Employment may be down and funding cut to schools, but a record number of people are heading back to school. Our local college is no exception.
Record enrollment fills Cape Fear Community College classes
By Chelsea Kellner
Chelsea.Kellner@StarNewsOnline.com
Professors are pulling out the folding chairs to accommodate a record number of students at Cape Fear Community College this semester.
Enrollment numbers are up 15 percent from last year already, and that’s not counting the high school, law enforcement and truck driver training students who have yet to sign up.
“The number of applications exceeds anything we’ve ever seen before,” CFCC President Eric McKeithan said. “I’m surprised we were able to find this many extra spaces.”
The slow economy that has put a financial squeeze on state-funded schools like CFCC is also sending people back to school in record numbers. That means schools are seeing record numbers of students just when they have the least money to spend on expansion.
This time last year, registration clocked in at 7,455, with some students still to register. By the time registration closed, the school saw an 8.5 percent increase from the year before, McKeithan said.
Right now, the college is looking at the possibility of enrollment topping 9,000 students for the first time. As of Friday, enrollment stood at 8,594, with many more students expected to sign on this week. These figures represent continuing students and first-time students.
To squeeze in as many students as possible, the college has more than doubled the number of classes offered online – 385 this fall compared to 157 last fall – and increased class sizes. That’s where the folding chairs came in, when some courses were standing-room-only on the first day of class.
Despite added seats in popular programs, most of them still filled up fast. College transfer and health care classes are full, as well as technical classes ranging from computer repair to cosmetology.
The school has new buildings in the works, but delays in the state construction permitting process mean CFCC won’t open a new building with classrooms until 2011.
In the meantime, the downtown campus is bustling.
“Walking down a couple of blocks of Front Street, there were our students in virtually every shop, every restaurant,” McKeithan said. “It’s good to see that kind of energy downtown.”
Chelsea Kellner: 343-2070
On Twitter.com: @StarNewsOnline
Showing posts with label wilmington nc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wilmington nc. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Celebrities in Wilmington?
It shouldn't be a surprise that Wilmington has attracted celebrity residents. Many films and television shows have been filmed in the area and the city has the largest studio outside of Hollywood. So, who has made notable real estate purchases in the area? MyReporter.com recently addressed this question.
Which celebrities live in the area?
It depends, of course, on how you define “famous.” Quite a few celebrities do have Wilmington-area addresses, though.
Among the more notable is Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin – perhaps best-known as the star of TV’s “Alice” – who fell in love with the area while filming the TV movie “Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose Garden” with Mary Tyler Moore, back in 1995. Lavin and her husband, actor/director Steven Bakunas, founded the Red Barn Studio, a 50-seat theater which opened in 2007 at 1122 S. Third St., Wilmington. As co-creative directors, they’ve staged productions of such works as Alfred Uhry’s “Driving Miss Daisy,” John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” and David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow.”
Lavin isn’t the only actor who decided to settle. Dennis Hopper spent several years in Wilmington after filming “Blue Velvet” here. He was largely responsible for the restoration of the Masonic Temple building at 17-21 N. Front St., Wilmington – now home to the City Stage theater – and he directed the 1994 feature “Chasers” here and in the Myrtle Beach area. Hopper hasn’t visited Wilmington in a few years, but he reportedly still owns real estate in Landfall and other parts of New Hanover County.
Actor/screenwriter Peter Jurasik, best known as the cosmic diplomat Londo Mollari on the TV series “Babylon 5,” has lived in Wilmington with his family for nearly a decade. He’s taught classes at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has appeared on the locally filmed series “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill,” and co-starred in the locally filmed feature “Amy & Isabelle.”
Joseph Gallison, who played Dr. Neil Curtis on the daytime drama “Days of Our Lives,” has lived in the area for many years and has been extremely active in local theater.
The late Pat Hingle bought a house in Carolina Beach shortly after filming the Stephen King thriller “Maximum Overdrive” here in 1985; he lived here until his death Jan. 3, 2009. Nick Nolte, who filmed “Weeds” here in 1986, owned a condominium for a while at Pleasure Island.
Other current celebrity residents include “One Tree Hill” star Hilarie Burton and Henry Darrow, who played Manolito on TV’s “The High Chaparral” and who also appeared on “Santa Barbara,” “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The New Zorro.”
Clyde Edgerton, the New York Times best-selling author of such novels as “Raney” and “Walking Across Egypt,” owns a house in town and teaches creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Among notable business leaders with homes in the area are Dr. Fred Eschelman, CEO of the pharmaceutical research giant PPD Inc., and Dennis Gillings, longtime CEO of the pharmaceutical services business Quintiles Transnational.
Quite a few celebrities tie up, at least temporarily, at Wrightsville Beach. DJ John Boy of radio’s “John Boy and Billy Show” has had a resort home on the island for many years and has participated in local fishing tournaments. Mystery writer Patricia Cornwell has spent many summers at Wrightsville and based the climax of her 1998 thriller “Point of Origin” there.
John Edwards, the former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, owns a resort house at Figure Eight Island; former Vice President Al Gore has rented property there. William Bennett, the former U.S. education secretary and federal drug czar and author of “The Book of Virtues,” has owned a house on Bald Head Island, as has “Today Show” celebrity Willard Scott.
Which celebrities live in the area?
It depends, of course, on how you define “famous.” Quite a few celebrities do have Wilmington-area addresses, though.
Among the more notable is Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin – perhaps best-known as the star of TV’s “Alice” – who fell in love with the area while filming the TV movie “Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose Garden” with Mary Tyler Moore, back in 1995. Lavin and her husband, actor/director Steven Bakunas, founded the Red Barn Studio, a 50-seat theater which opened in 2007 at 1122 S. Third St., Wilmington. As co-creative directors, they’ve staged productions of such works as Alfred Uhry’s “Driving Miss Daisy,” John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” and David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow.”
Lavin isn’t the only actor who decided to settle. Dennis Hopper spent several years in Wilmington after filming “Blue Velvet” here. He was largely responsible for the restoration of the Masonic Temple building at 17-21 N. Front St., Wilmington – now home to the City Stage theater – and he directed the 1994 feature “Chasers” here and in the Myrtle Beach area. Hopper hasn’t visited Wilmington in a few years, but he reportedly still owns real estate in Landfall and other parts of New Hanover County.
Actor/screenwriter Peter Jurasik, best known as the cosmic diplomat Londo Mollari on the TV series “Babylon 5,” has lived in Wilmington with his family for nearly a decade. He’s taught classes at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has appeared on the locally filmed series “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill,” and co-starred in the locally filmed feature “Amy & Isabelle.”
Joseph Gallison, who played Dr. Neil Curtis on the daytime drama “Days of Our Lives,” has lived in the area for many years and has been extremely active in local theater.
The late Pat Hingle bought a house in Carolina Beach shortly after filming the Stephen King thriller “Maximum Overdrive” here in 1985; he lived here until his death Jan. 3, 2009. Nick Nolte, who filmed “Weeds” here in 1986, owned a condominium for a while at Pleasure Island.
Other current celebrity residents include “One Tree Hill” star Hilarie Burton and Henry Darrow, who played Manolito on TV’s “The High Chaparral” and who also appeared on “Santa Barbara,” “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The New Zorro.”
Clyde Edgerton, the New York Times best-selling author of such novels as “Raney” and “Walking Across Egypt,” owns a house in town and teaches creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Among notable business leaders with homes in the area are Dr. Fred Eschelman, CEO of the pharmaceutical research giant PPD Inc., and Dennis Gillings, longtime CEO of the pharmaceutical services business Quintiles Transnational.
Quite a few celebrities tie up, at least temporarily, at Wrightsville Beach. DJ John Boy of radio’s “John Boy and Billy Show” has had a resort home on the island for many years and has participated in local fishing tournaments. Mystery writer Patricia Cornwell has spent many summers at Wrightsville and based the climax of her 1998 thriller “Point of Origin” there.
John Edwards, the former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, owns a resort house at Figure Eight Island; former Vice President Al Gore has rented property there. William Bennett, the former U.S. education secretary and federal drug czar and author of “The Book of Virtues,” has owned a house on Bald Head Island, as has “Today Show” celebrity Willard Scott.
Monday, July 6, 2009
OPEN HOUSE: Castle Street Trio
Sunday, July 12th
1pm-3pm
109 Castle Street, $449,900, MLS# 430686 (Grace Hodgkins, Exit Coastal) View more information.
213 Castle Street $268,000, MLS #429384 (Cindy Southerland, Intracoastal)
218 Castle Street $249,995, MLS #432436 (Sandra Hall, Intracoastal)
Directions: Market Street West (towards Cape Fear River), make left on 3rd Street, go
6 blocks and make right at light (Castle Street) 218 Castle will be on left and 213 and 109 will be on right.
Come tour 3 wonderfully restored bungalows on 2 blocks of Castle Street. Refreshments and snacks at 109 Castle. Drawing for gas gift card if all houses are attended!
1pm-3pm
109 Castle Street, $449,900, MLS# 430686 (Grace Hodgkins, Exit Coastal) View more information.213 Castle Street $268,000, MLS #429384 (Cindy Southerland, Intracoastal)
218 Castle Street $249,995, MLS #432436 (Sandra Hall, Intracoastal)
Directions: Market Street West (towards Cape Fear River), make left on 3rd Street, go
6 blocks and make right at light (Castle Street) 218 Castle will be on left and 213 and 109 will be on right.
Come tour 3 wonderfully restored bungalows on 2 blocks of Castle Street. Refreshments and snacks at 109 Castle. Drawing for gas gift card if all houses are attended!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
4th of July Wilmington Battleship Blast Highlights and Southport
Did you miss the Wilmington, NC, fireworks or are curious to see what the Wilmington fireworks look like? Check out some highlights at WWAY TV 3. The Battleship Blast fireworks were amazing as usual and the news said there were record numbers of people downtown.
Not far away, Southport holds the annual official state celebration for the 4th of July. The celebration lasts multiple days with a large parade on the morning of the 4th. More info here.
By the way, for those that are unable to travel downtown or to Southport, WWAY TV 3 broadcasts the fireworks and parade on television.
EDITED TO ADD:
Check out these photos of the fireworks. They are rad!
http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=WM&Date=20090704&Category=NEWS5006&ArtNo=704009996&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=2
Not far away, Southport holds the annual official state celebration for the 4th of July. The celebration lasts multiple days with a large parade on the morning of the 4th. More info here.
By the way, for those that are unable to travel downtown or to Southport, WWAY TV 3 broadcasts the fireworks and parade on television.
EDITED TO ADD:
Check out these photos of the fireworks. They are rad!
http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=WM&Date=20090704&Category=NEWS5006&ArtNo=704009996&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=2
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
OPEN HOUSE: 101 N 25th St, Wilmington, NC 28405
Open House
Saturday, June 27 from 1-4pm
Saturday, June 27 from 1-4pm
101 N 25th St.
Wilmington, NC 28405
MLS#: 432886
2BR 2BA - 1420 SqFt
Agent: Nick Moss
Directions: From Downtown travel North on Market St. Make left on N. 25th St. House is on the Left.
Description: Beautiful home on a large gorgeous lot. Gorgeous Hardwood Floors. So much of the older home charm but with many updates, including updated electrical, plumbing, windows, and more.Enjoy the large kitchen with tiled countertops. Also included are the appliances which has a gas stove and plenty of pantry space. Nice laundry room of its own which is hard to find in a home like this. Washer and dryer are also included. Spend the warm summer days on the huge deck or sneek into the sunroom. Large Lot with tons of room for a garden. What was once a 
detached garge, is now additonal cooled/wired space in back, great for a pool table, game room, playroom, man room, or anything else you might want to use it for. Come see all this home and quiet neighborhood have to offer.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Front Street Getting an Upgrade Starting in Early 2010
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The Front Street Streetscape project is expected to begin construction in January, 2010 and last six to eight months. This $1.5 million-project is intended to upgrade utility infrastructure, create improved public spaces, and encourage more pedestrians to visit and enjoy Wilmington’s downtown. Learn more...
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