All Things Leland

North Carolina is making a major shift in how taxpayer dollars are used for K-12 education. 📚 The Opportunity Scholarship program helps families pay for private school tuition and fees. Here's what to know: 💰 The cost: The state appropriated $625 million for 2025-26 and $675 million for 2026-27, more than three times the $191.54 million in 2024-25. Under state law, the program is set to cost...

I was pleased to have a conversation with Wilmington Council Member Salette Andrews on a wide range of issues. We talked about the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, tolls, preservation of the historic district, regional cooperation amongst local governments and a number of related issues. Please subscribe at https://www.allthingsleland.com/

Pleased to share my conversation with George Willoughby who is a reporter for the North Brunswick News. You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com. We spoke about a number of issues including:- Cape Fear Memorial Bridge - PFAS Settlement- Jackey’s Creek Elementary School Design- Interview with J.K. Somers - Candidate for District Attorney- Developm...

Brunswick County is the sixth fastest growing County in the United States. And, as our County grows, so do the number of children who are attending our public schools. A news article earlier this year in the Brunswick Beacon reported the number of students attending Brunswick County Schools (BCS) is expected to grow by 42% over the next decade - nearly 6,000 students. Pleased to share my conversat...

For many adults in Brunswick County a trip to the doctor isn’t just inconvenient — it’s often out of reach. Without insurance, without extra income, and sometimes without reliable transportation, basic medical, dental, and pharmacy care can feel impossible to access. That’s exactly the gap New Hope Clinic has spent years working to close. I am pleased to share my conversation with Sheila Roberts t...

We were pleased to welcome back Mr. Brayton Willis of Leland as our guest. Brayton brings a distinguished 40-plus year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the conversation. With public hearings on the Environmental Assessment for the bridge replacement set for next week (September 15 in Leland), I thought it would be helpful for folks to hear from an expert on the process regarding pro...

Homelessness is often talked about as a problem of housing. Eden Village of Wilmington starts from a different premise: that homelessness, especially the chronic kind, is really a problem of community — and that the solution is dignity, not just shelter. Eden Village of Wilmington is a 31-unit tiny home community built specifically for people experiencing chronic homelessness in New Hanover County...

Pleased to share my conversation with George Willoughby who is a reporter for the North Brunswick News . By clicking on the following link you can sign up for updates from North Brunswick News either by email or by text message . You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com. We spoke about a number of issues including. Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Repla...

Was pleased to speak with the President of the newly formed Leland Area Garden Club. More about the club can be found on our blog: https://www.allthingsleland.com/

Was pleased to re-connect with Mike Kozlosky the Executive Director of the Wilmington Urban Area Planning Organization to catch up on a number of subject matters. We spent a good deal of time talking about the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and the challenge of obtaining federal and state funding for transportation projects in the region.

It was my pleasure to reconnect with Deb Mansir, the President of the North Brunswick Newcomers Club, to talk about their plans for the Fall into the Spring months ahead. The Club takes off for the months of July and August. The Club’s first meeting of the new season will be held on Friday, September 4 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. The North Brunswick Newcomers Club (NBNC) is a social club f...

Many of us know Bill McHugh as a husband, dad, community advocate and former member of the Town Council, but we can now add author to his list of accomplishments. Bill has written an ABC book that introduces kids (and maybe a few adults!) to local government in a fun, approachable way. As of July 31, it is the #1 Best Selling Children’s Citizenship Book on Amazon! As a four-year member of the Lela...

Pleased to share my conversation with George Willoughby who is a reporter for the North Brunswick News. You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com. Was pleased to talk about a number of local items including:- Cape Fear Memorial Bridge- Opening of Founders Park- E-Bike Rules- Leland Annexation Authority- Ask North Brunswick News TopicsYou can subsc...

Pleased to share a conversation we had with Leland Council Member Veronica Carter and Brayton Willis (retired after 40+ years of service with the Army Corps of Engineers) regarding the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and the debate as to how to fund it. Council Member Carter serves as an Alternate Member on the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization and was the sponsor of the r...

Atrium Health has submitted a proposal to the State of North Carolina to construct 42 new acute care beds in New Hanover County to serve the region. I am pleased to share their press release on the proposal . We were pleased to interview Steve Smoot, EVP and president of the North Carolina and Georgia division at Advocate Health about the application. Advocate Health works in partnership with Atri...

Pleased to share our conversation with Laurie Whalin, President of Novant Health Coastal Region, regarding their application for 225-new hospital beds in New Hanover County to serve the region. You can read their press release on the application here: https://www.novanthealth.org/newsroom/releases-20260615 The public comment period for this and other applications to bring more hospital beds and se...

As someone who has had family members successfully participate in future teacher programs in another locality, I was pleased to have a conversation with Ms. Jennie Bryan who leads the Brunswick County Schools’ Teacher Scholar Academy to increase the number of homegrown teachers. The four High Schools in the County send students to the Academy. In addition to the Academy, there is a locally funded...

The mission of the Brunswick County Literacy Council is to advance social and economic opportunities for underserved adults 16 and older by identifying, developing, promoting, and delivering literacy and other academic programming. A study released in 2020 by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and Gallup examined the impact of adult literacy on the U.S. economy, finding that the natio...

It's been a long time since I delivered the Long Island Press as a kid, and the delivery of news has changed dramatically since then—24-hour news cycles, social media, the decline of long-standing newspaper outlets, and the rise of digital media. I am pleased to be able to have a conversation with George Willoughby a reporter for the North Brunswick News. North Brunswick News is a local report...

UNC Health announced plans to build a new community hospital on a 62-acre proposed site in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals. This proposed hospital will strengthen UNC Health’s statewide reach – connecting North Carolina communities from the mountains to the coast. Planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard, the site was selected for its accessibil...

Established in 1983 as a modest Soup Kitchen, Good Shepherd has grown to become the largest provider of homeless services in the region. Current programs include the Soup Kitchen which serves over 89,000 meals a year; Second Helpings food salvage and distribution program; Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center providing transitional and permanent supportive housing for Veterans and men with disabilities; a Day...

Since 1982, the North Carolina Coastal Federation has been in the field restoring miles of coastline; training and educating students, adults, and communities to take actions that result in cleaner coastal waters and advocating for an accessible, healthy, productive coast. North Carolina has 3,375 miles of coastline which contributes billions in economic value to the state. Created to give a unite...

Novant Health has made a series of announcements detailing their investment in facilities and services for the residents of the region. Recently, the State approved Novant Health’s planned hospital in Leland (in the Terrapin community). The new facility will include 20 acute care beds and five procedure rooms. The facility will include a 24/7 emergency room, ten observation beds and imaging servic...

Brunswick Partnership for Housing, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization. They provide services for more than 500 unsheltered individuals and families annually and advocate for the development of permanent, safe and affordable housing in Brunswick County. Services include: Outreach and case management Information and referrals Emergency shelter through area motels Transitional housing for hom...

Brunswick County is the sixth fastest growing County in the United States. And, as our County grows, so do the number of children who are attending our public schools. A recent news article in the Brunswick Beacon reported that the number of students attending Brunswick County Schools (BCS) is expected to grow by 42% over the next decade - nearly 6,000 students. This November residents will have t...