Spotlight on Business - L.E. Long Consulting

Island resident Larry Long is the “L. E.” in L. E. Long Consulting. Larry is a CPA and a real estate broker with 26 years of experience in both fields.

Larry and his wife Pat have lived on Pleasure Island for 14 years and in the greater Wilmington area for over 30 years.

Formed in 2001, L.E. Long Consulting offers a variety of services for both businesses and individuals, including:

• Preparation of all individual and business tax returns, with free electronic filing;
• Assistance with unemployment insurance issues for businesses and individuals, drawing on Larry's years of experience with the Employment Security Commission;
• Consulting on payroll issues, ranging from helping a new business set up a payroll system to helping an existing business with a Quickbooks issue;
• Acting as buyer's agent for real estate purchases.

Larry emphasizes that he really enjoys helping his clients resolve any tax or business issues they may have in a relaxed but professional manner. You can phone him at 910.458.3796 or 910.228.8140, or e-mail him at larrylong-cpa@yahoo.com. There's no charge for your first consultation.

Spotlight on Business - The Beat Magazine

The Beat Magazine is a free monthly arts and entertainment magazine located in Wilmington, NC, and is owned by Jeff Reid. The Beat is 12,000 readers strong with over 50,000 web page hits per month and growing. The magazine is distributed to over eighty locations in Wilmington, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Many things have changed in the last five years since Jeff has owned the magazine. The Beat maintains a virtual magazine online for our readers, and as an added value for our advertisers. More recently, in September of this year, the magazine went to a four color glossy cover and added more content to include theater and visual artists. A business directory debuted as well, expressly for small business owners, to help them create awareness within their community. In the months ahead, look for Pleasure Island businesses taking advantage of these pages as well.

The Beat Magazine will continue as an upbeat, feel-good magazine with positive messages. As part of our expansion, we will be including more human interest stories about the people behind the talent. The Beat will continue to bring awareness to our readers about the many charitable organizations that help our local communities.

Please read about The Beat Magazine at www.readthebeatmagazine.com.

We would love to assist you and help your business grow. Please call Valerie Moore at (910) 620-9093, The Beat Magazine’s marketing director, with any
advertising questions you may have.

Carolina Beach Fire Department Annual Barbecue - Saturday, October 22 - 11-7

Trick or Treat Under The Sea at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will host its popular pre-Halloween "Trick-or-Treat Under the Sea" on two evenings again this year. The aquatically-themed festival will be held at the Aquarium from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 26, and Thurs., Oct. 27.

Now in its 10^th year, Trick-or-Treat Under the Sea offers fun for the whole family.  Dress up in costume (no masks for adults, please) and check out what all the other goblins are wearing. Scoop up candy and prizes, play Halloween-themed games, and treat yourself to face-painting and fortune-telling. Two magic shows are offered each night by No Sleeves Magic Camp. There will be spooky divers in the big tank again this year, and two sets of haunted gardens - one for the very brave, and another for the more cautious.

The Aquarium's classrooms will be rigged for games and prizes, with "scary" deep-sea creatures to hand out treats.

Local merchants, costumed for the event, will distribute prizes and coupons to trick-or-treaters. At the start of each evening, judges will award prizes to the merchant BOOth crews with the most imaginative costumes and eco-friendly booth décor. UNCW's Sammy the Seahawk, the Chic-Fil-A Cow and the Wilmington Sharks mascot will strut their stuff and greet the little ones.

The fun begins early for visitors on the plaza, with fencing demonstrations and live animal encounters around the Spadefish Fountain. The Shark Bites snack bar will be open on the outdoor deck both nights. And throughout the evening, two radio-controlled "Air Swimmers" - a shark and a clownfish - will cruise above visitors' heads.

Tickets are $6 each, and children 2 and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.ncaquariums.com or at the door the night of the event. Please note:  Umbrella strollers only. Children 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Be green and bring your own trick-or-treat bag.

FEMA TO GIVE AID TO NEW HANOVER COUNTY FOR HURRICANE IRENE DAMAGE

Individual assistance is available from FEMA for homeowners and renters including grants for temporary rental assistance, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. 


To apply for assistance, call FEMA's toll-free registration hotline @ 800-621-3362 or TTY @ 800-462-7585. 


The phone lines are open from 7:00am to 10:00pm, eastern time, seven days a week until further notice.

Spotlight on Business - Port City Executive

For over 10 years now, The Port City Executive has been providing businesses throughout the Wilmington area the opportunity to reach employees of companies in all areas of New Hanover County. The PCE is a valued advertising medium that after a decade of delivery, has grown to be expected and anticipated each quarter by business executives and employees throughout the area.

Imagine having information about your company and its‟ services be considered an Employee Benefit.
Imagine Human Resources of large local corporations considering your company's message important enough to be approved for all employees. That is exactly the unique advantage your company has as an advertiser in the Port City Executive!

15,000 copies of The PCE are delivered personally by a knowledgeable PCE employee (not a delivery
service) straight into the hands of area businesses, for direct distribution to their employees. This is greatly different from other advertising publications that are either bulk-mailed or mass-delivered to common areas in supermarkets, restaurants and waiting rooms. Think of it… PCE readers are educated, employed, have disposable incomes and could have a need for your business or services in both their professional life and at home!

Pleasure Island is Going to the Dogs!

Fall is a great time of year for our four legged friends - it's time for the Salty Paws Festival and they get to enjoy our beautiful nc beaches with us!

Starting October 1st in Kure Beach and November 1st in Carolina Beach dogs are permitted on the beach on leashes. Please remember to ALWAYS clean up after your dog. At the North End (Freeman Park), dogs are allowed to play off leash starting October 1st as long as they remain under voice command.

If your heart belongs to a dog, cat, or other animal, you won't want to miss the 3rd Annual Salty Paws Festival, held at the Carolina Beach Lake on Saturday, October 15th, from 11 - 5. There will be fun activities, contests, raffles, arts & crafts, food, and more. All proceeds benefit Animal Rescue. Learn more at www.SavingAnimalsDuringDisasters.org

Attention Foodies - Encore Restaurant Week Comes To Pleasure Island

Encore Restaurant Week takes place this year from October 19th - 26th, and is an opportunity to enjoy a fixed price meal at some of the area's finest restaurants. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner spots throughout the greater Wilmington area are participating, including several on Pleasure Island.

Deck House
205 Charlotte Ave, Carolina Beach

910-458-1026

Some of the entree options in the three course dinner for $20 per person include a fried seafood combination or a 16 oz hand cut ribeye steak. Click here for the full menu.

Havana's

1 North Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach

910-458-2822

For $19.99 choose from a Caesar or Cottage Salad to start, one of three mouthwatering entrees, and finish up with Hot Rum Banana Foster. Click here for the full menu.

Treehouse Bistro

308 S Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach

910-458-6033

Indulge in a three course tapas feast for $20 per person. Select from items such as Spanish meatballs, mini-crab cakes, or spicy mussels among others. Click here for the full menu.

Uncle Vinny's Pizzeria Ristorante

1012 S Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach

910-458-2028

You won't leave hungry when you enjoy the three course meal at Uncle Vinny's for $17.95 per person. Choose from Italian classics such as Cappase Mozzarella, Chicken Marsala, Penne Rustica, and Tiramisu. Click here for the full menu. 

VISIONS & VIEWS 2011 - A Political Forum

The Pleasure Island Chamber Of Commerce and the Pleasure Island Foundation for a Sustainable Community invites you to participate in a non-partisan political forum with the candidates for Municipal Office. What are the issues that are most important to you? Please submit your questions and concerns to the Pleasure Island Chamber at greg@pleasureislandnc.org. Please let us hear from you.

Si Cantwell of the Wilmington Star News has graciously agreed to be our Moderator for both Forums and we look forward to all of our candidates presenting their Visions and Views for their respective Island towns. The first half of the forum will feature questions for the candidates for Council followed by a brief break and then the Mayoral candidates will take the stage and share their thoughts with their constituents.

The Kure Beach Forum will be held at the Kure Beach Community Center on Wednesday, October 12th from 6:30-9:30 pm. The Carolina Beach Forum will be held at the Courtyard Marriott CB on Monday, October 17th from 6:30-9:30 pm.

Important Dates: Voter Registration ends Friday, October 14th

One-stop Voting begins on Thursday, October 20th and ends on Saturday, November 5th. 

The Election will follow on Tuesday, November 8th.   

Good Luck to all of the candidates.

Get involved and remember, Information is Power. 

And a good time was had by all...

Two days of gorgeous weather, legendary music, and mouth-watering seafood made for another fabulous Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Fest. Headliner Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-a-Whirl Band featuring Lou Ann Barton didn't disappoint, and kept the crowd going strong as the moon rose over Pleasure Island.

(Photos by Paul Boroznoff of Southern Digital Art.com - see many more on the Pleasure Island Facebook Page.)

Missed this great event, or already ready for more? Mark your 2012 calendar for the second weekend in October for the 19th Annual Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Fest!