Welcome to CSP’s Getting To Know You, a segment where our team members share a little more about themselves. We are delighted to introduce you to Realtor/Broker Leila Tabatabai!

Upon moving to North Carolina in 1989 to attend North Carolina State University on a soccer scholarship, Leila Tabatabai (pronounced Lay-la Taba-Taba-ee) knew she had found the place that she would always call “home.” She relocated from Raleigh to Wilmington in 2007 and worked in the tourism industry before following her passion to a career in real estate. She purchased a few historic downtown Wilmington rental properties which allowed her to share her passion for this city with many wonderful travelers and potential residents. In her free time, Leila enjoys fishing, working out, playing with her furbabies, spending time with family, cooking and, of course, enjoying our lovely downtown Historic District and beautiful beaches nearby. She truly loves calling Wilmington her home and wants to make that your reality as well!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Be Present, Be Genuine and Be On Time! 

If you could have any three people (dead or alive) over for dinner, who would they be? My brother Ali; my “other” mother, BJ; and my good friend Robbi; all of whom have passed away. I’d love to sit down with them, give them another hug and hear about Heaven! 

If you had one superpower, what would it be? Why? The Power to Heal - so I could heal people of disease and pain. 

What is your favorite summer activity? Surf Fishing!

Do you have any hobbies? What are they? I love working out, fishing, listening to music, taking my furbabies to play/swim, boating to Masonboro Island and cooking.

What are your best habits? Being disciplined, being optimistic and giving 100%.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure? To NEVER give up. I was at NC State when Jim Valvano gave his famous speech and it’s always stuck with me. 

What is a talent that you have that would surprise people? I enjoy working with live edge wood to make charcuterie boards, benches, tables and shelves. It’s calming and I love to see the creations I come up with. 

If you had a warning label, what would yours say? Warning - loves all things JEEP!  

When are you most inspired? In the mornings when the world around me is still quiet.

What is something you wish you could be good at? Singing! 

What’s your guilty pleasure? My Jeep who’s named Betty White!

What do you do to relax? Work out, take long walks listening to music or watch a good movie. 

How do you manage stress? Push through it….work out whether it is walking, yoga, swimming, etc.. I am a strong believer in taking time for yourself. 

Do you have any pets? Yes, two mini Aussies named Piper and Levi and a diva cat named Stevie - they have trained me well!

What song would you say best sums you up? This Must Be The Place by the Talking Heads.

What makes you laugh the most? Funny conversations with friends.

What’s your favorite movie ever? This is a tough one but I will have to go with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It makes me laugh every single time I watch it, which is every Christmas.

Who is your hero? Why? My Mom - she raised 3 kids mostly on her own.and always showed up to our sporting events!  

Texting or talking? Texting. 

If you would like Leila to help you find your home in the Wilmington or surrounding areas, contact her at 910-508-1940 or Leila@CoastalSelectProperties.com

Welcome to Getting to Know You, a segment where our team members share a little bit about themselves through a series of rapid fire questions.

Realtor/Broker Melody McCain has lived in New Hanover County since the 1990s and currently enjoys residing in Wilmington’s historic district. After a 15-year career as a cardiovascular nurse, Melody followed her passion to a career in real estate in 2018. Her abilities to think quickly, manage stress in a fast-paced environment, listen carefully and understand client needs will continue to be vital assets in her profession. According to Melody, her main objectives while advising clients are to ensure that their new home fits their wants and needs; that their current home is prepared to showcase its best self; and that their transactions are negotiated and presented professionally from start to finish - all while keeping their financial goals first. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? To live each day like it’s your last

Name a book you read that positively shaped you. The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

If you could have any three people (dead or alive) over for dinner, who would they be? My son, dad and mom

If you had one superpower, what would it be? Why? Telepathy. To be able to encourage others to do the right things in life.

What is your favorite summer activity? Fishing

Do you have any hobbies? What are they? Fishing, reading, painting, puzzles, games

What are your best habits? Listening and loving others

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure? To let it go and to learn from it

What is a talent that you have that would surprise people? Playing the piano

If you had a warning label, what would yours say? “Danger: Tends to be sensitive”

When are you most inspired? When listening to music and reading inspiring stories        

What is something you wish you could be good at? Playing the guitar and singing

What’s your guilty pleasure? Watching Bravo TV shows, over-indulging in candy

What do you do to relax? Spending time with my son, watching classic movies 

How do you manage stress? I remove things that are causing me stress, but when things are outside of my control, I pray to help bring peace.

Do you have any pets? Yes, a Siamese cat who thinks he is the king of the house. His name is Jack, AKA, Jackson, Booboo, Bubba, Stinker, Hey get off the counter!!! lol 

What song would you say best sums you up? Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder.  

What makes you laugh the most? Funny videos

What’s your favorite movie ever? I can’t pick just one! My favorites include It’s a Wonderful Life; The Notebook; Pretty Woman, O Brother, Where Art Thou?; The Whole Nine Yards and The Blind Side

Who is your hero? Why? My son, Blake. He inspires me every day.

Texting or talking? Depends on the conversation. For small talk, texting. 

If you would like Melody’s expertise with buying or selling a home, please contact her at Melody@CoastalSelectProperties.com.

Welcome to Getting to Know You, a segment where our team members share a little bit about themselves through a series of rapid fire questions.

We are pleased to welcome Glen Allan Rogers, Realtor/Broker to our team! A native of Cape Cod, Glen’s family roots are deeply set in multigenerational connections to the sand and sea. After many years serving in emergency services in various capacities in Massachusetts, Glen relocated to Wrightsville Beach six years ago to lead the Wrightsville Beach Fire Rescue Department as Fire Chief. For Glen, transitioning to real estate from work as a first responder seems like a natural fit to him. His expertise and experience in fire safety will certainly be an asset when helping his clients with finding new homes. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Name a book you read that positively shaped you. Emergency Care in the Streets, a paramedic text.

If you could have any three people (dead or alive) over for dinner, who would they be?  My dad’s Grandfather, my Dad’s father and my Dad.

If you had one superpower, what would it be? Create peace.

What is your favorite summer activity? Fat tire biking on the beach.

Do you have any hobbies? Bicycling, any outdoor adventuring, discovering historical sites.

What are your best habits? Keeping a positive outlook, forgiving, lifelong learning.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure? Get up, dust yourself off and keep moving forward.

What is a talent that you have that would surprise people?  I cook the best Filet Mignon!

If you had a warning label, what would yours say? “Treat with respect.”

When are you most inspired?  When I witness amazing geography.

What is something you wish you could be good at? Swimming.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Ice Cream.

What do you do to relax?  Sit on my porch in a hammock chair.

How do you manage stress? See above!

Do you have any pets? 2 doggies.

What song would you say best sums you up? A Pirate Looks at Forty by Jimmy Buffet

What makes you laugh the most? Laughing grandchildren.

What’s your favorite movie ever? The Longest Day

Who is your hero? Why?  My Mom because she has triumphed through a lot. 

Texting or talking?  Talking.

If you would like to buy or list your home with this dedicated professional, please contact him at Glen@CoastalSelectProperties.com.

As a woman-owned and operated business, Coastal Select Properties (CSP) is excited to sponsor the upcoming 6th Annual Cinema Sisters International Film Festival (CSIFF) from June 11 - 13 at Jengo’s Playhouse in Wilmington. CSP has proudly supported this organization since its inception and, this year, the festival is being directed by CSP Owner/Realtor, Tricia Delp Ireland! 

In 2016, CSIFF was born out of a local collective, WilmFFilm, which was started by storyteller Rebecca Bush in 2014 from a desire to gather and provide support to local, like-minded women interested in film and the art of filmmaking. CSIFF continues with its tradition of showcasing the works of female filmmakers - and filmmakers who identify as a woman and gender fluid/non-binary folks who identify with womanhood - from all over the world in an effort to encourage and support their sister filmmakers. 

Ireland, also a member of WILMFFILM, was involved with last year’s festival and worked closely alongside CSIFF’s founders and filmmakers Rebecca Bush, Christen Christain and Patti Mason. “Running the film festival requires a lot of time and organization and when the founders realized that they would rather be making films than running the actual festival, a decision had to be made as to whether we would keep the festival going or call it quits,” explains Ireland. “I believed that the festival had some room for growth and I decided to embrace the challenge of directing the 2021 festival.” Not a small task considering that additional adjustments were needed for running a film festival during a pandemic. Ireland made the decision to push the festival from its usual premiere in March to the month of June instead to accommodate pandemic restrictions and allow for the possibility of hosting an in-person venue. 

This year’s festival received a whopping 183 film submissions from 33 countries - more than double the number of submissions received last year. A group of 29 screeners from around the country viewed the submissions and provided feedback to select the final 61 films that were accepted and scheduled to be featured this year. Ireland credits her terrific programming committee, including several Wilmington locals:  Pam Gonzalez, Nancy Sandy, Lisa Hyatt, Francine DeCoursey, Kimberly West, Alex Austin, Rosemary Harrington, Fred Ireland and Colleen Keefe for the success of obtaining generous sponsorships and planning out the details of the 3-day festival. “The Wilmington community’s overwhelming sponsorship support is allowing us to include some fun things at the festival like SWAG bags, free passes and party tickets for attending filmmakers; a free breakfast and filmmakers roundtable discussion on Saturday morning; live music; as well as a few other surprises! Additionally, the generous financial contributions and CSIFF’s newly achieved non-profit status has prompted us to initiate a grant program this year to benefit local female filmmakers in an effort to support the arts and to give back to our own community,” Ireland shares proudly. “It has been a lot of work but seeing the results in terms of the quality of films submitted, the enthusiasm of the filmmakers, the dedication of the programming committee and the help we have received from other, more established festivals (a special thanks to Dan Brawley at Cucalorus for answering my one million questions!) has really been incredible. We hope to grow a bit more each year and expand the grant program as well.”

The 6th Annual Cinema Sisters International Film Festival kicks off on Friday evening, June 11, at Jengo's Playhouse at 815 Princess Street with actress Casey Wilson (co-writer and co-star of the movie, Bride Wars) hosting a Live Zoom Q&A for attendees, followed by the feature film, The Hive, and a meet-and-greet with a local beekeeper. Saturday’s lineup includes four blocks of shorts (showcasing the myriad and complexities of relationships, dance/animation/musicals and suspense) and a New Orleans-themed after-party. Sunday commences with three additional blocks (highlighting familial relationships, comedy and identity). For more information and to purchase individual block tickets, student discounted passes, all-access passes and after-party tickets go to www.csiffilm.com or https://filmfreeway.com/WilmFFilm/tickets.

CSP and CSIFF would like to acknowledge and wholeheartedly hank the following sponsors for their incredible support: Mike & Oz Nichols, Suanne Neblett with Guaranteed Rate Mortgage, Anonymous, Triad Behavioral Resources, Tay Lifestyle Management, Dave and Nancy Sandy, Austin Bolton Designs, Working Films, UNCW Film Studies, Midtown Pop, High Wire Brewing and Fess Parker Winery. 

Meeting William “Billy” Mellon is akin to peeking behind the tasseled, velvet curtain to discover the Wizard, the brilliance behind the magic that is Manna, Bourgie Nights and Earnest Money & Sons.  With nearly 30 years’ experience in the restaurant and wine business, Mellon’s enthusiasm and passion for the industry has not waned – even despite the additional stresses of a global pandemic. His energy, drive and creativity have kept him going strong. And the giant “pause” in the normally bustling restaurant business during the past year allowed the owner-proprietor of Manna to contemplate and pursue more projects, including a weekly Wine Tasting Club via Zoom. Covid may have halted many things, but Mellon’s determination was not one of them.

Mellon, who originally hails from Corpus Christi, Texas made his way to the Wilmington, NC restaurant scene after a stint in the U.S. Army while stationed at Ft. Bragg followed by an educational pursuit at NC State in Raleigh/Durham. He relocated to Wrightsville Beach and eventually found his sweet spot in Wilmington, where he opened Manna, the first restaurant in Wilmington to earn the honor of AAA’s four-diamond rating - and continued the winning streak for six straight years. Manna’s heavenly menu offerings are an innovative take on American Cuisine.

When asked about where he draws inspiration as a restauranteur, the humble proprietor attributes his success to having worked for and with some of the best owners and chefs in the industry. His experience working with Port Land Grill’s Ann and Shawn Wellersdick especially influenced his concept of fine dining and food and wine pairings. Mellon is currently excited about and inspired by Manna’s Executive Chef, Carson Jewell, who previously worked at Death & Taxes in Raleigh, under the tutelage of James Beard Award Winner, Ashley Christenson. Jewell’s creations are extraordinarily flavorful, made with simple (and often local) ingredients, beautifully plated and a bit fun. With seasonal menu selection names like Soup Doggie Dog and Fred Flynn-Stone, how can one resist ordering?

For those with a sweet tooth, Manna is fortunate to have the mad sugar skills of Executive Pastry Chef, Rebeca Alverado-Paredes to put the finishing touch on a fine dining experience. And the high-end, sparkling atmosphere at 123 Princess Street is only elevated by the robust wine offerings and superbly crafted cocktails. Add the emphasis on providing excellent customer service with a dash of Southern hospitality and Mellon has created a recipe for success.

While discussing the strains of the last year, Mellon’s primary concerns were for the livelihoods of his staff, who he was forced to layoff in March 2020 due to Covid-19 closures of food and drink establishments. When restrictions finally lifted in late May 2020, Mellon decided to not rush re-opening Manna out of an abundance of precaution for his staff and guests and instead waited a couple weeks before getting the kitchen back up and running. Happily, the restaurant is once again taking reservations and serving up sustenance to its faithful customers.

As Covid-restrictions lift and life to returns to normalcy, Mellon is hoping to utilize Bourgie Nights (pronounced “BOO-ZHEE”), the event space and lounge located next-door to Manna, to once again feature live music, cocktail parties, and special events.

Just one block away at 211 Princess Street is Earnest Money & Sons, a dimly lit, sophisticated, and intimate venue that is described as “a quintessential private club for members and their guests:  offering the ideal destination for social interactions, refreshing libations and a smidgen of tomfoolery.” Mellon’s intention with “E-Money,” as it is affectionally called, was to provide an intimate and charming gathering space where adults can enjoy uniquely and thoughtfully prepared cocktails, interesting wines, and regional beer selections. The staff here, just as at manna, are friendly, unpretentious, and accommodating. During a recent visit, my companions and I were welcomed and seated by E-Money’s ‘hospitality liaison.” Soon after, we were enjoying expertly crafted and beautifully presented artisanal cocktails. After our first round, our handsomely dressed libation artist, Fred, stopped by our table to assess our opinions of the martinis and bourbon drinks that we had ordered from the menu. All were pleased with their selections and decided to order a second round with Fred expertly customizing our cocktails based on our previous selections. Once again, we had winners across the board including my French 75 martini with a slightly more botanical twist.

Memberships to Earnest Money & Sons cost $24 per year. There are no formal vetting and approval procedures required for membership – one only needs to apply and pay the annual fee. Currently, reservations are required to maintain social distancing protocols.

As if these culinary and libations ventures were not enough to keep him busy, Mellon decided to rekindle his passion for wine tasting and food pairings by starting a weekly wine club last year. It was something that had been on his wish list, but he had not had the time to pursue. Covid-19 changed that. So, with the same gusto that he approaches his other pursuits, Mellon put together a list of guest hosts, wine selections (and even pairing suggestions) and a schedule and set to hosting a weekly Zoom call on Wednesday nights. Guests are invited to purchase the wine selections through Manna - Mellon takes care of that detail as well – but there is no cost to join in on the fun. Last week’s wine tasting featured award-winning restauranteur, master sommelier, cookbook author and Scarpetta Wine Company owner, Bobby Stuckey, and two of his Italian wines. It was a lively, entertaining, and informative Zoom event and the Friulano and Barbera wines were delicious selections according to this non-oenophile.

Hospitality is clearly in Billy Mellon’s blood. As is creativity, drive, determination, vision, community-mindedness, and a commitment to paying-it-forward. To get a peek behind the curtain of this Wilmington wizard, one only need visit Manna, Bourgie Nights or Earnest Money & Sons to find that thought, heart, and courage have been poured into each one.

For more information and reservations, visit www.mannaavenue.com and www.earnestmoneyandsons.com.

[Photographs of Billy Mellon and interior of Manna courtesy of Lighthouse Media. Photograph of Earnest Money & Sons courtesy of Colleen Keefe.]

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Colleen Keefe is a freelance writer providing clients with digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases search engine optimization. She especially enjoys writing about interesting places and inspiring people, as well as traveling, reading, gardening and photography. Colleen lives in Bucks County, PA. 

The Heart of the Matter: Together We Can Advocate for Hope

One of our missions at CSP is to support local charities and nonprofits that help build a stronger community. Each quarter, we select an organization – usually from organizations that either our agents or clients are personally involved with – to donate a portion of our quarterly profits. 

This quarter, we are proud to once again support the important work of The Carousel Center (TCC), our region’s only child advocacy center. CSP’s owner, Tricia Delp Ireland, had first learned about the mission of TCC while previously assisting two wonderful clients with a purchase of a new home downtown. Ireland had learned that one client sits on the board of directors at TCC and was subsequently invited to take a tour of the facility. “At the time,” says Ireland, “we had already chosen our charity of the quarter but, after the tour, I wrote a check on the spot. I immediately recognized that this place was quite special and, unfortunately, a much-needed service in our community.”

Frederick Douglass once said, “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” TCC’s most important service for a child victim is to build strong children through the healing process. Without effective therapeutic intervention, many child victims of physical/sexual abuse and/or neglect will suffer ongoing or long-term consequences that may impact them for a lifetime. TCC’s licensed therapists have extensive training and experience in child abuse, child depression and anxiety as well as in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), child and family traumatic stress intervention (CFSTI) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT).

TCC’s child-friendly facilities in Wilmington and Supply are places in which law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim-advocacy professionals work together to investigate abuse, help children heal from abuse and hold offenders accountable.

It shouldn’t hurt to be a child. And although many things have come to a halt this past year, sadly, child abuse has not stopped due to the pandemic. Experts fear that multiple stressors – isolation, wage and job loss, psychological challenges and health issues – are driving up child abuse and neglect cases. Shadowed by COVID-19 prevention measures over the last year, less abuse/neglect cases were being reported as fewer children were showing up at child care centers, schools and doctor’s offices – all places where signs of abuse are historically recognized.

Ireland has toured TCC’s Wilmington location three times to date and says, “I cannot get through the tour without tears in my eyes - because of the realization that a facility like this is necessary and because of the incredibly important work these caring, dedicated professionals do. Since the first tour, TCC has remained in our charitable giving program, as a recipient of donations and our continued sponsorship of The Heart of the Matter & Tinman Awards and the Spring Gala fundraising events.”  

As part of the 2021 Annual Heart of the Matter & Tinman Awards Virtual Event from now until April 10th, we invite you to join us in raising funds to support TCC so that they can continue to help build resilience in child abuse survivors and provide exceptional service to the children and/or their families in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties. Be an advocate for HOPE!

Use this link to donate: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/hotm21/classification/259580/?fbclid=IwAR3Ba4qN75-7sbIls69_cr5yQW5zsxqVKTe4oppmdhKc3uPKb8XS41hjLKc

For more information about The Carousel Center, visit https://carouselcenter.org.

Here's what you can get for $700,000 in Wilmington, North Carolina

FOX Business recently published an article on the Wilmington Luxury home market and one of our listings made the story.  We have plenty of inventory under $700k as well!

Wilmington, North Carolina, is a popular travel destination with a lot to offer buyers looking for either a new home or a vacation getaway.

The city boasts a bustling tourism industry, thanks to its historic downtown and riverfront, the nearby beaches of Cape Fear and a noteworthy seaport

The Port of Wilmington features a 42-foot navigation channel, nine berths and capacity for 600,000 standard shipping containers. Other major employers in the area include companies such as Walmart and GE.

The local real estate market has bounced back and then some since the slump brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. As of November, the median sale price of a single-family home in the three-county area around Wilmington was $329,900, a 13.8% increase from a year earlier, according to Cape Fear Realtors.

While prices are up, inventory is down and homes are moving faster. As of November, the number of residences for sale was down 44.3% year-over-year in the area, and homes were spending an average 59 days on the market, down from 74 at the same point in 2019.

Here’s a look at what you can get with a $700,000 budget in Wilmington, North Carolina:

Tangle Oaks - $699,000

A townhome in this waterfront Wilmington community is on the market for $699,000. (Coastal Select Properties)

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR $400,000 IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

This waterfront townhome includes a 30-foot boat slip in the community’s private marina.

The 2,087-square-foot residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms and one half-bath, according to the listing with Teresa Krebs of Coastal Select Properties.

This waterfront Wilmington townhome is on the market for $699,000. (Coastal Select Properties)

Large windows let in lots of natural light. The living room features a gas fireplace, and it's open to the renovated kitchen with a breakfast bar. Sliding glass doors open to a front deck overlooking the marina.

Each of the bedrooms includes an en-suite bathroom. The primary suite features a water view, and its bathroom includes dual vanities and a large soaking tub with jets.

This waterfront Wilmington townhome is on the market for $699,000. (Coastal Select Properties)

In addition to the boat slip, the community offers amenities like a pool, playground and tennis courts.

Country Club Pines - $650,000

This home is listed for $650,000 in Wilmington. (Living Seaside Realty Group)

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR $800,000 IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

This spacious property offers historic character from its original construction in 1925 as well as modern comforts and style, thanks to more recent renovations.

The 5,646-square-foot residence includes five bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus a small apartment with a separate entrance, according to the listing with Mary Price of Living Seaside Realty Group.

This home is listed for $650,000 in Wilmington. (Living Seaside Realty Group)

The formal spaces on the first floor feature inlaid diamond designs on hardwood floors, plus matching chandeliers. There is a theater and a game room. A balcony looks down over a ballroom with 28-foot ceilings and Carrara marble floors.

The updated kitchen includes a dedicated coffee bar, and connects via spiral staircase to the family room, wet bar and main bedroom suite.

That 900-square-foot suite has two sitting areas and a fireplace. Its bathroom includes a Jacuzzi tub, walk-in shower, two vanities and a bidet.

This home is listed for $650,000 in Wilmington. (Living Seaside Realty Group)

Featuring a private fenced back yard, the property sits around the corner from the Cape Fear Country Club and 2 miles from the riverfront.

Hellenic Shores - $639,000

This Wilmington home is asking $639,000. (Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

This photogenic house backs onto a nature preserve.

The 2,805-square-foot dwelling includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms, according to the listing with Barbara Pugh of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.

This Wilmington home is asking $639,000. (Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage)

The living room of the 2007-built home features a cathedral ceiling and a fireplace. The formal dining room has a tray ceiling and wainscoting. It’s open to the kitchen, which includes a breakfast bar.

The main floor primary suite also has a tray ceiling and a sitting area. In the bathroom, there are dual vanities, a large walk-in shower and a jetted garden tub.

This Wilmington home is asking $639,000. (Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage)

Outside, the property features a fire pit, patio and a screened-in porch. Pages Creek runs nearby, offering trails and kayak launches.

Art, Animals and Advocacy: The Gifts of Giving Locally

‘Tis the season for giving and we at CSP have decided to spread the love this final quarter of 2020 by making charitable contributions to not only one, but three worthy non-profit organizations. These charitable programs have not let Covid-19 and the related restrictions and challenges dim the lights on their important missions.

Our first recipient, Wilmington’s DREAMS Center for Arts Education, is a youth development organization dedicated to providing equitable access to arts education to youth and teens. DREAMS supports the values of respect, family and community while providing free-of-charge art programming to more than 600 young people and their families each year. Contributions enable DREAMS to continue offering more than 40 classes per week at six different sites in the Wilmington area, including its 12,000-square-foot inner city center on Wilmington’s North Side. Classes include dance, songwriting, collage-making, photography, pottery, drawing, woodworking, papermaking, painting, music and more.  DREAMS’ mantra is “Art Sustains” – and many of us who took comfort in reading books, watching movies and listening to music during quarantine this year would agree. Art has the power to inspire and to change lives. It allows for self-expression and storytelling and provides a safe harbor to anyone seeking to find refuge in it.

Another organization that seeks to provide safe harbor is our second recipient, Adoptions First Animal Rescue of Jacksonville, NC. Adoption First’s mission is to rescue dogs from euthanasia and to find each one a safe, loving, forever home. Adoptions First relies heavily on the generosity of community donations and volunteers to foster dogs, assist with socializing dogs and coordinating fundraising events.  Currently, they are seeking $5,000 in monetary donations to improve the rescue center, where dogs are located when not in a foster home. The center is hoping to replace outdoor kennels, create a sheltered/shaded area for dogs, install a concrete pad for ease of sanitization and install a carport cover. A larger project involves building an on-site surgical suite at estimated costs of $30,000. Of course, donations are still needed to manage the day-to-day expenses associated with caring for a large pack of dogs: food, medication, towels, cleaning products, spaying/neutering costs, etc. The rescue is staffed by dedicated volunteers who are passionate about caring for animals and making each one feel loved.

And isn’t feeling loved what each of us needs? Our third charity recipient is working to spread love one little black box at a time. Operation Pretty Things strives to love and empower victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. OPT’s mission is founded on three principles:  love, empowerment and hope. It offers an on-call lifeline and works with domestic violence shelters and organizations to provide tools and services to help survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and sexual assault take the next steps toward a life free from abuse. OPT collects donations of new beauty products and cosmetics and parcels them into gift boxes – each accompanied by a handwritten note of encouragement – to be distributed to women survivors to help them be better prepared for job interviews, court obligations and for their overall self-care and wellness. Additionally, OPT partners with local schools and teen groups to educate and promote awareness about signs of abuse and teen dating violence. OPT welcomes community involvement through donations, participation through semi-annual collection drives to garner beauty essentials and periodic gift-assembly events. Based in Wilmington and serving numerous shelters and organizations throughout North Carolina, OPT has proven that hope is indeed contagious as the organization has expanded nationally to include participants in New York, Florida and Georgia.

CSP is honored to support these organizations which continue to positively impact the lives of those in our community and beyond. Keep shining your light! If you would like to learn more about these non-profits or to make a tax-deductible donation, please click on the following links:  www.givetodreams.org, www.adoptionfirstanimalrescue.com and www.operationprettythings.org.

 Coastal Select Properties is Cuckoo for Cucalorus!

CSP is honored to sponsor the upcoming 26th annual Cucalorus Film Festival scheduled for November 11th – 25th in Wilmington. According to Cucalorus’ website, the festival’s “spirited celebration has been recognized as a breeding ground for young artists, new ideas and future collaborations. Cucalorus brings together emerging creatives with new ideas that challenge us to look at the world in new ways.”

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the arts industry this year and the Cucalorus festival team was challenged to be even more creative to execute this year’s festival while complying with social distancing measures. Historically a 3-day event, this year’s festival will span two weeks and will screen most films online via live events or streaming on-demand, with six films being showcased at the drive-in movie theater on University of North Carolina - Wilmington’s campus.

While this year’s selections have been scaled back compared to prior years, there are still plenty of offerings to choose from with a lineup of 95 films including documentary and narrative features as well as 77 short films which have been curated into blocks named after mushrooms, like King Oyster, Powdery Piggyback and Witches Butter to name a few. Opening night will feature two films:  Mo Scarpelli’s El Father Plays Himself and Sabrina Merten’s Time of Moulting.

In addition to film screenings, the festival also features opportunities for participants to gather virtually to enjoy live stage performances by various artists, dancers, comedians and musicians including Wilmington’s own Julie-Ann Scott-Pollock. The Cucalorus Connect conference will include a week of 90-minute facilitated conversations via Zoom for discussions about race and the relationship between storytelling and action. One session scheduled for discussion includes “Impolite Conversations about Race, Education, Justice and Health” hosted by Rebecca Trammel and Kevin Maurer.

Individual tickets as well as festival passes, ranging from $50 - $125, are on sale now.

CSP owner, Tricia Ireland, is a huge fan of the Cucalorus Film Festival and it is one of her favorite annual events in Wilmington. According to Ireland, “Cucalorus champions diversity, community and inclusivity and that makes it a great fit for our company’s nonprofit giving program. Supporting the arts locally is so important – now more than ever. Wilmington has so much to offer with the river, the historic district and the ocean nearby. A vibrant arts and culture scene makes the area even more appealing, not only to tourists, but to folks looking for a new place to call home.”

Cucalorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on funds from individuals, businesses and grants to fund its annual celebration. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to cucalorus.org.

Welcome to Getting to Know You, a segment where our team members share a little bit about themselves through a series of rapid-fire questions. 

We are excited to welcome Andrew Garrard, Realtor, to the CSP team! A native of Maryland, Andrew spent his childhood summers at his family home on the Delaware coast where he developed an affinity for the ocean. Andrew graduated with a B.S. in Construction Management from East Carolina University. Upon graduating, he traveled for commercial construction projects and spent time living in Utah, Oregon and California.

After enjoying four years in the San Francisco Bay area, Andrew and his girlfriend recently purchased their first home in Wilmington’s historic district of Brookwood. Andrew has a passion for real estate and is actively engaged in market research. He is excited to help buyers with the search for their perfect home.  

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? In 50 years, you’ll look back and reflect on your life. Try to do what you enjoy now and you’ll reflect on all your enjoyable experiences and decisions as good memories, rather than regrets of what you didn’t do.

Name a book you read that positively shaped you. It’s a tie between The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. 

If you had one superpower, what would it be? Why? I’d like the ability to control time. You could make a good day last forever and could rerun great snowboarding runs over and over.

What is your favorite summer activity? Enjoying all-you-can-eat blue crabs with the family. We spend hours eating, talking and laughing. 

Do you have any hobbies? What are they? Yes - hiking, snowboarding and soccer. 

What are your best habits? Honesty, work ethic and punctuality. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure? I’ve learned it's not a failure if you learn from the experience and get better from it.

When are you most inspired? I’m most inspired around sunrise and sunset - there is something special about these times of day. 

What is something you wish you could be good at? Playing guitar - I recently purchased an acoustic guitar and have started practicing.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Thai food - I could enjoy take-out every day of the week and be happy. 

What do you do to relax? Surf and hike.

How do you manage stress? I first step back to figure out what is causing the stress. If it is something in my control, then I make a plan to fix that issue. If it is out of my control, I let it be and do something fun to take my mind off of it. 

Do you have any pets? Yes, a dog named Millie. She is a lab mix that we adopted shortly after moving to Wilmington. 

What makes you laugh the most? A good comedian, preferably in an intimate venue. A favorite venue in San Francisco is Cheaper than Therapy. Wilmington’s Dead Crow is also great!

What’s your favorite movie ever? The Usual Suspects. 

Texting or talking? Talking - you can get much more accomplished by having a quick phone call.

If you would like Andrew’s expertise and assistance with buying or selling a home, please contact him at Andrew@coastalselectproperties.com.