Good morning, Leland.

Since 2023, American Legion Post 68 members have held nearly 500 Veterans Pinning Program ceremonies honoring veterans in hospice across Brunswick and New Hanover counties, presenting an enameled lapel pin, a signed flag and a framed certificate when families request them.

Leland in Lights will run nightly from Saturday, Nov.

21 through Jan. 3 at Founders Park with new light displays, two Leland Express trains, food vendors, a beer garden, and seasonal performances. The Grand Illumination will be Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. when Mayor Brenda Bozeman and Santa will officially turn on the lights (shuttle service begins at 5:30 p.m.).

Domestic Violence Shelter and Services will hold its 36th annual Take Back the Night on Oct.

29 at 6:30 p.m. at Plaza on Princess in downtown Wilmington.

First Fruit Ministries will host its annual Outreach Banquet on Saturday, Nov.

14 from 3 to 6 p.m. in its sanctuary, welcoming more than 100 unhoused neighbors for dinner, live entertainment by community members, and a special store offering gifts + essentials.

A memorial bench honoring three Marines who died at the Speedway (gas station) in 2023 was installed yesterday at the site to give family and neighbors a place to remember them.

A proposed expansion would add more than 6,500+ sqft to Leland’s only Harris Teeter after the town received a sketch plan, and officials will review the proposal before any construction can begin.

The Azalea Festival will host DJ Diesel, Shaquille O'Neal, on April 8, 2027, and the Avett Brothers on April 9, 2027, at Live Oak Bank Pavilion; tickets go on sale at noon on Nov.

9 with lawn + reserved seating and orchestra pit, front-row, and ADA options.

Cape Fear Community College is expanding its Hospitality Management program with four new certificates—Career Development in Hospitality, Contemporary Tavern Keeper, The Tourism Professional, Events Planning Essentials—and two new diplomas to train students for growing tourism and hospitality jobs in the region; courses lead toward an AAS degree.

Duke Energy will launch an updated interactive map on Monday, Nov.

2 so residents can enter addresses to see new emergency planning zone numbers and assigned relocation centers for properties inside the plant's 10-mile EPZ, which includes parts of Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Zone boundaries will change and the number of zones will increase (13 to 20), and Duke Energy will mail postcards in early November with details.

Wilmington Urban Area MPO won part of $801,000 in NCDOT Advanced Air Mobility planning funds to study using drones to deliver medical supplies when hurricanes cut off Cape Fear roads.

The grant will fund education + long-term planning, not aircraft or flights, as part of NCDOT’s eLIFT-NC program.