowlands.

After 12:00: Rivers Edge

Sign up on our Home Page to receive all the latest golf news and specials updates!

To book this golf package please call the The Winds Resort Beach Club Toll Free: 800-334-3581 or Email:reservations@thewinds.com

“Its All About Golf At The Winds!”

The Winds Resort Beach Club offers golfers a choice of oceanfront suites overlooking palm trees, subtropical gardens and our breathtaking powder-sand island beach or, for groups, our spacious 4, 5 and 6 bedroom Resort Cottages.

All packages include a Hot Southern Breakfast Buffet and use of all of The Winds Amenities: Three Pools (one indoor), Garden Bar Restaurant and poolside oceanfront Tiki-Bar.

The Winds’ deserves its reputation for being “a golfer’s paradise”, boasting nearly 20 of the “Grand Strand’s” best courses within 8 miles, and close to 100 courses within 30 minutes drive. Golfers love our FREE Summer Golf Program!

The Winds Resort Beach Club

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BeachRentalsDirect.com

Beachrentalsdirect.com enables owners to rent their house or condo themselves. Renters come out ahead by not having to pay reservation fees and other add ons.

Beach homes and condos as well as golf course condos in the Calabash, NC area!

Some owners rent their property completely themselves while others are using it as a supplemental advertising vehicle to get more renters and then direct them to their rental management company.

When you find the property that you’d like to rent simply email (or call) the owner to make the arrangements!

There are other “for rent by owner sites” but BeachRentalsDirect.com is the only site focused on rentals along the Carolina Coast. http://BeachRentalsDirect.com

Islands-Art.com

Islands-Art.com is a new e-commerce website featuring books, photography and other works by artists and writers of the islands of Coastal Carolina.

The coastal islands of the area have long been a magnet to artists and writers who discover the beauty and romance of the area and decide to put down roots.

Islands Art features Giclée Prints by nationally renowned local nature photographer and artist, Ken Buckner, the books of Miller Pope (founder of The Winds Resort and Sea Trail Golf Resort), mystery novelist Tom Rieber and renowned local Romance Novelists Jacqueline DeGroot and Peggy Grich.

Also The History of Ocean Isle Beach book and Audio Driving Tour 2 CD Set by local authors Fred R David and Vern J. Bender

Visitors to the site can learn about these artists and writers and purchase their works along with T-shirts and other apparel featuring their works of art.

The site has just been launched and offers dozens of books and prints. New works will be added going forward as the site expands!

Click here to take a look: http://www.islands-art.com

Calabash Park Coming Soon!

The Calabash long-range planning committee has been working on a basic layout for the town’s future community park. The park is planned to be located next to the Calabash town hall at the corner of Persimmon Road and Traders Lane. Town officials hope to have the site at least partially accessible by this coming summer.

That town has been seeking contractors to bid on costs for a building and various types of playground equipment. The plans call for a pavilion with a stage and a picnic area with grills and picnic tables, lawn sports, restrooms, parking and a walking trail.

In Spring 2010, the town was awarded a $56,700 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grant to build its first park.
The committee has been looking at different styles of buildings.

Town commissioners Forrest King and Mary Knight, who serve on the long-range committee, have been attempting to fast-track the future Calabash Community Park on the vacant, one-acre town-owned site at the corner of Persimmon Road and Traders Lane.

A few trees have been flagged on the park site where a building is going to go and a ground breaking ceremony was held on March 4th.
Calabash town clerk and interim administrator Kelley Southward said at a Jan. 20 committee meeting she would be attempting to find a contractor who is willing to volunteer his services or to loan the town equipment to remove stumps.

After the trees and stumps are removed and the grading is finished, a parking lot can then be installed.

Local developer Scott Stewart continues to serve as a consultant drawing on his landscaping expertise. He also is helping with future sidewalks.

The committee is researching grant money sources and where such money could be used. Heritage bricks are still being sold as a fundraiser for the future park.

Photos are representative only as park has not yet been built!

The Ingram Planetarium

The stars shine brighter at Ingram Planetarium (5 minutes from Calabash, NC) with the recent installation of the world’s third SciDome HD Digital projection system.

Relax in the Sky Theater’s seats as you zoom through space to Jupiter and look back toward Earth.

After the Planetarium staff point out the constellations and planets on the Sky Theater dome, locate them on your evening beachwalk. Ingram Planetarium has great star shows, laser music shows, and programs about astronomy, science, and space exploration.

Programs and schedules change seasonally. The SciDome HD Digital Sky Theater simulates a perfectly dark, starry night and it is unsafe to move around during the shows. Late arrivals are not admitted to the theater. Groups should call for reservations and instructions.

During the busy summer season The Planetarium offers fun family activities on various topics.

What visitors have enjoyed in the past included:
Assembling space shuttle replicas
Building & launching rockets
Lessons on Solar Energy
Putting together a Rainbow Maker
Making a real Comet
Lesson with Solar Furnace
Using our Solar Telescope
Shadow Drawings

In the Paul Dennis Science Hall they offer projects to challenge children of all ages as well:

Building solar cars was a favorite last summer

Located at:
The Village at Sunset Beach
7625 High Market Street
Sunset Beach, NC 28468

http://www.ingramplanetarium.org

Vereen Memorial Park & Gardens!

Located in Little River, SC, and only minutes away from Calabash, NC!

One of the best kept secrets in the area, this park features pathways and wooden boardwalks that extend across several beautiful salt marshes and small islands, with a nice gazebo that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the distant waterfront of Little River.

With convenient access directly off Rt. 17 and Rt. 179, you can park and take a 5 minute stroll out across some incredibly scenic pathways to find yourself at a wide observation deck extending into the waterway.

The view is excellent, the cost is free, and the experience is unique!

A 114 acre tract of woodlands and salt marsh one mile south of the South Carolina State line from Calabash, North Carolina, the beautiful Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens extends more than 1,000 feet in width, from U.S. 17 to the Little River and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

The Vereen Gardens is a small portion of a 400 acre plantation that has been in the Vereen family since colonial days. The land donor was Jackson Hiram “Jack” Vereen of Madarin, Florida, who was born in Little River in 1882, the son of Hartford Jennings Vereen and the former Florence C. Frink of Brunswick County, N.C.

In 1972, Jack Vereen deeded the property to the Horry County Historical Commission. The Gardens include the historic Vereen Family Cemetery, which features Revolutionary war graves. The Vereens were instrumental in having the old family cemetery restored in the late 1950′s.

The Vereen Gardens also includes the Kings Highway which was a part of the Atlantic Coastal Transportation system, in place, at least from the time of the earliest white settlement in the American colonies. It is said to have been traveled by Lafayette in 1777 and Washing in 1791. It is one of the few stretches of the Kings Highway to retain its unpaved original appearance.

Vereen Memorial Gardens – On Jan. 1, 1797, this land was a portion of 400 acres that was conveyed to Jeremiah Vereen, Jr. Vereen was of French Huguenot descent. The French spelling of the family name was “Varin”. The Vereens came to this continent in 1680 and were in the Winyah area by 1736. This land was part of Big Landing Plantation. In April, 1972 115 acres was deeded to the Horry County Historical Commission by Jackson Hiram Vereen to be used as a botanical garden and nature trail.

The Tract contains the Vereen Family Cemetery

Distance: 3.00 mi
Type: Road/Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 2 / 10
Altitude: 25 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 20 ft / 20 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Yes
Filed Under: Hiking, Running

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