6 minute read
WHAT’S HAPPENED
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FOCUS Broadband Awards Connect Grant to Town of Belville
FOCUS Broadband recently awarded the Town of Belville with a $25,000 Connect Grant to assist with enhanced WiFi and security at the Belville Riverwalk Park. These enhancements will have a tremendous impact for park visitors and will expand opportunities for education, commerce and community engagement efforts for the Town of Belville. In early 2018 FOCUS Broadband established Connect Grants to aid in costs associated with the delivery and utilization of FOCUS Broadband services used by local organizations that provide technology and economic initiatives that require connectivity. The grant program is a key element of FOCUS Broadband’s vision to improve internet access and increase the use of technology in areas served by the company. Representatives from the Town of Belville applied for the grant to extend WiFi throughout the Riverwalk Park and enhance security measures by adding park entrance/exit gates with phone line, radio and license plate recognition and as well as adding additional security cameras throughout the park.
Coastal Integrative Health Third Anniversary
Coastal Integrative Health of Leland celebrated its third birthday on July 19. They held an open house with free food and drinks, and much fun was had. Coastal Integrative Health is at 1175 Turlington Avenue, Suite 103, in Leland.
Brunswick County Real Estate Market June Report
June brought yet another increase in home prices to Brunswick County, with more than half of homes sold selling at or above list price. Total sales volume was down slightly due to tight inventory and fewer homes being sold. Brunswick County saw $248,140,000 in total sales volume in June 2022, a 3.8% decrease from last June’s $257,860,000. The average sales price increased 23.2%, from $387,170 to $477,185. New listings increased 3.4%, from 678 to 701. The number of units sold in June dropped 21.9% compared to last year, from 666 to 520, and homes spent an average of 27 days on the market. The absorption rate, which is the amount of time it would take to sell all available inventory, is 1.7 months. Of the 520 homes sold in June, 68% sold at or above list price. Brunswick County’s luxury market remained strong in June with 33 sales of $1 million or more, with the highest transaction under $4 million.
Year-to-date sales volume through June is $1,292,200,000, down 0.5% from $1,298,469,429 last year. Average sales prices for the year are 18.8% higher than 2021, increasing from $370,896 to $440,574. The number of units sold through June is down 18.2%, from 3,485 to 2,850, and the number of new listings is down 8.1%, from 3,772 to 3,468.
Unwined on the Square Ribbon Cutting
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce held a ribboncutting ceremony at Unwined on the Square on July 27. Located at 2163 Britton Road, Suite 120 in Leland, Unwined offers wine tastings and yoga classes.
Swell Home Grand Opening
Swell Home, a Hunter Douglas Gallery servicing residential and commercial clients, opened its showroom at 497 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 105, in Belville on August 5. Swell Home brings a fresh concept in window treatments and interior design to the coastal Carolinas.
Red Cross Blood Drive at WWAY
On September 9 the John E. Jacobs American Legion Post #68 Leland co-sponsored a Red Cross Blood Drive with WWAY. The event was held at the WWAY Leland facility. The Red Cross collected 51 successful donations. Commander John Hacker says, “We live in a great community. The people that work and live in the Leland area repeatedly step up when there is a need identified. Our American Legion Post #68 holds several events, like this blood drive, to provide assistance to the community and the area veterans. It is an honor to participate in these types of events.” Vice Commander Dan Fortini led this operation to its successful completion.
On July 23 Brunswick County Commissioner and NCACC President Frank Williams facilitated a session at the National Association of Counties annual conference in Aurora, Colorado, entitled "Proactive Leadership in Crisis: Supporting Your Community Through a Disaster" with former FEMA administrator and Catawba County resident Brock Long.
Brunswick County Master GardenersSM Hold Online Plant Sale Dates
After the drought in May/June and heavy rains in July, many plants in the local landscapes had a tough time. Just in time for fall planting, Brunswick County Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer Association offered an Online Plant Sale featuring resilient plants. These plants are drought-tolerant once established, can withstand some light flooding and can handle winds and storms. They featured six types of native ornamental grasses, eight moderately salttolerant shrubs, two perennials that are proven to withstand the worst of our summers and a hummingbird favorite vine.
Bellamy Place Ribbon Cutting
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce held a ribboncutting ceremony for Bellamy Place on August 17. The ribbon cutting was followed by lunch catered by Middle of the Island. A townhome community, Bellamy Place is located on 8407 Windmill Pond Court in Leland, across the street from the post office on Village Road.
FOCUS Broadband’s board of directors announced that the cooperative will issue $1.5 million in capital credit refunds to current and former cooperative members who had qualifying services in a select portion of 1999 and/or 2021. “Because of the continued success of our cooperative, we’re once again pleased to be able to give back to our membership through capital credit disbursements,” says Whitney King, FOCUS Broadband board president. He adds, “Whether through capital credit disbursements to members, or the millions of dollars in network enhancements we’ve recently made to improve services within our cooperative footprint, the patronage of our members makes it all possible.”
H2GO Employees Top 4,000 Days of Safety
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On July 24 H2GO employees celebrated 4,000 days without time loss due to injury on the job. With 53 employees in the last 4,000 days, each one of them have taken safety seriously, largely in part to our Safety Manager TJ West. The H2GO safety policy provides basic responsibilities and tasks for all levels of employees on ensuring a safe environment. H2GO honored their employees on July 27 with a team breakfast catered by the Piggly Wiggly in Leland. H2GO looks to continue their safe practices and stint with no work loss due to injury on the job.
Mallory Creek Drive Drainage Improvements
The Town of Leland has been awarded $20,000 from the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) to survey and design a grading plan to improve the frequent flooding of Mallory Creek Drive.
The Town began working with RCCP in March 2021, when it was selected to participate in Phase 1 and 2 of the program. During those phases, several projects were identified to increase Leland’s resiliency, including the Mallory Creek Drive Drainage Improvements Project. Phase 3 funding will provide a drainage plan for a portion of Mallory Creek Drive that frequently floods. The Town hopes to apply for RCCP Phase 4 funding for construction of the identified nature-based solution in spring 2023.
