🌱 Wilmington Geek Expo + Apartment Fire Leaves Dozens Displaced

Hi all. I'm back with your new edition of the Wilmington Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Pleasant with clouds and sun. High: 73 Low: 60.
• Tuesday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 79 Low: 61.

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Here are the top three stories in Wilmington today:

1. On Saturday, Apr. 1, hundreds of anime, superhero, and cosplay fans gathered at The Wilmington Geek Expo at the Wilmington Convention Center. Attendees showed up in various costumes representing a variety of their favorite characters while others stood in line to meet celebrities like John Wesley Shipp from "The Flash" and the locally filmed television show "Dawson's Creek." (WWAY NewsChannel 3)
2. The Wilmington Fire Department handled a large apartment fire at Cypress Grove Apartments this past weekend. According to a spokesperson, the call came in just before 6 p.m. on Saturday evening and crews were on the scene working to get the flames under control for nearly three hours. The Red Cross provided relief assistance after a dozen people were displaced following the outbreak. (WECT)
3. A man has been arrested in connection with a stabbing that took place at Circle K in the Wilmington area on Friday night. According to the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, the team partnered with the Wilmington Police Department to locate the suspect, Willie Darnell Deramus, and ended up finding a vehicle that matched the description of Deramus' car. To find him, police conducted a traffic stop. (Port City Daily)

From our sponsor:

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Today and tomorrow in Wilmington:

Monday, April 3

• Community Meetup At Davis Center, Maides Park (5:45 PM)

Tuesday, April 4

• Wake Up Wilmington At Wilmington Chamber Of Commerce (8:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Come out anytime between Wednesday, Apr. 12, and Sunday, Apr. 16, to enjoy Wilmington's North Carolina Azalea Festival! The festival celebrates Wilmington's exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history, and culture during its five days of pageantry. For more information about the festival and to buy tickets, click here. (Visit Wilmington, NC and Beaches via Facebook)
• Looking to welcome a new furry friend into your family? The New Hanover Humane Society wants you to meet Boomer, a 3-year-old chihuahua mix who's very sweet and in search of a loving family. Meet Boomer and plenty of other animals available for adoption at the link. (New Hanover Humane Society)
• On Sunday, Apr. 30, the University of North Carolina Wilmington's documentary "Shew's Natural Treasures: The Coastal Plain of Southeastern North Carolina" is premiering at the Lumina Theater. The documentary features scientist and faculty member Roger Shew as he explores the astounding natural landscapes around Wilmington and highlights the challenges that these environments face. For more information about the documentary, visit here. (University of North Carolina Wilmington)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. See you all soon for another update!

— 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.