WARM among 65 nonprofits awarded $1.4M in county and city ARP funds
NEW HANOVER COUNTY — It’s been a long road for area nonprofits to travel down throughout the course of the pandemic. Covid-19 shutdowns stunted normal opportunities for fundraisers and campaigns, inevitably impacting the bottom line. The North Carolina Secretary of State Charitable Solicitation Licensing (CSL) Division Annual Report showed a $10.8 million decline in licensed […]
Historic preservation commission OKs new design for downtown Wilmington’s Bailey Theater
WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) gave the green light Thursday to a transformation of the historic Bailey Theater property downtown. The plans retain the landmark, but will include painting its pink-and-blue façade gray. The HPC, which determines if projects are congruent with the special character of the historic district, unanimously approved a […]
In rare move, Pender County commissioners send developers back to drawing board
PENDER COUNTY — Prospects for Falls Mist Village, a proposed single-family neighborhood in Rocky Point, massive enough to double the population of the town, appeared grim at the board of commissioners meeting Monday. But in a shocking turn, a path toward compromise emerged that would potentially satisfy both the developers, who want county permission to […]
‘It’s time to ramp up pressure.’ Why the Proud Boys say they showed up to a New Hanover school board meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Donning their black and yellow uniforms, Proud Boys explained it was “time to ramp up pressure” at a New Hanover County school board meeting Tuesday evening. Seven members of the far-right extremist group lined the back wall of the board of education center throughout the public comment period, and ventured outside […]
‘Where the future of the festival lies’: Shorts blocks at Cucalorus provide a unique film-going experience
WILMINGTON — When Cucalorus Film Festival kicks off year 27 on Wednesday, it will present around 130 movies for festival-goers to screen through Sunday. Aside from funny features and moving documentaries, 11 shorts blocks will be presented starting Thursday. The shorts blocks are the crown jewel of Cucalorus in many ways, according to festival director Dan […]
Intricate dioramas detail Black history and community in ‘Pinkie’s Memories,’ new exhibit at CAM
WILMINGTON — “I’m at the apex of my career,” 70-year-old Pinkie Strother told a crowd of 30 at Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in October. She was leading an art talk about her dioramas, now on display through Jan. 22, 2022 at the museum. “Pinkie’s Memories” features eight dioramas and almost a dozen paintings and illustrations […]
‘This will be a gamechanger’: No movement on aggressive proposal for across-the-river development
NEW HANOVER COUNTY — In the historic courthouse Thursday night, on one of the first crisp evenings of the season, Frank Pasquale made his pitch for westward expansion along downtown’s riverfront. A retired developer who moved from New Jersey five years ago, Pasquale is now leading an attention-grabbing campaign to develop 8 acres of land […]
The city forced a bar owner to paint over a mural. Then he got a check for putting another up four blocks away
WILMINGTON — After a year-long dispute with the city that evolved into a legal battle over a mural, a downtown Wilmington business owner was given a check this month for another work of wall art four blocks away. Joe Apkarian previously took the City of Wilmington to court after he was informed the mural within […]
Half-millennium-old Airlie Oak gets TLC, makes babies
NEW HANOVER COUNTY –– After surviving dozens of hurricanes and somehow going unnoticed by lightning, this spring the Airlie Oak was examined by tree experts and given a handful of interventions. “The care of the oak has evolved,” said Janine Powell, Airlie Gardens’ director of donor relations. “Pretty much for the longest time she has […]
‘Come one, come some.’ Riverfront Park presented obstacles for people with disabilities in first concert season
WILMINGTON — Arriving at Live Oak Bank Pavilion this past summer, many concertgoers with back pain or canes and wheelchairs asked the red-shirt employees the same question: Where’s the handicapped parking? Most heard the same answer: There is none. Throughout its inaugural concert season, Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park’s handicapped parking policy was […]