Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why Starway Village is being called Wilmington’s affordable housing template

And check out 'CHRISTMAS JOE' 1 Man Biblical Play + Concert – 10am! FREE! on the Wilmington Patch calendar

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Good morning Wilmington! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Starway Village is being called Wilmington’s affordable housing template
  • How a $1.5M grant could reshape care for Wilmington residents
  • How Avelo’s big ILM expansion could change your travel options

Also on today's calendar: ‘CHRISTMAS JOE’ 1 Man Biblical Play + Concert – 10am! FREE! and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Wilmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: How many sheep does it take to make a sweater? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Wilmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 72 and low of 45 degrees.
  • Sunday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 62, low: 60.
  • Monday: Breezy with a few showers, with a high of 71 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. No. 5 Most Read of 2025: Starway Village opens with 400+ applicant list, hailed affordable housing ‘template' (portcitydaily.com) — Wilmington’s Starway Village, the state’s largest affordable housing complex, opened in October on Carolina Beach Road and drew more than 450 applications for 278 income-restricted units. Backed by city, county, state and federal support, the project is being touted as a template for tackling housing costs that outpace typical Wilmington rents.
   

2. With Medicaid pilot funding stalled, local organization gets $1.5M to build a new program (portcitydaily.com) — New Hanover Community Endowment has awarded $1.5 million to build a local social care network that will help New Hanover and Wilmington residents access food, housing, and transportation as Medicaid’s Healthy Opportunities Pilot remains frozen. Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear is using the grant to design a system, informed by partners like Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, that could expand services to Medicare patients and the uninsured by 2026.
   

3. One commercial airline is ready to make big changes at Wilmington International Airport (wwaytv3.com) — Avelo Airlines is expanding its presence at Wilmington International Airport after launching ILM’s first commercial international flight to Punta Cana, with two planes now based here and nearly 50 local crew members. The low-cost carrier plans to add more routes using new aircraft in 2026, which airport leaders say should mean more travel options and potential job growth for Wilmington residents.
   

4. Seniors receive gifts this holiday from Saint Nicholas Christmas Foundation (wect.com) — A Wilmington resident who runs the Saint Nicholas Christmas Foundation spent Christmas Eve delivering donated gifts to seniors at Cedar Cove Assisted Living and Memory Care in town, making sure they felt remembered and celebrated. His year-round nonprofit now operates in six states, but he continues to rely on the Wilmington community’s support to brighten the holidays for local nursing home residents.
   

📸 Around Wilmington

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update- Opie is home thanks to a kind neighbor.
    Merry Christmas everyone White lab mix went missing around 7:00pm on December 25. Responds to “Opie”. He does not have his collar on. Pic for… (Nextdoor Kings Grant)
  • We wish everyone a very Merry & Blessed Christmas!!
    Thanks for your support throughout the year! We do truly feel blessed. (Nextdoor Kirkland Estates)
  • Walmart posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Wilmington. Apply here.
  • Whole Foods posted a job opening for Produce Team Member (Clerk, Floor Service) - Part Time in Wilmington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Wilmington here.

Ok Wilmington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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