Hello Leland! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Free summer meal boxes, a Japanese star festival, and a silly goose celebration + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Summer meals reach more families: YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina expanded its free SUN Meals To-Go program, bringing weekly meal boxes for children 18 and under to Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow and Sampson -- learn how the program works.
New acts hit the stage: Wilson Center in Wilmington announced The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring tribute group Evil Woman with Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and comedian Jeff Arcuri. Tickets go on sale today, June 24 -- get all the details.
Community conversation continues: Leland will hold its second Let's Talk Leland forum July 29 at Fire Station 51, with a 6 to 6:30 p.m. social before a Q&A with town leaders -- see the town forum plans.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Bring-the-crew park time: Between two baseball fields with batting cages, a playground, three picnic shelters, and a paved walking path, Leland Community Park is the easy, close-to-home excuse to get outside. Pack a ball, let the kids roam, and call it a win for your sanity this week.
Rainy-day nostalgia fix: Retroscape - Gaming & Soda Lounge is your cozy-couch escape this week when the weather or the week needs a reset, with playable classics from Atari to Switch and handcrafted sodas to sip while you button-mash. Take a friend, claim a couch, pretend it's 1999.
Backyard herb upgrade: Shelton Herb Farm has hundreds of culinary and medicinal herbs, native pollinator plants, veggie starts, and even edible flowers, plus occasional workshops and tours. Swing by this week to restock the garden, then watch the basil explode while your dinners taste suspiciously restaurant-level.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧒 Cyanotype Workshop for Kids Age 6 – 12 @ Art in Bloom Gallery (Wilmington) | Wednesday (6/24) at 1:00 PM – Let the kids, ages 6 to 12, make sun-powered blue-and-white prints while you pretend this counts as science and art, and it actually does. Hands-on cyanotype with teaching artist Melissa Wilgis, all supplies included, max two kids per guardian. Screen-free, inky blue, surprisingly zen.
🧚 Mary’s Art Explorers @ Cameron Art Museum (Wilmington) | Thursday (6/25) at 10:00 AM – Give the kiddos a culture bump at CAM as Bright Star Touring Theatre spins Peter Pan into a playful show within a show, all fairy sass and pirate pratfalls. Perfect for infants, toddlers, and nostalgic chaperones, admission is $5, under 2 free.
🛵 Mr. Scooter @ UNCW Kenan Auditorium (Wilmington) | Thursday (6/25) at 10:30 AM – Round up the kids and your inner bookworm for Mr. Scooter, Wilmington’s storytelling rapper and children’s librarian who encourages noise in the library. Expect high-energy hip-hop, humor, and shenanigans from the creator of Book Wrangler, Rap Battle of the Books, and Melvil Dewey’s kid albums.
🌟 Japanese Star Festival - Tanabata (七夕) @ New Hanover County Arboretum (Wilmington) | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – Skip the small talk and meet Hikoboshi and Orihime, the original long-distance couple, at Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival. Hear the legend, scribble your wishes on bright paper, and hang them on bamboo, because hope, tradition, and better parking never hurt.
🍓 Berry Sweet Summer @ Leland Brewing Company | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Leland Brewing Company turns into the kind of summer market you linger at, with 100% women-owned makers and boutiques, live music, and food that pairs nicely with a pint. Family-friendly, unhurried, and easy on the senses, it feels like supporting the local economy, not shopping.
🪿 A Silly Goose Celebration @ Hollywood Feed (Wilmington) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Local celebrity and shop dog Goose turns three, and yes, she’s hosting her own party. Expect sociable pups, unimpressed cats, doggy cake, limited goodie bags, and a Wild Goose Chase scavenger hunt with actual prizes, not just bragging rights.
🚗 Pts Car Show @ Pt's Grille At Magnolia Greens | Saturday (6/27) at 5:00 PM – PTs is rolling out the second car show of the year, a mellow lineup of chrome, coffee, and neighborly side-eye at your parking job. Bring your best shine, your inside voice, and remember the lot is borrowed, not a drag strip.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Leland report Weather forecastToday — High: 88°F — Low: 70°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. East wind 1 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 91°F — Low: 73°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 1 to 6 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. This house is wildThe Cruz Bay Model by Kent Homes pairs polished coastal style with a private cul-de-sac homesite in The Bluffs on the Cape Fear. Highlights include a courtyard garage entry, executive kitchen with built-ins, screened loggia, raised patio with gas line, and a spa-like owner’s suite with freestanding tub, all beneath soaring 10-foot ceilings.
Take a peek inside → |
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