It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bellamy Mansion Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Wilmington, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with.”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed,”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by”
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team of caregivers who really care about the well fare of their clients. They go above and beyond taking care of my parents and have been very professional and dependable. I would recommend ABC to anyone who needs a reliable and competent care team. Karen Lussi”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart to see the services being rendered to clients. Extra miles taken to make sure every client is well taken care, even in unpleasant weather conditions. The CEO and administrators were out in the snow last week picking up workers who were unsure of driving . I was glad to see this commitment, making sure families could sit back and relax. With no fear, I will recommend Always best to any family who needs awesome care for their love ones.”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office staff are great people, very helpful and always treat everyone with love and respect. Definitively it is a bless to work for this agency.”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time with our father. It all began with a fall, followed by an ER visit, and soon after, my sister and I found ourselves flying to NC to care for him and plan the next steps. Kathryn from Always Best Care was an absolute lifesaver! She guided us seamlessly through the process of finding the perfect independent senior living community for our father. Her extensive industry knowledge helped us navigate the additional health services he required with ease. Kathryn went above and beyond, consistently checking in and patiently responding to countless texts and emails from us. Thanks to her support, our father is now thriving in a supportive environment and is healthier than ever. We can’t imagine how we would have managed this journey without Kathryn’s expertise and compassion. Truly an incredible experience!”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of what someone living with dementia is like. This is such a horrible disease but this helps care givers understand the disease. Thanks so much!!”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things . I didn’t know it was that bad for them and it’s very sad , I will always treat them all with care and love no matter what because there dealing with something that’s really hard to deal with .”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I now know what to do differently when working with my residents. I think A all caregivers should experience this training.”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and caring home health assistance to my mother who was recovering from an unexpected surgery. They were able to assist on incredibly short notice and made a difficult situation for our family much better. Each of their carers was exceptionally professional and attentive, especially Lori and Kylie who were incredible. I felt safe leaving my loved one in their care and appreciated that they went above and beyond to meet our needs. They provided regular updates to me and my family and made my mother feel so well attended, especially as she needed extra mobility and personal care help. I would absolutely not work with any other company, should we ever need home health assistance again. Highly recommend.”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me gain my mobility! They are all super nice and very helpful! Give them your trust, they have mine. If I ever need home help, it'll be through them!”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had to downsize due to an unexpected illness and Always Best Care (ABC) stepped in to make this possible. Kind, compassion, pleasant, friendly, joyful and talented professionals comprise those providing this service. I literally couldn’t have lived for at my assisted living since I had so many hospital visits each week. I didn’t want to go alone to these appointments and this freed my family from needless distress and worry about my wellbeing when they couldn’t be there. I highly recommend ABC since they are an essential component providing excellent and reliable support.”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in law transition into her new home after moving to Raleigh from Winston Salem. She has dialysis 3x a week and they have worked so hard to coordinate a schedule to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sherry continues to amaze me in how she is able to help figure out schedules and provide customer services in a kind and professional manner. We will continue to look to this wonderful service provider as her needs change and feel blessed to have them on site at Atri”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with. He was sincerely concerned about my mom and our family. He is an excellent listener and introduced me to Paige who is equally wonderful. Together they found a great place for my mother in a very short time. Paige was always available to speak on the phone and addressed my questions or concerns. I would recommend using this service for your loved one. Laura B of Raleigh”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed, and things changed constantly. My dad has a chance to live the rest of his life with dignity and my mom has a chance to live a fuller life because of the help we got from Kathryn and this team. They have a great network and valuable knowledge but what observed that makes them invaluable is that they care...and when you are on this situation I found that this is the quality that matters the most. Cannot thank them enough.”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We are very satisfied with his service and professionalism. He took his time and our requirements and found the perfect place. Highly recommend him and Always Best Care!”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many options it was confusing for me! Shawn and his team sent me several places to review and then accompanied me to visit independent living facilities. I appreciate the resources and information provided. Shawn, thank you for being focused on our family's needs and sharing your expertise. Your compassion and patience is so very appreciated!”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by far the best place I've worked our boss and staff are everything.????????????????????????????????????????????????????”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Greenfield Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local manna or visit Wilmington Light Infantry Building / John A. Taylor House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Wilmington, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Wilmington, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Wilmington, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
FOODWilmington StarNewsThe owners of the popular Wilmington Brewing Company have launched a new brewery concept, which officially opened June 13 at 121 S. Front St. downtown.For the past several months, John and Michelle Savard have been renovating the historic W.H. McEachern's Sons warehouse to create Savard Beer & Board. And for more than a decade, the couple has been building their brand and its flagship beer, Tropical Lightning. This new brewery will allow them to try new things, they said.“Yes, it w...
FOOD
Wilmington StarNews
The owners of the popular Wilmington Brewing Company have launched a new brewery concept, which officially opened June 13 at 121 S. Front St. downtown.
For the past several months, John and Michelle Savard have been renovating the historic W.H. McEachern's Sons warehouse to create Savard Beer & Board. And for more than a decade, the couple has been building their brand and its flagship beer, Tropical Lightning. This new brewery will allow them to try new things, they said.
“Yes, it was a lot of work to create a second brand,” Michelle Savard said. “But it is a way for us to have some fun and do something different.”
To set itself apart from the parent brewery, Savard will be making lighter, lower-alcohol beers. (It’s one reason they can serve brews like Playa Negra Irish Stout in liter-sized steins.)
“We’ll also be using different yeasts,” said Parker Whitlow, brewer for Savard. “We’re trying to do more English beers and old school beers like pub ales and German lagers.”
As they open, they’ll have in-house beers like Coastal Peel Belgian Wit and the Reef Runner West Coast Style IPA on draft, as well as Wilmington Brewing favorites like Tropical Lightning and the Pretty Peach Wheat Ale.
In addition to beer, they will be serving wine and cocktails. A starting menu of five signature drinks includes the bourbon-based Board Meeting and the Party Girl Spritz.
Part of the new space is a surfboard shaping studio. Shaper Evan Olivia has already made a few surfboards that are on display above the bar. A window into the working spaces will allow people to watch the work as it happens. Kind of like an art performance, Michelle Savard said.
The renovation of the historic property has made the most of the exposed brick walls and the skylights that allow natural light into the large taproom. There’s a 10-barrel brewery system behind the L-shaped bar lined with mismatched and hand-painted barstools.
The expansive space also has lots of seating areas, including a long banquette by the window, and a few lounge areas with sofas and comfy chairs. The Savards plan to open a patio with games, and space for a food truck. One side room with tables can be used for private events.
Michelle Savard said the bathrooms also have something unique, in addition to a mural in the corridor. Each restroom has a different colored door and a matching tile interior, in yellow, orange, purple, blue, etc.
For the opening weekend, they plan to be open 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, June 14 and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, June 15. Eventually, they'll add Thursday hours, as well.
STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest food news by signing up for the Port City Foodies newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected].
LOCALWilmington StarNewsWith density a constant point of contention for residential developments across New Hanover County, two projects returned to the planning board with reduced unit counts.At a planning board meeting on June 5, developers earned a stamp of approval for two separate projects that will bring ...
LOCAL
Wilmington StarNews
With density a constant point of contention for residential developments across New Hanover County, two projects returned to the planning board with reduced unit counts.
At a planning board meeting on June 5, developers earned a stamp of approval for two separate projects that will bring dozens of homes to New Hanover. Despite being in different parts of the county, the projects share a commonality: it wasn’t their first trip to the planning board.
Representatives for Heron Cove and McQuillan Pines both presented revised site plans that featured lower density than their previous iterations. Heron Cove went before the planning board on May 1, receiving negative feedback from both the board and neighboring residents. McQuillan Pines has been in the works for two years, initially proposing apartments but later shifting to a townhome community.
Still, neither of the revisions were a result of a denial from the planning board. The higher density plans for McQuillan Pines had already been approved. For Heron Cove, the developer requested a continuance to consider lowering the density of the project before the board had a chance to vote on it. However, multiple board members agreed with assertions that the initial project was too dense.
The projects will head to the Board of Commissioners on July 21 for final approval.
The planning board unanimously approved the revised site plans for Heron Cove, which include 67 single-family homes off Gordon Road. The project initially proposed 81 units. The current zoning would allow for 27 units. The new proposal would generate approximately 52 peak hour trips in the morning and 68 in the evening, a slight decrease from traffic projections of the original site plan.
Neighboring residents expressed a variety of concerns at the planning board meetings in May and June. Much of the discussion revolved around the lack of interconnectivity in the project, which proposes a dead-end street. Nearby resident Sarah DeVries said that an adjacent 7.6-acre lot has been offered for exclusive sale to the developer to improve access and interconnectivity.
Resident Tim Strickland said that he appreciates Wilmington’s growth but said high density neighborhoods detract from what there is to enjoy about the area.
“That’s everybody’s American dream to own a home,” Strickland said. “But do you want to be on top of that person? I don’t have anything against anyone who wants to live in a development that tight, but it just seems like it’s too close. They’re suffocating each other.”
Heron Cove Development representative Amy Schaefer said that the developer faced challenges with the property, which is a 10.8-acre strip between two residential streets.
“New Hanover County does not have a lot of open space,” Schaefer said. “You’re going to have properties that are not exactly perfect for what you’d like to see.”
To compensate for lowering the density, developers raised the projected price point for the 1,500-square-foot homes from $325,000 to $350,000. Planning board member Kaitlyn Rhonehouse said that the proposed costs fall into the category of affordable housing.
“You have to have higher density to have affordable housing,” Rhonehouse said.
The planning board voted to approve a rezoning request for nearly 14 acres on Carolina Beach Road to modify the approved housing type from multi-family units to townhomes. Developer River Road Construction initially proposed the project, known as McQuillan Pines, as a 126-unit apartment complex. The new site plan includes 85 row style townhomes, a 36,000-square-foot storage facility, a clubhouse and a pool.
The developer revised plans for McQuillan Pines to allow for a home type that was meant to be sold rather than rented. The project received positive feedback from surrounding neighbors at a community meeting prior to the planning board hearing. One resident spoke in opposition of the project at the hearing, citing traffic impact concerns. The revised iteration of McQuillan Pines is projected to generate significantly less traffic than the previously approved development.
Daniel Sheehan covers the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at [email protected].
Who doesn’t love brunch? As breakfast and brunch restaurants boom across the Wilmington area, other eateries are bringing diners some mouthwatering midday meals.Here are a few that have started in recent weeks and months. Did we miss another great brunch? Let us know by emailing [email protected] Ristorante Italiano This restaurant at 4724 New Centre Drive in Wilmington is making brunch a regular event. It will...
Who doesn’t love brunch? As breakfast and brunch restaurants boom across the Wilmington area, other eateries are bringing diners some mouthwatering midday meals.
Here are a few that have started in recent weeks and months. Did we miss another great brunch? Let us know by emailing [email protected].
This restaurant at 4724 New Centre Drive in Wilmington is making brunch a regular event. It will take place the first Sunday of every month. Chef and owner Lorraine Roderick is adding some of her popular Sweet n Savory Cafe recipes to the menu. Look for Benedicts, house-made cinnamon rolls and biscuits, shrimp and grits and the PPE, or pulled-pork enchiladas with eggs and ranchero sauce. There are also a few options for mimosas and Bloody Marys, which are made from a house-made mix made from their marinara sauce.
Owner Dustin Smith said he’s wanted to cater to the downtown Wilmington breakfast crowd for a while. Now, Fork n Cork has a daily breakfast / brunch menu that’s available 8-11 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 22 Market St. It includes his popular Bone & Bean BBQ Breakfast Tacos, which can come with eggs, cheese, meats like chorizo, cheese and refried beans. Also look for Bloody Marys, mimosas and daily brunch specials like omelets or shrimp and grits.
Robert and Jennifer Becker took over this restaurant in 2022 and have made a few updates to the look and menu at 121 Grace St. in downtown Wilmington. Now, they've added a Sunday brunch service. Look for a mid-day version of their eclectic dinner menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mexican brunch is a thing. And this restaurant at 5607 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington has added daily brunch hours. The menu is available 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The menu includes spicy tamarindo mimosas, authentic cafe? de olla, birria grilled cheese, huevos rancheros and mollets, or French bread topped with refried black beans, chorizo, cheese, pico de gallo, and drizzled with sour cream.
This restaurant in Shallotte brings in local seafood from the Ocean Isle Fishing Center fleet of boats and of course also prides itself on the wing selection and sauces – which are now available bottled for purchase. Now, there’s a brunch menu offered 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected]
LOCALWilmington StarNewsWith recorded history in the Wilmington area going back some three centuries, that translates to a lot of historic buildings and homes in Southeastern North Carolina, many of them dating to the 19th century and, in a few cases, even earlier.Many of these structures are well-known, including the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, the Bellamy Mansion Museum, the Latimer House, the Dudley Mansion and ...
LOCAL
Wilmington StarNews
With recorded history in the Wilmington area going back some three centuries, that translates to a lot of historic buildings and homes in Southeastern North Carolina, many of them dating to the 19th century and, in a few cases, even earlier.
Many of these structures are well-known, including the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, the Bellamy Mansion Museum, the Latimer House, the Dudley Mansion and Wilmington's oldest structure, the Mitchell-Anderson House, all located downtown.
Plenty of lesser-known historic houses, however, are in the Wilmington area. Let's take a look at a few.
This house on South Third Street between Market and Dock streets downtown dates to 1760, making it the second-oldest structure in Wilmington. It was expanded in 1844 and has been in the Boatright family since 1883.
This house in Calabash, which dates to around 1810, is one of the oldest in Brunswick County. No one has lived there since 1994, and Hickory Hall has some disturbing legends and stories attached to it.
In 2024, the building's owner said he was looking to sell the property to someone who would preserve it. The the nonprofit Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina, or Preservation NC, has a protective covenant on Hickory Hall that requires it to be preserved.
The Brunswick County town of Leland isn't generally touted for its history, but there are still a number of significant structures here.
The Gainey-Sue House at 1547 Lincoln Road is thought to be the oldest house in the Leland area, dating to the 1870s.
Another significant house, also on Lincoln Road, is known as the McFarland House, or the Yellow House, and it dates to the early 20th century. According to the town of Leland's website, this house was the site of the town's first official meeting after Leland was incorporated in 1989.
This house at 115 E. Bay St. in Southport dates to around 1800 and is believed to be the oldest house in the town, if not all of Brunswick County.
According to the Southport Historical Society, the house was built by Captain Jack Walker, who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
The oldest existing structure in Wrightsville Beach is the John Q. Meyers Cottage. The house, which was built in 1907 at 124 S. Lumina Ave., was saved from the wrecking ball by being moved in 2010 to its current location on Harbor Island in what is called Wrightsville Beach Historic Square.
The oldest structure at Wrightsville Beach still in its original location is the Davis Patteson Cottage at 500 N. Lumina Ave., which dates to 1910.
I think it’s probably just a joke, people…For months now, Ella Langley and Riley Green have been at the c...
I think it’s probably just a joke, people…
For months now, Ella Langley and Riley Green have been at the center of rumors that they were more than friends…
It first started when fans were convinced that Riley and Ella, who worked together on the massive hit “You Look Like You Love Me,” were an item, or had at least some sort of romantic fling or something of that nature.
They shut that idea down pretty much from the get go, and Riley has said before that Ella is “too smart” to date him, adding that they knew going into it that the song would cause conversation about their relationship status. They were fully expecting fans to embrace the love story, or the idea of it, the same way they did for legendary country music couples like George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
He explained:
“Yeah, I mean, Ella’s probably too smart to date me anyway. But I think that’s kind of the country music fan, like, they love the Tim McGraw and Faith, and the George and Tammy. And when we first started having the success we did with that song, I kinda told Ella, I was like, ‘There’s gonna be a lot of things said, but I mean, you don’t really have to play into it or not play into it, it’s gonna be something people enjoy the same way we do when we go listen to those songs.’”
Even when Ella herself said they were just very good friends, it still wasn’t enough to convince the world that they were not together.
But since Riley and Megan Moroney have been seen together more recently, fans have moved onto the idea that they have something going on with them, so who knows at this point. All press is good press, remember that, y’all.
But fans think they’ve gotten some sort of confirmation about Ella’s true feelings on Riley, who she is opening up for on his extensive Damn Country Music tour this summer, when she winked at a sign last night in Wilmington, North Carolina that read:
“Wink if Riley’s a dumb***.”
Ella looked straight at it and gave it a solid wink, along with a little smirk while reading it:
@desevegrace What we have all been wondering @Ella Langley #fyp #rileygreen #ellalangley ? original sound – desevegrace
I think it’s important to consider that Ella has a big slot opening for Riley on this tour, and they’ve had two successful duets together in “YLLYLM” and “Don’t Mind If I Do,” so even if there is some sort of bad blood (and I have no idea if there is), I feel like she wouldn’t put him on blast like that and it’s probably just meant to be funny…
People in the comments seemed to think it confirmed their suspicions about the state of the relationship between Riley and Ella, though:
“TEEEEEEAAAAA. We all knew it. God bless her. Imagine choosing Megan over this queen. EMBARRASSING.”
“This is fr the only hard evidence we have on this rumor and it’s now 100% confirmed.”
“She smiled as she was reading it.”
“Didn’t even break stride, Queen behavior.”
“She’s such a bad***.”
“The wink and the little smile just spoke a thousand words!”
“The confirmation we all needed.”
“Thank you for your service!”
“She was so smooth with it too ICON.”
“The way my jaw just dropped!”
“Wilmington doing the Lord’s work.”
“This is incredible that’s all I needed to see to confirm every suspicion I had.”
“ICONIC.”
“THE GRIN HAHAH.”
I tend to lean towards this comment being true, but who really knows. For a while, they seemed to have a sort of brother/sister relationship, but again, I can’t say one way or the other in terms of if they ever had an actual romantic relationship:
“I’m married for 10 years and I’d still wink if someone asked me this about my husband.”
Fair enough, honestly… do with all of this information what you will and draw your own conclusions at this point.
Riley is currently out on the road for his Damn Country Music Tour, with Ella Langley serving as direct support, and they will be on the road through November.
This is still the superior duet between them in my humble opinion…
“Don’t Mind If I Do”
June 12th, 2025 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion *$- June 13th, 2025 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank at Riverfront Park *$- June 14th, 2025 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek *$- June 19th, 2025 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater *$- June 21st, 2025 – Huntington, WV – Marshall Health Network Arena *$- June 26th, 2025 – Cadott, WI – Hoofbeat Country Fest % June 27th, 2025 – Brainerd, MN – Lakes Jam % June 28th, 2025 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest % July 10th, 2025 – Winnipeg, Canada – Country Thunder % July 12th, 2025 – Pendleton, OR – Pendleton Whisky Music Festival % July 13th, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Windy City Smokeout % July 18th, 2025 – Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavilion *- July 19th, 2025 – Harrington, DE – Delaware State Fair % July 20th, 2025 – York, PA – York State Fair % July 24th, 2025 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *@& July 25th, 2025 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway *@& July 26th, 2025 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion *@& August 1st, 2025 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest % August 9th, 2025 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater *$- August 16th, 2025 – Sainte-Hélène-de-Kamouraska, Canada – Lasso 2025 % August 17th, 2025 – Calgary, Canada – Country Thunder Calgary % August 21st, 2025 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater *?- August 22nd, 2025 – Idaho Falls, ID – Mountain America Center *?- August 23rd, 2025 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater *?- August 25th, 2025 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *?- August 28th, 2025 – Corning, CA – Obsidian Spirits Amphitheater *@- August 30th, 2025 – Puyallup, WA – Puyallup Fairgrounds at Washington State Fair %• September 6th, 2025 – Niagara Falls, Canada – Misty City Music Festival % September 10th, 2025 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town / September 11th, 2025 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town / September 12th, 2025 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town / September 13th, 2025 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy Birmingham / September 15th, 2025 – Manchester, England – O2 Victoria Warehouse / September 16th, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow / September 18th, 2025 – Belfast, UK – Waterfront Hall / September 19th, 2025 – Dublin, Ireland – Olympia Theatre / September 26th, 2025 – Washington, DC – Washington Nationals Park October 4th, 2025 – Winnsboro, SC – Field & Stream Festival % October 10th, 2025 – North Charleston, SC – Riverfront Revival % November 6th, 2025 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena #~/ November 7th, 2025 – St Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena #~/ November 8th, 2025 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center #~/ November 13th, 2025 – University Park, PA – Bryce Jordan Center #~/ November 14th, 2025 – Toledo, OH – Huntington Center #~/ November 15th, 2025 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena #~/ November 20th, 2025 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena #~/ November 21st, 2025 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center #~/
*Ella Langley +Jake Worthington @Vincent Mason #Jamey Johnson ~Drake White $Lauren Watkins ^Jake Worthington -Preston Cooper !Erik Dylan &Wyatt McCubbin ?Mike Ryan ;Channing Wilson •Josh Ross /Hannah McFarland %Festival date
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