🌱 Tiny Libraries In Wilmington + UNCW Prof. David Gessner's New Book

Hey, Wilmington! Like many of you, the Patch staff will be taking some time off for the Fourth of July. I’ll be back in your inbox after the holiday, but until then, here’s what’s happening in town today.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: A gusty t-storm in the p.m. High: 95 Low: 78.
• Tuesday: Humid with a stray t-storm. High: 92 Low: 77.
• Wednesday: Humid; a stray a.m. t-storm. High: 91 Low: 75.

Here are the top stories in and around Wilmington today:

1. New Hanover County is dotted with free libraries - more than 40 that are registered with Minnesota nonprofit Little Free Library, which maintains an online database of over 150,000 little free libraries worldwide. A few highlights from the local area include 2 W. Henderson St. in Wrightsville Beach, which is built to look like local landmark The Sand Crab Cottage; 620 Barksdale Road, maintained by high school teachers Benedict and Emily Fancy; and one which opened this June in Halyburton Park. (StarNewsOnline.com)
2. David Gessner, a professor at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, is adding to his prolific literary career with a new book, "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind and Water," a sobering assessment of what the world may hold for his daughter, Hadley, recently 19. According to Gessner and those cited in his book, current research and future projections indicate possibly disastrous developments in the local environment and the quality of life of people who may live in Wilmington, New Hanover County, and throughout North Carolina and up and down the eastern seaboard in the coming century. (StarNewsOnline.com)
3. Eden Village, a "tiny home" community off of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, held its grand opening on Friday, Jun. 30. Planned since the beginning of 2020, Eden Village is meant to provide permanent housing for people suffering chronic homelessness. Residents pay for the homes in Eden Village through deductions from monthly benefits, including disability, veteran benefits, and through income residents may acquire from future employment. Residents who are accepted into the community are permitted to set down roots and stay for the rest of their lifetime. (WHQR)

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Coming up in Wilmington:

Monday, July 3

• James Dean Acoustic At Marina Grill (1:00 PM)
• Dragon Storytime and Craft At The New Hanover County Public Library - Main Branch (3:30 PM)

Tuesday, July 4

• July 4th Holiday At The J. C. Roe Center (12:00 AM)
• Fourth of July Firecracker Sunset Cruise At Wilmington Water Tours (7:30 PM)

Wednesday, July 5

• Voice & the Pen At Mad Katz Bar & Lounge (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The New Hanover County Schools are spotlighting Deanna Leake, who will be the new Principal of Murray Middle School. Leake began at Bellamy Elementary School, and worked through the Principal Fellows Program and a Master of School Administration with licensure in Curriculum, Instruction, & Supervision to become the Assistant Principal of Murray Middle School, then the Principal of Carolina Beach Elementary School and now the Principal of Murray Middle School. Leake has also served as the NCPAPA President of the New Hanover County Schools. (New Hanover County Schools via Facebook)
• The Wilmington Police Department is pleased to report that Karen Darius Howerton, 70, who was recently declared missing and last seen in the 200 block of Eastwood Road, has been found. (Wilmington, NC Police Department via Facebook)
• It may come as no surprise, given the summer heat, blue skies, and warm breeze, but July is the City of Wilmington's Parks & Recreation Month! The City invites locals and visitors to enjoy everything that Wilmington has to offer, but especially the public parks and trails that Parks & Rec. staff work so hard to maintain. (City of Wilmington, NC Government via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you on the other side of the Fourth for future updates!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.