3 minute read
SPOTLIGHT
photo c/o Ned Leary Photography
HOLIDAY FLOTILLA TAKES TO THE DOCKS
EEven though the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla returned this year in person over Thanksgiving weekend, the bright lights continue into December. Last year, event organizers introduced the Wrightsville Beach Door to Dock Decorating Contest during COVID restrictions. In the wake of the boat parade this year – now in its thirty-eighth year – a new dockside tradition continues.
“I’m delighted the Door to Dock Decorating Contest is returning in 2021,” says flotilla chair LINDA BROWN. “Last year, we postponed the Flotilla but asked our residents and businesses to share their holiday spirit by participating in a dock decorating contest. The resulting light show was a spectacular success.”
Judging takes place December 4, with the winners announced the next day. Info: ncholidayflotilla.org
CAPE FEAR CREW NAMES 2022 BOARD FOUNDATION GIVES AWAY TRANSIT GRANTS AARP ANNOUNCES REGIONAL HEAD
Cape Fear Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) named its 2022 board of directors.
KAREN WIDMAYER, of KW Communications LLC, will succeed GALE WALLACE, of Clarendon Properties, as president of the chapter.
“Gale’s tremendous leadership of our chapter during 2021 brought us through a highly successful third annual awards event as well as a transition back to in-person and virtual programs with an array of speakers and opportunities for our members to network and grow,” Widmayer says. “Our membership and board thank her for her time and expertise.”
The other Cape Fear CREW Board of Directors members for 2022 are JULIE DIXON, Live Oak Bank (President-Elect); KELLY DEDEO, First National Bank (Secretary); HEATHER EVANS, Servpro (Treasurer/CREW Network Delegate); DAVID GRANDEY, Highland Roofing Company (At Large/CREW Network Delegate); LESLIE ADAMS, Segra (At Large/ DEI Champion); and PAIGE CONIGLIO, CBL Properties (At Large).
The Cape Fear chapter of CREW has more than sixty members.
The revamped Making Waves Foundation board recently handed out transportation grants to eight local nonprofits.
Making Waves started in 2010 when the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority and its board wanted to help meet riders’ needs to cover transportation costs. Through raising funds, the foundation provides transportation fare subsidies to nonprofit agencies that distribute to people in the community.
The group suspended its activities in March of last year because of the pandemic.
In September, a new governing board was appointed: SARAH ARTHUR, ADRIENNE HARRINGTON, and LAURA BROGDON-PRIMAVERA.
Brogdon-Primavera (above), who is the director of programs and operations for the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, serves as the foundation’s chair.
Harrington, owner and founder of Smart Moves Consulting and former WMPO transportation planner, is the foundation’s vice chair.
And Arthur, manager of community engagement for New Hanover Regional Medical Center, is the foundation’s secretary.
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AARP North Carolina has named ROSALIE CALARCO as associate state director for the group’s coastal region.
Calarco came to the role, which she started on November 1, with seventeen years of experience in constituent services and advocacy under two federal officeholders.
She was director of veterans services for former U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-7th District), interacting with the Veterans Administration, Medicare, and Social Security Administration. She also developed national and local grant applications to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on behalf of local municipalities in McIntyre’s district.
She was most recently a senior constituent advocate and office manager for U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).
“I am excited to bring my skills, knowledge, and professional relationships to the work I do for AARP North Carolina,” Calarco says. “I strive to live out the motto of AARP, ‘to serve, not to be served.’”
With AARP, Calarco works with members in diverse populations throughout thirty-three counties.
“Since AARP represents people from all walks of life, beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences,” AARP North Carolina director Michael Olender says, “Rosalie’s demonstrated nonpartisanship and service to the community fits well with AARP’s mission.”
