Atrium Health has submitted a proposal to the State of North Carolina to construct 42 new acute care beds in New Hanover County to serve the region. I am pleased to share their press release on the proposal.

We were pleased to interview Steve Smoot, EVP and president of the North Carolina and Georgia division at Advocate Health about the application. Atrium Health is a part of Advocate Health.

You can also find this interview on our YouTube channel.

As per a previous blog post and conversation, I wanted to share with you Novant Health’s press release regarding their Certificate of Need application with the State for 225 new acute care beds in New Hanover County to serve the region.

I was pleased to speak with Ms. Laurie Whalin, President, Novant Health Coastal Region regarding their application.

You can also find this conversation on our YouTube channel.

Novant Health seeks state approval for 225 new hospital beds in new patient tower as part of plans to expand advanced heart and vascular care

Investments in nationally recognized heart and vascular care reflect growing community need; proposed beds open needed capacity and expand access to care at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Novant Health has applied for state approval to add 225 inpatient hospital beds as part of a new patient tower designed to expand access to high-acuity care in southeastern North Carolina, under the state’s certificate of need process.

“Our plans are years in the making, and we fully believe patients benefit from a comprehensive care experience,” said Laurie Whalin, president of Novant Health’s Coastal Region. “We are the only health system with the ability to deliver seamlessly integrated care because we have the infrastructure, including operating rooms and catheterization labs, which are not available for expansion under the current state plans. Without those vital services, other systems could only offer a fragmented care experience and would be unable to fully deliver on promises of specialty care. Thanks to the strength and expertise of Novant Health’s clinicians, we are the strongest positioned to care for the rapidly growing region.”

Novant Health’s filing supports the previously announced master facility plan for New Hanover Regional Medical Center — an investment of upwards of $1 billion focused on rapidly scaling capacity to meet the region’s surging population growth and rising demand for complex care.

Once approved, the expansion will position Novant Health to bring new hospital beds online expeditiously while ensuring those beds are equipped to care for the most complex, highest-acuity patients in the region.

The new patient tower will centralize inpatient and surgical heart and vascular care, including advanced operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, and electrophysiology labs — allowing care teams to manage the full spectrum of cases, from routine procedures to the most critically ill patients, within a single, highly specialized environment.

Dr. Bill Smith, chief physician executive of the Heart & Vascular Institute in the Coastal Region, emphasized the clinical advantage: “By fully integrating advanced cardiac services, we will support interdisciplinary collaboration while enhancing our ability to deliver complex, high-acuity care, improving both outcomes and patient experience. This investment ensures our community will have timely access to the highest level of heart and vascular care close to home for decades to come.”

Demand for cardiovascular services is already significant and growing, and heart disease and stroke both remain leading causes of death in North Carolina. The Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute team sees approximately 18,000 new patients annually in the Coastal Region and performs more than 12,500 surgeries and procedures each year. With the 65+ population increasing, demand for advanced, inpatient care is expected to rise sharply.

While the majority of the expansion is dedicated to heart and vascular expertise, the additional resources will benefit the entire hospital by increasing overall inpatient capacity, improving patient experience and reducing wait times.

This project is part of Novant Health’s regional plan to meet the healthcare needs of growing southeastern North Carolina for years to come. The plans include:

• Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center, opening in late June

• A future Wilmington rehabilitation hospital nearly doubled in size to meet growing need

• The future 20-bed Novant Health Leland Medical Center to provide hospital care to growing northern Brunswick County

• A future free-standing emergency department in Carolina Shores

For more information on Vision 2030, these plans and how Novant Health is advancing high-quality, accessible care in the Coastal Region, please visit: NovantHealth.org/CoastalNC.

As someone who has had family members successfully participate in future teacher programs in another locality, I was pleased to have a conversation with Ms. Jennie Bryan who leads the Brunswick County Schools’ Teacher Scholar Academy to increase the number of homegrown teachers. The four High Schools in the County send students to the Academy.

The program has also recently launched an Early Childhood Education I course. Students who successfully complete 120 internship hours in a local childcare or PreK program qualify for the NC Early Childhood Credential, which is required for all lead teachers in childcare centers.

By way of background, Ms. Bryan started her career as a High School social studies teacher. She was named Brunswick County Teacher of the Year in 2020, Southeastern Regional Teacher of the Year in 2021 and COAST Teacher of the Year in 2026.

We are happy to share our conversation with Jennie about this innovative program.

You can also find this interview on our YouTube channel.

The mission of the Brunswick County Literacy Council is to advance social and economic opportunities for underserved adults 16 and older by identifying, developing, promoting, and delivering literacy and other academic programming.

A study released in 2020 by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and Gallup examined the impact of adult literacy on the U.S. economy, finding that the nation could be losing up to $2.2 trillion annually due to low adult literacy rates.

We were pleased to interview Melissa Warren, Executive Director, regarding the wide range of programs offered by the Council. Such programs include:

• Basic Adult Literacy

• GED Assistance

• English for Speakers of Other Languages

• Work Skills

• Financial Literacy

• Citizenship

You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.

As a follow up to our interview with UNC Health, I wanted to share their official press release on submitting their Certificate of Need to build their proposed hospital in New Hanover County to serve the region. Additionally, I have reached out to interview Atrium Health on their proposal to build a new hospital as well. To date, I have not heard back from them.

UNC Health Files Certificate of Need Application for Proposed Wilmington Community Hospital

Marks a key step in expanding care access in one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing regions

• UNC Health has formally submitted its Certificate of Need (CON) application to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for a proposed new community hospital to bring care closer to home for patients across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties.

• The proposed hospital, planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard in Wilmington, with a planned 150-bed hospital spanning approximately 543,790 square feet across seven floors on a 62-acre site designed to allow for future growth.

• The application is supported by Wilmington Health, the largest independent, physician-owned practice in Southeastern North Carolina, and reflects community input from residents, business leaders, and civic partners.

WILMINGTON, N.C. – June 18, 2026 – UNC Health filed its Certificate of Need (CON) application with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for a proposed new community hospital in Wilmington this week.

This filing marks a significant step forward in UNC Health’s plan, announced in May, to expand access to primary and specialty care for patients across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties, one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing regions.

UNC Health has engaged with hundreds of residents, providers, and community leaders across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender County – many of whom have signed letters of support for the new community hospital.

“New Hanover County’s rapid growth has outpaced our healthcare resources, leaving too many families waiting for the care they deserve,” said Rob Zapple, New Hanover County Commissioner. “This proposed hospital is exactly the kind of bold step our community needs, and I am proud to support it. I urge state health officials to recognize the urgency and help us deliver the quality care our region’s residents expect and need.”

The proposed hospital, planned for a 62-acre site at South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard with 150 beds, is designed around the services residents from across the region have told UNC Health they need. If approved, the community hospital is set to deliver care for every chapter of life — from obstetrics and gynecology for growing families, to cardiology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, urology, and vascular care for aging well, to oncology, neurology, and emergency services for life’s hardest moments.

Wilmington’s population grew 8.5% between 2020 and 2024, with adults 65+ now making up nearly 1 in 5 residents – shifts that are driving complex, high-demand healthcare needs in the community. Wilmington Health, the largest independent, physician-owned practice in Southeastern North Carolina, supports the application.

“Every day, I see patients facing serious health challenges who need more than our community currently has the capacity to provide,” said David Schultz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Wilmington Health.” A new hospital in Wilmington would change that – bringing more specialists, more capacity, and more options to the people of this region when it matters most. Wilmington Health is proud to support UNC Health’s application and the difference it will make for our patients and community.”

This filing initiates the state’s formal review. A public hearing is anticipated in August, and a decision from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is expected before the end of the year. UNC Health will continue to engage openly with state regulators, local elected officials, and residents throughout the process.

To learn more, visit YourCareRightHere.com.

It's been a long time since I delivered the Long Island Press as a kid, and the delivery of news has changed dramatically since then—24-hour news cycles, social media, the decline of long-standing newspaper outlets, and the rise of digital media.

I am pleased to be able to have a conversation with George Willoughby a reporter for the North Brunswick News. North Brunswick News is a local reporting initiative from the team behind The News Reporter, a family-owned community newspaper that has served Columbus County since 1896. You can reach George at the following email address: georgewilloughby@northbrunswicknews.com.

It is my hope to make this a weekly or bi-weekly feature to talk about the issues he is reporting on in the northern portion of the County. You can sign up for updates either by email or by text message.

You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.

UNC Health announced plans to build a new community hospital (150 beds) on a 62-acre proposed site in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals. This proposed hospital will strengthen UNC Health’s statewide reach – connecting North Carolina communities from the mountains to the coast.

Planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard, the site was selected for its accessibility and its geographic infill capacity in serving a rapidly growing region. This project marks a significant step forward in UNC Health’s commitment to improving access to primary care and specialty care closer to home.

We were pleased to speak with Ernie Bovio, Regional President of the Southeast Coastal Market, about this project and the approval process.

You can also view this interview on our YouTube Channel.

To learn more about the project visit their dedicated website for this proposal.

About UNC Health

UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 20 hospitals and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine. It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others they serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM.

UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Their hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience.

Established in 1983 as a modest Soup Kitchen, Good Shepherd has grown to become the largest provider of homeless services in the region.

Current programs include the Soup Kitchen which serves over 89,000 meals a year; Second Helpings food salvage and distribution program; Sgt. Eugene Ashley Center providing transitional and permanent supportive housing for Veterans and men with disabilities; a Day Shelter providing the homeless with access to showers, clothing, transportation, and on-site mental health and health services; and a Night Shelter with 118 beds for homeless men, women, and families with children.

Good Shepherd recently opened SECU Lakeside Reserve, an affordable housing unit with 40 apartments for chronically homeless adults with disabilities, including seniors and Veterans.

We were pleased to have a conversation with the Executive Director of the Center, Katrina Knight, on the important work they do in our region.

You can also find the video on our YouTube channel:

Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Both the Town of Leland and Brunswick County have outstanding resources on line to help you be prepared.

Brunswick County

Town of Leland

Town of Leland Hurricane Expo

Save the Date: June 13, 2026
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way

You can also download the Town’s Hurricane Guide below.

Leland Hurricane Guide

5.43MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Since 1982, the North Carolina Coastal Federation has been in the field restoring miles of coastline; training and educating students, adults, and communities to take actions that result in cleaner coastal waters and advocating for an accessible, healthy, productive coast.

Created to give a united voice to the need for long-term coastal management, the Federation remains a collaborative, grassroots organization at its heart and brings together traditional and nontraditional organizations, government agencies, and businesses in order to achieve what is best for the North Carolina coast and to leave a legacy of clean water for future generations.

For those who are interested in making their backyards and homes more environmentally friendly by reducing stormwater runoff click on the button below for the Federation’s Smart Yards brochure or download it from below.

Smart Yards

Smart Yard 2023 Edition

7.76MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

The Federation has 16,000 supporters and reaches almost 300,000 people directly each year.

To talk about the important work of the Federation we were pleased to chat with Bonnie Mitchell, Coastal Education Coordinator.

Novant Health has made a series of announcements detailing their investment in facilities and services for the residents of the region. Recently, the State approved Novant Health’s planned hospital in Leland (in the Terrapin community).

The new facility will include 20 acute care beds and five procedure rooms. The facility will include a 24/7 emergency room, ten observation beds and imaging services. Construction is estimated to cost $251 million and Novant Health anticipates hiring 204 staff members. the new hospital is expected to open to patients on January 1, 2030.

To talk about this project and other investments in the community, we are pleased to have had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Briggs, the President of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center.

Brunswick Partnership for Housing, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization. They provide services for more than 500 unsheltered individuals and families annually and advocate for the development of permanent, safe and affordable housing in Brunswick County.

Services include:

• Outreach and case management

• Information and referrals

• Emergency shelter through area motels

• Transitional housing for homeless families

To learn more about this important program and their community partners, we were pleased to speak with Sally Learned, Executive Director of the Partnership.

Brunswick County is the sixth fastest growing County in the United States. And, as our County grows, so do the number of children who are attending our public schools. A recent news article in the Brunswick Beacon reported that the number of students attending Brunswick County Schools (BCS) is expected to grow by 42% over the next decade - nearly 6,000 students.

This November residents will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed bond that provides BCS with the funding necessary to build a new elementary school (just north of Brunswick Forest) and new High School between Leland and Winnabow to meet student population growth. Additionally funds will be used for various upgrades at schools including intercom and wiring upgrades, bleacher upgrades and site development for future schools. You can read more on the BCS web page dedicated to the bond proposal.

To discuss the needs of BCS we were pleased to talk with Dale Cole the Superintendent of Schools.

For more than 20 years, Brunswick County offered aging services to provide support to older adults. In 2002, the county identified and projected the growing population of older adults and Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc. (BSRI) was established. With the ever-evolving needs of people over 50, BSRI has adapted by offering active lifestyle activities, while continuing to provide resources and support to help navigate the aging process.

BSRI maintains a location in Leland which provides programming and meals. Persons must register with their Nutrition Coordinator prior to first meal.

To expand on what BSRI has to offer we were pleased to interview Yvette Gosline, Chief Operating Officer, of the organization.

You may recognize them locally as Cape Fear Solar, but the company has recently rebranded as Cape Fear Energy Systems — reflecting a broader commitment to bringing comprehensive energy improvements and efficiency upgrades to both homeowners and businesses in the community.

Cape Fear Energy Systems is a participating company in North Carolina’s Energy Saver program which was launched in Brunswick County and the region earlier this year by Governor Stein. The NC Saver program was the subject of an interview earlier this year which I am pleased to re-share.

We were pleased to speak with Gabe Amey, Chief Marketing Officer at Cape Fear Energy Systems, to discuss their transition into full energy related work for homeowners and businesses.

A Tool To Use

Utilizing the power of AI, I have created a tool to give you a snapshot of the potential of a solar array on your home or business.

Click on the link above or on the photo below.

Friendly reminder BEMC’s time of use rates change on April 16. Beginning the 16th the peak period for electricity rates is 2PM to 6PM.

We were pleased to interview a representative of BEMC last year about the changes in rates. BEMC does offer rebates on certain energy efficiency measures. Here is that interview from last year.

Additionally a friendly reminder of the interview we had with the North Carolina Energy Saver program that offers rebates on certain energy efficiency measures.

We have had the pleasure of interviewing a number of folks whose organizations are making a positive difference in our community. Pleased to re-share the most recent interviews.

In the meantime, we are working on arranging a number of interviews to publish in April. Stay tuned for our first business spotlight in April.

The Cape Fear Council of Governments is the designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for North Carolina Planning Region O serving Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender Counties. The Area Agency on Aging is mandated by the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, to plan, develop, implement, and coordinate aging services for the Region.

The AAA assists the counties as they study the needs of older citizens and plan services to meet those needs. They provide the administration and monitoring related to the Home Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) funding and other direct service funding of community-based services enables older adults to live independently in their own homes as long as possible. Federal, state and local funds make services possible through grant agreements with Boards of County Commissioners and community service providers.

To help provide information regarding the Area Agency on Aging we were pleased to speak with Holly Pilson who is the Director of the Program.

For more information on the Agency please click on the button below.

Area Agency on Aging

I am pleased to share a pdf of a presentation from the Area Agency on Aging regarding their services for your download.

Area Agency On Aging Presentation

953KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

How does Brunswick County stack up with the rest of the state regarding median age of residents. See table below by clicking here or on the image.

Having a child at home with severe diaper rash, Diaper Bank founder Michelle Schaefer was changing his diaper 20 – 30 times a day, she could not stop the infections from taking over, causing her son to be extremely ill and in pain. As her son started to heal, Michelle started to wonder about parents who were not able to grab that next diaper to help their babies stay clean, dry, and healthy and knew there was no assistance for these families to do so.

To learn more about the Diaper Bank we are pleased to have a conversation with Michelle and Julie Bowling (Lower Cape Fear Branch of the Diaper Bank).

To learn more about the Lower Cape Fear Branch click on the button below. Their local phone number is (910) 777-3243.

Cape Fear Branch Diaper Bank

The Town of Leland is hosting a Tree Giveaway on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way. 

This free event is made possible through a partnership with the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees and funded by Enterprise Mobility and the Arbor Day Foundation, which supports community tree distributions. 

Community members are invited to stop by and pick up two trees per household, while supplies last. Participants will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of native species ranging from 3 to 7 feet tall. Available trees include American holly, persimmon, Flowering dogwood, DuraHeat® river birch, blackgum, Princeton American elm, white oak, and southern live oak. Learn more about the planting and care requirements for each species. 

Alliance for Cape Fear Trees members will be at the event to help move trees to vehicles and answer any questions.

Through partnerships with municipalities like the Town of Leland, the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees works to grow a healthier, more resilient tree canopy across the lower Cape Fear region.