Good morning, Leland.

Pender County Emergency Services will celebrate its first fire recruit graduation and employee promotions at Hampstead Annex next month at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov.

6, to honor training completions among fire, EMS and Fire Marshal personnel; the event is open to the public.

The second annual Brunswick County Agricultural Fair and Expo runs Oct.

21-25 at 2030 Ash Little River Road NW in Ash, featuring fair favorites; a sensory-friendly day is on Oct. 23 (10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) for those needing extra help.

Keith White, who has crafted the Oyster Festival’s official art since 2009, will unveil his new commemorative print on stage Friday night and sell prints and t-shirts at his booth—continuing his tradition of personal touches at the festival.

Matchbox Twenty will perform as part of its 30th anniversary tour on July 2 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion in Wilmington with special guests The Wallflowers.

Tickets presale starts Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. while regular sales begin Oct. 23 at 10 a.m.

Tig Notaro will perform her new stand-up tour 'Out of Nowhere' at 7:30 p.m. Jan.

8 at the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington. Tickets for members go on sale online today at 10 a.m. (general sales start at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16).

An 8-foot alligator unexpectedly appeared on a woman's front porch on Spring Glen Court in Leland shortly after 1 a.m. today, prompting police and wildlife officials to relocate it to a nearby waterway — a reminder that wild animals sometimes share our neighborhoods.

North Carolina suspended its gas and diesel tax on Oct.

10 and will maintain it through Nov. 30; Attorney General Jeff Jackson ordered fuel retailers to pass on the savings, and drivers can report pricing issues online or by calling support* using N.C. Fuel Check.

Recently opened restaurants in Brunswick County's beach towns are drawing attention for new menus and vibrant decor — including Kalani in Sunset Harbor, Tuscan Sunset in Ocean Isle Beach, and Rustic Reel Bar and Grill in Sunset Beach — which offer diverse dishes from Jamaican wraps to Italian pastas.

High school fall sports playoffs began on Oct.

12 with girls tennis, and local brackets update teams’ progress. Volleyball brackets release tomorrow while flag football and boys soccer games follow later — check the brackets to track the road to state championships.