Military Discount

To show appreciation for the sacrifice of our troops and their families, I offer a 10% Military Discount to those on active duty and their families. Just tell me when you call to book your reservation.

My son, Jack, is a member of the 101st Airborne, US Army, Ft Campbell, Kentucky. November, 2005 he deployed to Baghdad. I drove to Hopkinsville, Kentucky to be with him for Thanksgiving and to help him pack before he deployed. I checked into a nearby motel and shortly realized a typical hotel room with minimal furniture, a television and a cramped bathroom is not an ideal place to spend a week with someone being deployed. There wasn't any place to spread out any of the additional gear he was packing. The room seemed confined with only the bed comfortable for relaxing.

During the week, we shopped for items he didn’t think would be available in Iraq. He especially wanted a set of Egyptian cotton bed sheets. I wanted to wash the sheets to soften them but going to the local Laundromat wasn’t possible. I washed them later at home and sent them in the first box I mailed to Camp Falcon.

On Thanksgiving Day most restaurants were closed so we ate our holiday meal at a local pancake house. I longed to cook him his holiday meal with our traditional family favorites. Also an intimate conversation in a restaurant is awkward because of the noise and people being able to overhear. I don’t remember much about that meal, except that I longed for a homey place where we could spend those precious hours together.

Jack was anxious, as any one would be, because this was his first deployment. Despite his extensive training, he was still apprehensive about what he would experience on the streets of Baghdad. I was anxious too because I realized this wasn’t a training exercise, it was real combat. So every moment and every conversation was valuable. My mind rehearsed our chats so as not to forget a single thing.

When I returned to Stella, I knew what he needed most was a place that was as comfortable and familiar as home …a house where there wasn’t’ constant reminders of the military presence or the responsibility of the job he was trained and asked to do while in Iraq. So a goal for the John & Lucille Country Retreat was to provide a quiet, peaceful, and restful place for those being deployed and their families. A retreat to spend time together away from the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville, "A getaway for a few days..a special place like home."

The retreat is 2000 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths with an outside shower. Both master suites have full baths with a king size bed in the John & Lucille room and a queen size bed in the Carolina room. The Mami Young room is elegant with a full size bed and large closet. The William Kuhn Room has two full length twin beds. Each bedroom has a comfortable chair, Pima cotton sheets, Egyptian cotton towels, extra pillows and blankets. The large kitchen and dining area seats 12 people, perfect for family get-togethers. The kitchen is fully stocked with baking dishes, pots and pans, small appliances, china and dinnerware.

The retreat is about 25 minutes from Camp Lejeune. Visit http://www.stellacountryretreat.com/ for a full list of amenties. Questions and Reservations: Call 800-892-6775 or e-mail dee@stellacountryretreat.com
1st Lt. Jack B Irby, III will deploy again with the 101st Airborne in the spring 2008.

Two Golf Courses Near the Retreat!

The mild climate on the crystal coast makes it possible to play golf almost everyday of the year. The evergreen Pine trees line the fairways and make the courses picturesque even in Winter. Silver Creek and Star Hill Golf Clubs are less than 10 minutes from John & Lucille’s.

Since both courses are only 5 minutes a part you can play both courses while vacationing.

(Photo: Hole 6 Pines -Star Hill)

Star Hill Golf Club
Sands/Pines/Lakes 27-hole layout
Rated with 3-1/2 stars in Golf Digest's "Places to Play"

Opened in 1967
Semi-Private Course

Public Pool

Comments on Golf Digest says Star Hill is one of the “best in the area” and a good mix of challenging holes."

Fully stocked golf shop; Grill (Breakfast, lunch & dinner); and Champions Room lounge with all ABC permits. Lighted, public airstrip on site. Pool and bath complex open to the public.

Star Hill is located on NC 58, approximately 3 miles north of the intersection of NC 24 and NC 58 in Cape Carteret, NC.

Silver Creek Golf Club
Rated 3 stars by Golf Digest’s “Places to Play”
Opened in 1986
Public course with 18 holes
Comments listed with Golf Digest says that Silver Creek has "breathtaking views and golf at a bargain." Silver Creek is located off NC 58, on Pelletier Loop Road and near Star Hill Golf Club.

Visit http://www.golfdigest.com/ for information and ranking of golf courses

Dancing To Beach Music

"It's A Carolina Thing"

In the 1960’s the Pavilion and the Ember’s club in Atlantic Beach were known as “the” places to shag on the Crystal Coast. As a teenager I enjoyed many Friday and Saturday nights shagging to groups like the Tams, the Embers, Drifters, 4 Tops, Maurice Williams and the Zodiac and the Showman/General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board. John Hook, author of Shagging In The Carolinas, writes, “Shag is a dance of romance, seduction, collaboration and improvisation.”

Even though Myrtle Beach, SC claims the shag as originating there and in 1984 the South Carolina General Assembly declared the shag to be the Official state dance, it is popular all over the Southeast and especially Eastern North Carolina. In fact, we believe shagging is our official state dance too.

The “Shag” grew out of the “Jitterbug” and “Swing” dance era. As the jitterbug was fading out, the Swing was growing in popularity. Unique geographical styles, steps, and patterns began to emerge on the east and west coast. In the 1940’s, the teenagers in North Myrtle Beach developed the swing dance style that later became known as the shag. The shag is a slower, more graceful and less bouncy dance than the earlier Swing or jitterbug. People danced on or at clubs near the beach and so appropriately the music became known as “beach music”.

Popular song for shagging are tunes such as “Carolina Girls,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “I Love Beach Music,” However, most R&B and many Motown songs written in 4/4 time are suitable for shagging. Shaggers love to dance to the songs by Marvin Gaye.

Next Article: Shag Lessons and great dance clubs in the area.