up front
Without Wilmington there would be no Wrightsville at all.
Those hardy and hale men who
sailed their boats to the beach
strand and established the
Carolina Yacht Club in 1853
were the town’s forefathers. We venture
from our sandy soil for a flavor of that
historic city to which we owe our history.
Behind the wrought iron fence, the brick
and mortar façade, the fence post and the
lamppost, you will find
people with passion.
This issue reveals the
life of a Wilmington
woman who fell head
over heels for our
southern climate and
Wilmington’s historic
district, the landmark
house she bought
and its interior rooms
eclectically redone as
A Study in White.
In Carolina Heights,
we discovered the
beautiful mind of a man
and his dogs and garden,
bursting with hand-me-down
heirloom flowering
Pat Bradford with Derick Allen at Early Bread August 2012.
plants and vines that he cultivated.
This month kicks off a series on
volunteers that I have waited for some time
now to bring to our readers. This series will
not profile the volunteers you often hear
about, or see being feted for their good
works. Rather, we will share the stories of
those who shrink back when accolades are
being sung, who tend to step back when a
camera is produced. These are the ones who
do what they do to hear a Higher Voice
say, well done. These individuals tend to be
challenging to interview, but with this issue
we share the story of a remarkable man,
who holds a special place in my heart.
I first met him when I showed up to
volunteer at 5 o’clock one winter morning
at a humble building in Sunset Park. There
to learn, as I cut watermelon, and put
cheese on bread for cheese toast, I knew
that I too had found what I wanted to do
for the rest of my life. And we share the
8
WBM october 2012
story of Derick Allen, my friend, with great
respect for his victory over what might have
turned out so differently, except for the love
of Jesus shown to him in a very practical
way by a complete stranger.
And, the fad that has everyone salivating
— food trucks, those mobile units that
provide food at festivals and street fairs
that have gone mainstream. Several are
plying the highways and byways serving
outstanding food day and night from
different locations around Wilmington.
Access to Facebook or Twitter is central
to knowing where the truck serving what
you are craving will be parked on any
given day, but these drive, walk or bike up
mobile restaurants are serving food that will
delight; from hickory wood cooked BBQ,
to burgers in squishy buns, to a comfort
food sandwich called “Too Big to Fail”
which propels the tired grilled cheese into
the new millennium.
You’ll also find our Nonprofit Social
Registry, great photographs and so much
more. Settle back and enjoy a great read.
ALLISON POTTER
Editor/Publisher