Mold Remediation in Wilmington, NC

A video posted to YouTube last month takes an in-depth look at the career of film producer Dino De Laurentiis, including his relatively short but consequential time operating a studio in Wilmington.

There's not really any new information in the 30-minute video, which is titled "The Death of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group." It was posted by a content creator who calls himself Channel Serfer and says he makes "video essays exploring obscure & defunct media."

The video does, however, provide an engrossing look at the circumstances in the 1980s that helped create a film and television industry that exists in Wilmington and North Carolina to this day.

Over footage of the old De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) studios on 23rd Street in Wilmington — they would later become Screen Gems/EUE Studios and are currently Cinespace Studios — the video notes that while "it was one of the most promising indie studios of its time, the rise and fall of DEG would be sharp and swift."

The video then goes back to De Laurentiis' early life in Italy. Born in 1919, the son of a pasta maker, he rose to acclaim in the 1940s by producing acclaimed films for such well-known directors as Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini.

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De Laurentiis would go on to build a major film studio in Rome in the 1960s before selling it in the 1970s to move to the United States.

Unlikely story:40 years ago, Dino De Laurentiis started Wilmington's film industry

After partnering with big American studios to produce such hits as "Serpico," "Death Wish" and, biggest of all, 1976 blockbuster "King Kong" (sprinkled in with flops including "Flash Gordon" and critically acclaimed money-loser "Ragtime"), De Laurentiis found his way to the project that would lead him to Wilmington.

After 1983 movie "The Dead Zone" proved a modest hit, De Laurentiis looked to produce another film based on a Stephen King novel: "Firestarter," now known as the movie that sparked Wilmington's film industry.

The video correctly notes that it was a picture of Brunswick County's Orton Plantation in a magazine that put Wilmington in the minds of De Laurentiis and producer Frank Capra Jr. as a location for "Firestarter." It also curiously claims that it was Wilmington's "landscape, which includes beaches and mountains" that led De Laurentiis to announce the building of a film studio here in 1984, the year "Firestarter" was released. (The video's creator corrects that notion in the comments section, saying "film producers around this time were attracted to North Carolina as a whole due to its varied landscape overall.")

More importantly, the video notes, North Carolina had "right-to-work laws that limited the power of labor unions," leading De Laurentiis to tell media outlets that a film that cost $10 million to make in Los Angeles would cost only $7 million in North Carolina.

De Laurentiis rode into Wilmington on a high but soon ran into trouble thanks to such critical and commercial flops as "Dune" (not filmed in Wilmington), which put financial pressure on the studio. Wilmington-made flops like "Cat's Eye," "Silver Bullet" (both Stephen King projects) and "Year of the Dragon" dug the hole deeper.

Then, as big business conglomerates began buying up film studios, De Laurentiis acquired Embassy Pictures for $35 million in 1985, hoping to acquire a distribution arm for his studios. He then changed his studio's name, previously the De Laurentiis Corporation, to DEG.

The video mentions De Laurentiis' daughter Raffaella as being head of production for DEG, but doesn't mention his wife, Martha, who produced movies alongside her husband.

As the video notes, taking DEG public in 1986 was a huge financial risk, and stumbling out of the gates with flops "Tai Pan" and the Wilmington-filmed sequel "King Kong Lives" didn't help. Even Wilmington-filmed movies like "Blue Velvet" and "Crimes of the Heart" were more critical successes than commercial hits.

De Laurentiis announced plans to build a studio on Australia's Gold Coast in 1986 and to expand his Wilmington studio in 1987, but if '86 was "a brutal year," as the video says, '87 was worse.

DEG lost $70 million for the year as its stock price tumbled from $19 to $2.50 a share. DEG filed for bankruptcy in 1988, and was purchased by Carolco Studio in 1989.

Years later, the always optimistic De Laurentiis blamed DEG's flameout on a combination of bad business advice and his own inexperience dealing with the world of corporate America.

Redemption came later, as the De Laurentiis-produced "Hannibal" sequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" became the biggest hit of his career in 2001. He was honored that same year with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award at the Oscars before dying in 2010 at the age of 91.

De Laurentiis' time in Wilmington was not all for naught. As the video correctly notes, both Southeastern North Carolina, as well as the Gold Coast of Australia, where De Laurentiis opened another studio in the 1980s, have since become major film production centers.

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The chances of snow falling in the Wilmington area are rare and when it comes to hoping for one specific day out of the year -- Christmas Day -- they're even slimmer.

But Wilmington saw a few snow flurries during the morning of Dec. 3. Although the flurries didn’t last long or result in any measurable amount of snow, some Wilmington residents may be holding out hope for more.

Wilmington’s National Weather Service station gives a Winter Outlook for Southeastern North Carolina that can give insight into what Wilmington residents or visitors can expect this year during the holiday season.

More:Will the Wilmington area see snow? Here's the Farmer's Almanac's winter predictions.

Will it snow in Wilmington on Christmas Day?

Probably not. According to the Winter Outlook for Wilmington, La Niña is expected to be a factor in this winter’s weather and climate. This is a natural, periodic cooling of ocean water across the tropical east Pacific Ocean that brings global impacts to temperatures, rainfall, wind and pressure patterns.

Essentially, in the summer and fall it enhances tropical cyclone activity, which has impacted the Wilmington area this year. It also brings impacts during the winter, when it increases the potential for below normal rainfall across the southern United States.

Since 1959, there have been 22 winters when La Niña conditions were present, as is expected for this winter, according to the National Weather Service.

“Unfortunately for snow-lovers, the majority of those winters experienced below-average snowfall across the Carolinas,” according to the National Weather Service.

The forecast for Christmas Day in Wilmington, according to AccuWeather, shows a high of 64 degrees and a low of 37 degrees. This paired with a 25% probability of precipitation, might be disappointing for those hoping for some flurries.

Snow in Wilmington:A look back at when we saw measurable snowfall since 1870

Has Wilmington ever experienced a white Christmas?

The last time Wilmington had a white Christmas was in 1989 when 15 inches of snow fell 36 hours before Dec. 25.

The last time it snowed in December was on Dec. 12, 2017, when Wilmington had 1.1 inces of snow, according to the National Weather Service. It also snowed on Dec. 3, 2000, with just two-tenths of an inch. Wilmington also saw one-tenth of an inch of snow on Dec. 26, 2010.

According to the National Weather Service, epic snowstorms where a foot or more has fallen have occurred only three times in Wilmington’s history. These storms happened on Feb. 17-18, 1896; Feb. 9-11, 1973, and Dec. 22-24, 1989.

A local boba tea chain has added an equally popular food to its menu. Tap Tea Bar offers signature tea drinks, build-your-own options and seasonal specials, like those topped with peppermint cold foam.

Now, the owner has added an extensive selection of ramen at locations in downtown Wilmington, on Racine Drive and at The Pointe at Barclay. (They also hope to bring it to the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington soon.)

Owner Dynh Le said ramen was an important part of his life growing up in a Vietnamese American household. As ramen sales have exploded -- increasing 72% in the United States in the past couple of decades -- it made sense to serve it with the boba.

And as a downtown business owner, Le also saw the opportunity to add to the after-hours dining scene.

“There’s not a lot of late night eats,” Le said.

Restaurants like Slice of Life, I Love NY Pizza and Dough House Pizza Co. have hours to 3 a.m. on weekend nights. And there’s a popular hot dog stand usually positioned near Front and Market streets, and often a taco truck. But Le thinks the instant noodles will make a welcome addition for some diners.

Earlier this month, he started Late Night Ramen at 251 N. Front St. from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Here’s what to know.

Curated ramen

Tap Tea carries 28 different varieties of instant ramen.

“You have the broth kind, the spicy kind,” Le said. “We’ve got gluten-free ramen. We have vegan ramen.”

There are also Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese ramen brands. Many of the options have gone viral on social media, are hard-to-find or sought after.

“This isn’t 10 cent ramen,” he said. “This is gourmet instant ramen.”

He carries the brand he remembers from his childhood, Mama. Buldak Ramen became popular after a social media challenge where people film themselves eating the noodles. And Shin is a longtime Korean favorite that’s known for spicy broth.

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How it works

The ramen is about $7.50 a bowl and comes with a variety of free toppings, like seaweed, dried seafood and onions, chili oil, Kewpie mayo, sriracha and soy sauce. You can also add premium toppings like hard boiled eggs, Spam and cheese.

“Like, the Buldak one with cheese, you can make them extra cheesy,” Le said.

You order and get a bowl from the counter first. And then you pick your ramen and toppings. Le said it’s an ideal way to warm up on cold nights, or while you wait for a ride.

For the Late Night Ramen, there’s an indoor dining area and ramen lovers can continue the party vibe with dimmed lights and music.

Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com

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While many were just starting to think about Thanksgiving, a group of men and women were already preparing for Christmas morning.

No, they’re not elves at the North Pole; they’re volunteers working for Toys for Tots’ New Hanover County chapter.

Robert Hedden, coordinator for the chapter, explained the national organization began in 1947 when Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks’ wife Diane had a few handcrafted dolls and asked her husband to find an organization to distribute them to kids at Christmas.

When Hendricks could find no such organization, his wife encouraged him to start one. Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit, which was based in Los Angeles, did just that. In the first year, they collected and distributed about 5,000 toys.

Another organization in the news:This NC nonprofit brings camaraderie and fun to wounded veterans during Oak Island festival

The concept was then rolled out to all Marine Reserve Training sites, becoming a national program in 1947. Hedden noted these days, the director of the program is a retired lieutenant general, and most of his staff previously served in the military. The individual chapters consist of Marine Corps Reservists; Marine Corps League, which are retired marines; and civilians that apply to have a chapter. The New Hanover County chapter is operated by Marine Corps League 1070.

In New Hanover County, the Salvation Army gives Toys for Tots a portion of its warehouse space to store and process donations. In turn, Toys for Tots helps by donating toys for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Hedden explained many of the toys donated came in after the previous year’s distribution period.

To collect toy donations from the community, Toys for Tots uses large boxes. Companies or businesses can request to be a donation drop-off site. Hedden said there are about 400 boxes around New Hanover County.

“And then we have some special events,” Hedden said.

Another organization helping kids:Southport organization aims to 'create a ripple effect' by helping Young Eagles take flight

One such event is the Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride sponsored by Shipwreck Harley Davidson.

The chapter also has a bank account, and any monetary donations are deposited into that account and used to purchase toys. Hedden had purchased about $9,000 in toys by mid-November.

The group will begin collecting toys from the donation boxes the week of Dec. 16, and they will be transported to the warehouse where they will be sorted by age group.

Last year, the chapter distributed 27,166 toys — including books and stocking stuffers — to 5,820 children. Hedden said the needs have increased a bit over the previous year, and by mid-November, 300 families had requested the chapter’s help--an increase from around 250 last year.

Families submit requests with their children’s gender, age, and some of their “likes,” and volunteers “shop” for the kids. Those toys are then bagged and set aside for the parents to pick up before Christmas. Hedden said he enjoys volunteering with the organization because it allows him to give back to the community.

“It’s great to see a smile on a kid’s face,” he said.

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Since the city of Wilmington's $68 million purchase of the Skyline Center in July 2023, officials have announced a strategic plan to offset the cost through the sale of surplus properties. The recent approval to sell three of these parcels could make way for a downtown grocery store.

At the Dec. 3 city council meeting, councilmembers unanimously approved a $1.7 million bid on 305, 315 and 319 Chestnut St. from Cape Fear Holdings, LLC.

The 305 Chestnut Street location was once home to the city's largest office building. After being declared surplus, demolition of the building began onsite on Nov. 19 of this year.

With the city closing on the sale of several additional surplus properties this year, the potential Chestnut Street sale sparks conversation about what the proposed change, among others, could bring to the Port City.

More on the proposed grocery store: What's planned and why it matters

The need for a downtown grocery store is included in the city's comprehensive plan, Aubrey Parsley, director of economic development for the city, said at Tuesday's city council meeting.

"The city has been after this use for quite some time," said Parsley, later adding "It's no secret that there is a food desert on our ... Northside community."

The recent bid was submitted with a deed restriction, limiting the principal use of the property to a retail grocery supermarket for a minimum of 10 years, Parsley said, a provision that "certainly sets (the bid) apart from other bids (the city has) received in the past."

The current bidder has a prior history of constructing grocery stores in the area, including Publix locations in Pine Valley and Carolina Beach, among other brands and locations across the state.

Conversation sparked among councilmembers about the potential competition between the Northside Food Co-op at the intersection of 10th and Post streets and the proposed grocery store.

"It's nice to have options, I don't know how this project might affect that project but there's nothing wrong with having more than one option," Parsley said. "I don't know that the two would necessarily compete but we're certainly open to establishing a line of communication with the folks that are working on that project."

Mayor Bill Saffo provided examples of grocers and food co-ops coexisting in similar locations in other North Carolina cities like Raleigh, Asheville and Charlotte with Councilmember Salette Andrews agreeing.

Councilmember Kevin Spears talked about heightening the design of the Northside Food Co-op with the new proposal in mind.

"Here's an opportunity for all people that are involved, again, to step it up," Spears said. "The people on the northside don't want to be slighted."

In total, the three properties are currently zoned as Central Business District and amount to approximately 1.65 acres.

With 305 Chestnut St. under demolition, the city provided an update on the status of 315 Chestnut Street, noting that as of Nov. 19, IT equipment on site was in the process of being relocated, with demolition set to follow. Meanwhile, 319 Chestnut St. remains a parking lot.

If no upset bids are submitted for the properties before Dec. 19, the sale between the city and Cape Fear Holdings LLC will close within one year.

Related Coverage:How Wilmington's latest round of surplus properties could bring more development downtown

What other surplus property has the city sold?

Since the sale of the Skyline Center, the city has generated a total of $3,122,500 from the sale of five surplus properties:

Two additional properties are set to close come January 2025:

As part of the StarNews' public records request, the city provided status updates on four additional surplus properties:

Related coverage:Wilmington City Council approves millions for upgrades at the Skyline Center. Here's why.

More on Skyline Center

With the goal of selling surplus property to offset the cost of Skyline Center, the city previously said additional revenue from tenant leases will help cover operational expenses.

As of August, the city had secured nine tenant leases, generating a total of $2.4 million annually. Four other leases pending at the time were expected to generate an additional $760,000, bringing total annual revenue to approximately $3.16 million -- offsetting 80 to 85 percent of operation expenses at Skyline Center.

The city's communications office previously said that consolidation of city operations into the 929 N. Front St. location allowed for the city to avoid more than $5 million in repairs and maintenance across aging city properties. The purchase also allowed for approximately $55 million in savings compared to construction alternatives, which included the redevelopment of 305 Chestnut Street, among other projects.

In October, city council approved $6.3 million in funding for upgrades to three floors of the Skyline Center, including construction of council chambers and upfits to the City Clerk's Office. The funding was allocated from a FEMA reimbursement, unallocated loan funds, Convention Center fund repayment, and unallocated General Fund monies.