BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Over $8 million was awarded to over 600 fire departments across the state recently through the 2012 Volunteer Fire Department Fund.

The Fund was created in 1988 to provide dollar-for-dollar matching grants to assist volunteer fire departments, according to a news release from Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall Wayne Goodwin. A total of $8,717,495.18 was awarded to 644 departments and some of that money is going to Brunswick County. Here’s the list of local grants:

• N.W. Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department, Inc., $24,775.97
• Navassa Volunteer Fire Department, $30,000
• Shallotte Point Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., $11,810.75
• Sunset Harbor and Zion Hill Vol. Fire Department, Inc., $14,105
• Winnabow Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., $30,000
• Yaupon Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., $19,151.67

“I’m proud that so many fire departments are taking advantage of this important grant program. These grants help our volunteer fire departments stretch their budgets to better serve our communities,” stated Goodwin in a news release.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand re-opening of  the Oak Island Senior Center & Handcrafted Gift Shop, located at 5918 E. Oak Island Drive, recently.

Helen Cashwell, president of the Senior Center thanked those who assisted with the renovations and invited the general public to come browse the Handcrafted Gift Shop, purchase one of the unique handmade treasurers by local artisans, or to partake in one of the art or computer classes offered on a regular basis. 

Joining Cashwell in cutting the ribbon, were Oak Island Mayor Betty Wallace, Oak Island Senior Board member Peggy Jones, Oak Island Senior Handcrafted Gift Shop Manager Carol Jackson, Chamber Board member Jennifer Biggs, Oak Island Senior Center member Dot Moore, Oak Island Senior Board member Jack Moore,  Oak Island Senior Center Treasurer Nancy Burnett and members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.