The Smokehouse Gobbler

From an ancient bald cypress in an old growth hardwood forest, a big tom turkey sailed down from his roost to a high ridge. The ridge gradually led down to a coffee-colored creek that meandered through a deep hollow a mile below. He shook his giant coat, stretched his long, regal neck, and with a…

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A Different Breed of Veterinarians

One Saturday afternoon, Ethan Williamson got a call from his best friend’s granddad, a 70-year-old farmer, who wanted to discuss a problem. It was a big problem. A 120-lb. problem to be exact. Williamson, a 26-year-old associate veterinarian, treats small animals by day at a clinic in Myrtle Beach and farm animals across state and…

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Jurisdiction Over the Water

The governments of Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach have less jurisdiction over the waters surrounding their towns than they would like when it comes to removal of abandoned vessels. That jurisdiction and enforcement currently falls to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. However, New Hanover County is in the process of creating an ordinance that…

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Jewel of a Show

The 28th annual Orange Street ArtsFest begins on Saturday May 25 and runs through 5 p.m. on May 26. The arts and craft street fair is held in downtown Wilmington at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 S 2nd St., between Orange and Dock streets, in conjunction with the Thalian Association Community Theatre.…

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Colorful Kitchens

The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) annual trends report is in, and several themes have emerged for 2024. A connection to the outdoors is one of the hottest trends, with warm woods making a comeback and nature-inspired fabrics and wallpaper appearing in nooks and seating. Minimalism is doubling down with an even stronger emphasis…

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My Thoughts

This is our annual Kitchens That Cook issue. There is a great variety in the kitchens we have for you, but I have to say my favorite is probably the modest home on North 5th Avenue. I just love that remodel and what builders Marc and Christina Erichsen accomplished with the warm woods. It’s a…

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Blooming with Flavor

There is a sweet scent that blows in the wind as flowers start popping up from the earth at the start of spring. All around Wilmington the signs of warmer weather appear in colorful ways. Water lilies are opening on Greenfield Lake. Eastern bluestars lure bees, butterflies and hummingbirds that pollinate our parks and yards.…

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Dead-Stick Landing

Controlling an aircraft in flight is fascinating. It requires talent, skill, self-discipline, an insatiable desire to learn, some bravery, and quite a bit of faith — faith in one’s training, faith in one’s equipment, faith in oneself. When my airplane Ladybug and I had our engine out, I had reached barely 200 hours in an…

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Emotional Art

Emotion is all over the canvas when painting and viewing expressionistic works of art. Much of Bradley Carter’s art reflects movement, objects about to collide or drift apart. Sometimes the objects have human form, others are where land and water meet, or unknown particles are simply adrift. The interpretation is left to the viewer. More…

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Coastal Coaches

To anyone who’s watched TV or movie Westerns, the stagecoach is an enduring symbol of the Old West. Besides playing a top role in the history of the American West, the stagecoach also played a part in the history of Wilmington, Fayetteville, and indeed all of North Carolina. Stagecoaches first flourished in England in the…

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