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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Year in Review: Lifestyles

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January

Author Tim O’Brien delivered a reading and lecture from “The Things They Carried,” followed by a book signing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium.

WHQR 91.3 and University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Department of Film Studies copresented the 12th Annual DocuTime Film Festival, screening French, Rwandan and Swedish feature-length films, along with a series of shorts at King Hall Auditorium.

Lumina News file photo. Chef Antoine Murray embraces his children as his teammates Vernon Puglisi, far left, and Justin Mooney celebrate winning the 2014 Competition Dining NC Fire on the Dock series Feb. 17, 2014 at Bluewater Grill.

February

First grade teacher Meaghan Thomas was named Wrightsville Beach School Teacher of the Year.


Cape Fear Country Club Chef Antoine Murray won the first Competition Dining NC Fire on the Dock
at Bluewater Grill.

March

Families participated in the inaugural Beach Dash, a 1-mile run and obstacle course on the north end of Wrighstville Beach that served as the kickoff to the YMCA’s Coastal Carolina Run Series.

Independent filmmakers from across the United States flocked to the Port City for the 13th annual North Carolina Black Film Festival. The four-day juried event showcased features, shorts, animation and documentary films, and included workshops, a filmmaker brunch and a fashion show.

April

“Pardons of Innocence: The Wilmington Ten” premiered at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium. The documentary, written, produced and directed by Cash Michaels, explores racial tension in Wilmington that led to 10 false convictions in 1971.

May

During the 25th annual River to Sea Bike Ride more than 225 cyclists rode from downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach and back to celebrate bike month and spread community awareness of the route.

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church held its 22nd annual Greek Festival, featuring Mediterranean cuisine, traditional Greek dancing and music from Lazaros.

Lumina News file photo. Volunteer Don Hickey serves freshly steamed lobsters to Allie and Dave DiBlasi at the Harbor Island block party held in conjunction with the 30th annual Lobsterfest to benefit Church of the Servant June 14, 2014.
Lumina News file photo. Volunteer Don Hickey serves freshly steamed lobsters to Allie and Dave DiBlasi at the Harbor Island block party held in conjunction with the 30th annual Lobsterfest to benefit Church of the Servant June 14, 2014.

June

Church of the Servant Episcopal served fresh Atlantic lobster during its 30th annual Lobsterfest and donated 10 percent of the profits to its community partners: Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, the Good Shepherd Center and College Park Elementary School.

Performance Club Studio Theater for Young Actors performed its season finale, a rendition of the Broadway hit musical “Mamma Mia!”

The Cape Fear Rowing Club celebrated the 13th annual National Learn to Row day with an open house June 7.

The third annual Hippie Ball, a ‘60s-themed bash, benefited Kids Making It, raising more than $20,000 for the organization’s at-risk youth participants.

July

The Cape Fear Blues Society brought former War harmonica player Lee Oskar to the 19th Annual Cape Fear Blues Festival. Oskar led a harmonica workshop and headlined the festival with Randy McQuay and the RootSoul Project as backing band.

The team of lifeguards from Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue outscored every other beach during the United States Lifesaving Association South Atlantic Regional Championships, then advanced to nationals where they took third place in the small beach division and 10th overall.

August

A group of about 50 protestors marched hand in hand down Red Cross Street and gathered at the 1898 Monument Aug. 28, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, to bring awareness to victims of the perceived use of excessive force by police.

September

Kids Making It moved into a new, larger headquarters at the corner of Castle and Seventh streets.

A dozen noteworthy gardens were opened to the public during the 2014 Secret Garden Tour, organized by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, showcasing downtown and suburban neighborhood gardens.

Twelve families participated in the Indo Jax Wounded Warrior Surf Day in memory of Don Boyd. The sixth annual event was geared toward emotional healing for veterans returning from combat.

Members of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Wilmington gathered on a dock overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway Sept. 21 for the annual blessing of the waters service and cross dive.

October  

Feast Down East and the University of North Carolina Wilmington celebrated national Food Day 2014 with kale tastings, local chef battles, and information about sustainable agriculture and eating local.

Guests dined on creative dishes by 14 different local chefs during the third annual Taste of Wrightsville Beach food and beverage competition Oct. 11. Brent Poteat was awarded first-place People’s Choice and Judge’s awards.

November

Hundreds of brightly colored kites filled the Wrightsville Beach sky for the Cape Fear Kite Festival, including college-themed kites, Japanese Buka fighter kites, and 80-foot inflatable kites shaped like whales, dragons and more.

Visitors climbed aboard the 210-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutter Diligence VI for its 50th anniversary weekend Nov. 8-9.

Lumina News file photo. Martha De Laurentiis, Mark Fincannon and Chunky Huse talk about the legacy of Dino De Laurentiis after the screening of “Crimes of the Heart,” on the Thalian Hall main stage Nov. 15, 2014.
Lumina News file photo. Martha De Laurentiis, Mark Fincannon and Chunky Huse talk about the legacy of Dino De Laurentiis after the screening of “Crimes of the Heart,” on the Thalian Hall main stage Nov. 15, 2014.

The 20th Cucalorus Film Festival showcased more than 250 feature, short and documentary films from independent filmmakers across the globe, and celebrated the life and work of Dino De Laurentiis.

Area nonprofits were rewarded by the Landfall Foundation when 72 grants were made totaling $310,000. The Nov. 6 distribution was the largest since the foundation’s inception in 1995.

The 10th rendition of Enchanted Airlie began Nov. 28, featuring a Lego display, appearances by Santa Claus, Elsa and Anna and 750,000 multicolored bulbs to cast the gardens in light.

December

Two dozen Christmas trees and nine gingerbread houses went on display for the annual Cape Fear Festival of Trees. The festival’s first Art of Gingerbread competition challenged bakers of all ages and abilities to construct art exclusively from edible materials.

Mustaches for Kids held its 11th year of fundraising for children’s charities, raising $40,000  through pledge donations.

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