November 2024

It began with the desire to help others. For many, the images of New York City firefighters rushing up flights of emergency stairwells in the burning World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001, are forever memories.  As a high schooler in Colorado Springs on that terrible day, Blake Reynolds’ 20-year trajectory would be set…

We have a collection of stories of valor to honor our military veterans on Veterans Day, November 11. The annual date marks the official end of World War I, known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. We take a look at mementos in museums and homes that help us remember World War II veterans. Robert…

On Oct. 9, 2024, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a $273 million Disaster Recovery Act to create funding for state agencies to assist in the recovery following Hurricane Helene as well as Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 (PTCS). HB 149 passed with 113 aye votes and no opposition. In addition to disaster recovery funds, it…

Every year the town of Wrightsville Beach outdoes itself with holiday decorations and a festive atmosphere as it hosts the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla. This year marks the 41st lighted boat parade and day in the park. The three-day event kicks off Friday Nov. 29, with a parade boat captains meeting at 6 p.m., followed…

Dana Brown is largely self-taught. She focused on watercolor as a young adult, submitting pieces to juried art museums and exhibitions.  Eventually she began to sell her work at juried art fairs.  For 10 years she traveled to Chicago, Denver, Miami, and all points between before making the decision to get off the road. For many…

Located Midtown on Mimosa Place is one of Wilmington’s loveliest historic neighborhoods. A plethora of movies have been shot on the street because of it. The neighborhood was developed as part of the Oleander suburb. Located on the trolley line between Market Street and Lumina Pavilion at Wrightsville Beach, the development dates to 1915 and…

Fewer than 120,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II will celebrate Veterans Day this year. The vast majority are now in their 90s, and when they die we will have only books, movies, documentaries, and taped interviews to tell their story. Words and images, however, can convey only so much.…

Homes are open to guests and family even more frequently during the holiday season. A welcome dish at any gathering is homemade hummus and fresh, warm bread. Homemade hummus is a delicious and simple combination of inexpensive ingredients, which create the most marvelous dip or spread that will soar above anything available commercially. The central…

Like checkers on a giant natural board, the coastal barrier islands constantly move played by the hands of storm, wind and tide. Created in ages past, the island chains have their own personalities and the water passages their nuances. Their contours shift at random. Shoals blossom overnight; oyster bars surface arbitrarily. A kicking onshore wind…

Each season is characterized by specific conditions: a recurrent period characterized by certain occurrences, occupations, festivities, or crops; a period of time; a period during which something particular takes place; a period of time that is considered proper, suitable, or natural for something; any definite or indefinite time; seasoned — to render competent through trial…