currents

from October 2022 Leland Magazine

by Southport Magazine

art beat

Community Get To Know Leland

Connecting Residents With Their Town

STORY BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE

When I think back on where I grew up and where my husband and I raised our children, there wasn’t much that we didn’t know about the area. We were familiar with city politics, what city departments were responsible for various services, and even the direction of growth initiatives that would impact the city’s infrastructure and ultimately, the residents.

And then, several years ago, we moved to Leland. As I recall, Leland was small, quiet and seemingly far removed from the 2008 financial crisis and collapse of the housing industry. I didn’t know much about Leland then and I realized, I don’t know much about it now. But the Town Council and Leland’s Communications Manager, Jessica Jewell, are about to change that with the “Get To Know Your Government: Learning Leland,” program.

“It’s so important for people to be involved and engaged with their local government, as we are here to serve them,” Jewell said. “The more engaged residents are with the Town, the better service we can provide to them. This initiative is especially important since we have so many new residents who have moved from other cities or states where local government may work differently.”

Jewell also explained the purpose of the program. “The goal is as simple as it sounds — to help residents get to know their government.” Jewell said. “We want to make sure the community is familiar with the services we offer, the way certain processes work and how they can get involved. Ultimately, we’re hoping to engage more with our community and help bridge the gap with their local government. This is an educational initiative the Town is launching to help teach residents about the inner workings of their local government. The initiative will cover a wide range of topics, from the broader role of local government in North Carolina to the specifics of how certain processes are structured in the Town of Leland.”

The end result of the program will be shaped through resident feedback, which has been happening over the last several weeks. Learning what the people of Leland want to know about local government will become a guide to the topics featured in the “Get To Know Your Government: Learning Leland” series.

“We plan to use a variety of different strategies to cover topics of interest, including producing short videos that feature interviews with Town staff, creating infographics and developing other marketing materials that may be better suited for certain topics. The content will be shared on the Town’s social media platforms, website and monthly newsletter” Jewell said.

The growth rate of Leland is certainly something that exemplifies the importance of this initiative. According to the US Census from 2020, in 2010, Leland had 13,527 residents, of which 3,490 or 25.8 percent were 65 years of age or older. In 2020, that number increased to 25,947, with 7,065, or 27.2 percent, being 65 or older. In 2010, residents aged 18 and under were 19.8 percent of the population; that number increased to 22.1 percent in 2020. The population per square mile was 684 residents in 2010, and in 2020, that number rose to 1,149 residents.

“Leland’s continued growth is exciting and means we’re in a constant state of change — welcoming new residents, enhancing our services and providing new opportunities. Through it all, we’re able to build upon a sense of community that makes Leland a special place to live, work and play,”

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As more people move to Leland, it’s good that the Town Council is actively seeking ways to connect with the residents and community in general. “We want to make sure we’re communicating the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ behind things that are happening and the decisions that are being made,” Jewell said. “It’s so important for residents to know how to get information about what’s going on in their community. We regularly update our social media, website and newsletter. People can learn more about all of these communication strategies by going on the communications section of the Town of Leland website.”

Like many Northerners, I have come to call Leland my home. I love the small-town neighborly feel that it has with “big city” fun just 12 miles away in Wilmington. I love the people, the water and watching Hummingbirds in our backyard.

And something else to love is the fact that our town leaders care enough about the residents and how we feel that they are opening the doors of information on the inner workings of our local government to us.

As the Communications Manager for the Town of Leland, Jewell is responsible for all of the Town’s internal and external communication. Her team works to get the word out about town projects, initiatives, events and other happenings in Leland. She also works with staff across all departments to stay up-to-date on their work and make sure her team is getting information out to the public. So, watch for updates on this initiative on the Town of Leland’s website and make sure you “Get to Know Your Government.” They’re your neighbors too!

Jessica Jewell, Communications Manager

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(IntersecMon of Lanvale and Old FayeOeville Rds) Look for the American Flags

CURRENTS Port Brunswick Day

Brunswick Town By Day and Night

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

Often our look back into our history is focused in the big events — wars, social struggles, political events and the such, but just as important is an understanding of how the average person lived long ago. The 18th century residents of Brunswick Town were shopkeepers, merchants, famers, mothers, fathers and children. On Saturday, Oct. 22, Brunswick Town will come alive once again as re-enactors portray those everyday citizens at “Port Brunswick Day” beginning at 10 am, and continuing with “Port Brunswick… After Dark” from 6-8 pm at the State Historic Site off NC 133.

“Port Brunswick Day has its roots in our Colonial Heritage Days program, which is an event that Brunswick Town/ Fort Anderson State Historic Site has hosted for the Brunswick County Public School system since 1982,” said Shannon Walker, Assistant Site Manager/ Programs Coordinator. “This year, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID, Colonial Heritage Days is returning and was offered to both 4th and 5th grades. We are so excited to have them back onsite!”

Walker said the site staff thought the general public would also enjoy the look into the past that they had been offering school children. “In the late aughts, site staff decided to tack an extra day of Heritage Days onto the Saturday following the elementary school program, and the public seemed to thoroughly enjoy not only the journey to the 18th century, but the trip back to their childhood. We referred to this event as the “Public Day.” Circa 2016 we changed the name of the event to “Port Brunswick Day” to better reflect our maritime heritage as the colony of North Carolina’s premier port of entry in the 18th century,” she said.

“‘Port Brunswick Day’ goes far beyond what our school program can cover during the week,” Walker added. “We touch on many topics of life in an 18th century port. This year we hope to cover life of an 18th century sailor, rice cultivation, colonial militia, medicine - the list goes on! We will

also have hands on interactive activities such as the ever popular candle dipping.”

“Port Brunswick…After Dark” is a new addition this year. “The idea of ‘Port Brunswick...After Dark’ came to me after our ‘Light in the Darkest of Night’ Christmas event in 2020,” said Walker. “I was dressed in 18th century clothing, kneeling in the back corner of St. Philips stealthily trying to connect a Bluetooth speaker to my phone to provide a little ambiance. Once I finished, I stood up, turned around, and subsequently nearly gave a handful of women heart attacks as I emerged from the darkness.”

“The concept of ‘Port Brunswick... After Dark’ is that the people that you see are continuing to go about their day in the 18th century, as if you, the modern viewer, are not there. It’s up to you to question if we are ‘real’ modern people or if we are actually of the past,” Walker said. Though walking through Brunswick County’s own ghost town at night so close to Halloween is great, “Port Brunswick… After Dark” is not a haunted event. “This is not a scary program by any means whatsoever, and you are invited to ask a question of the participants if you would like,” Walker said. “This event is what you make of it. For your own safety, we ask that you bring flashlights to help you navigate the site, as we will be approaching a new moon at this year’s event.” Though the site will remain open between the two events, activities at “Port Brunswick” will shut down at 4 pm as preparations for “After Dark” begin. “This lull between events is actually a great time to head into town to grab dinner!” Walker said.

Enjoy Movies and Concerts On The Lawn

Outdoor fun returns this fall as the Town of Leland brings back its popular Live @ the Park and Movies in the Park. The lineups feature bands and movies with something for everyone to enjoy for free in Founders Park, located at 113 Town Hall Drive.

The Concert series Live @ the Park features two shows in October. Concerts start at 6:30 pm and will feature local food trucks on site. Coolers are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to relax on the lawn as they listen. This is a wonderful way to support local bands, introduce your children to your favorite music, or discover something new together. Bands and dates for Live @ the Park are as follows: • Oct 6 — Legacy Motown Revue • Oct 27 — Striking Copper

Family fun continues with the return of Movies in the Park. Movies will begin at sunset, so start times may vary slightly. People are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs, and picnic under the stars. There will be food trucks at Founders Park, but outside food is welcome. Alcohol and pets are not allowed. This series is a great way to get outdoors during the cooler months and enjoy family-friendly movies. Movies are scheduled as follows: • Oct 15 — Hocus Pocus • Dec 10 —The Polar Express

Movies and concerts are weather dependent. Visit the Town of Leland website or follow the Town of Leland and the Town of Leland Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department on social media for event updates.