March Spotlight

Area women making news

Film Festival Focuses on Women’s Works

The Wilmington Female Filmmakers’ Collective holds its second annual CHICK FLICKS FESTIVAL on March 24.

The film festival, highlighting the works of female filmmakers, takes place 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at Bourgie Nights, 127 Princess Street. It features two shorts blocks and a feature film – Porcupine Lake (shown above). The coming-of-age movie was Canadian filmmaker Ingrid Veninger’s sixth feature-length project.

During the upcoming film festival, female comedians and musicians also provide entertainment throughout the day. Tickets are $8 per film block or $20 for the day pass.

Info: wilmffilms.com 

Morrison Visits for Hibiscus Fundraiser

Actress JENNIFER MORRISON is the keynote speaker at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s annual Hibiscus event.

The dinner, 7-9 p.m. March 21, is at the Wilmington Convention Center.

Morrison is known for her television work on House, How I Met Your Mother, and Once Upon a Time. She also has appeared in the films Star Trek and Warrior.

"We're so excited to have Jennifer Morrison as our keynote speaker at our annual Hibiscus fundraiser this year. Not only is she a talented stage and screen actor, director, and producer, but she is a fierce advocate for access to equitable health care and a caring mentor for young girls,” says Leigh Johnson, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic's director of philanthropy for Eastern North Carolina.

The event, dubbed Hibiscus 2018: Standing Strong, is a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, and organizers ask attendees to consider a donation of $100 or more at the event.

Morrison also will attend a private breakfast March 22 for sponsors of $500 or more.

For more info and tickets, go to hibiscus.ppsat.org. 

Tourism Authority Names Board Officers

The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority recently announced appointments and officers of its board for 2018.

Officers this year are Nicolas Montoya, general manager of the Blockade Runner Resort, as chairman; ANGELA RHODES (above), co-owner of Catch Modern Seafood Cuisine as vice chair; Daniel Perkins, assistant general manager of the Hilton Wilmington Riverside as secretary; and LISA WURTZBACHER, New Hanover County’s finance officer, as treasurer.

Other board appointments for this year are Carolina Beach Mayor Joe Benson, New Hanover County Commissioner PATRICIA KUSEK, Bryant Real Estate General Manager Jason Spencer Bryant, Hampton Inn Wilmington Downtown General Manager TEDRA GEORGE, and Hilton Wilmington Riverside Assistant General Manager Daniel Perkins.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to continually serve on our TDA board,” says Rhodes, who previously served as a board officer last year. “In addition to discussing policies affecting tourism in our area, we all work diligently to represent New Hanover County and promote Wilmington as a premier destination.” 

Rivers to Join Local Sports Hall of Fame

​Hoggard High School and North Carolina State University basketball player NANNA RIVERS is among this year’s Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

Rivers, who was ranked as the eleventh- best point guard and thirty-ninth best overall player in the country by All-Star Girls Report when she played for Hoggard, joined N.C. State’s team in 2000 under famed coach Kay Yow.

During Rivers’ time at N.C. State, the team made a Sweet 16 appearance.

“Rivers is ranked second in school history with the most assists in one game,” Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame organizers point out, adding that she made the All-ACC Defensive Team her senior season.

After college, Rivers played overseas in Europe and later spent five years on coaching staffs at Seton Hall University and Monmouth University.

Now an NCAA basketball referee, River also owns Nanna Rivers Coaching, a life coaching business.

Rivers, along with inductees Samuel Edward Bowens, Lawrence Cook and Louis Howard Jr., will be inducted to the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame at an annual banquet May 6.

Info: gwshof.com