Wilmington is a city known for it's beaches but today it was all about the snow! Icy wintry weather hit our area and we took a break for our news coverage once we got home, to get some pics in the snow!

Another great Christmas with my family this year, counting the blessings!  Here are just a few photos from my family celebrating the holiday and my Aunt's Ugly Christmas Sweater party!

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kids on the weekend, the Wilmington Railroad Museum has you covered!
WWAY is pleased to announce we will be taking part again this year in the annual readings of “The Polar Express.”  I will be there to read to the kiddos Saturday, December 2 at 5:30pm.  Then the kids can grab some hot chocolate and see Santa, all for 5 bucks!    
My colleagues will also be there to read at other dates and times, the railroad museum will host the readings each Saturday at both 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
We will also have a special reading Sunday, December 17. It’s a great way for you to come see what the Railroad Museum has to offer this holiday season.

A group of special boys and girls joined together to participate in the first ever MLK Pageant at Williston Middle School in Wilmington.  The organizers including Evelyn Bryant and Hollis Briggs of the MLK committee in southeastern North Carolina say they are continuing to work and honor the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through various activities and events.

Thirteen contestants competed on November 18 for the new title as the Martin Luther King Jr. king and queen.  But it was about more than just winning the crown.  The pageant was hosted by the MLK Celebration Committee.
Their purpose is to honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., improve racial relations within communities and educate especially our youth.
This pageant was one of the first events working towards commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. King’s death.
The committee’s goal is to build on this event for upcoming celebrations until April of next year.
But until then, it is all about the fun contestants had competing for the crowns.
“It’s not all about winning, it’s about having fun and just hanging out with your friends during the pageant,” contestant Aamere Montgomery said.
Even though only two could be named king and queen, it was a moment everyone could be proud of.
WWAY’s Amanda Fitzpatrick was also at the event and presented an award.

The WWAY team worked hard with the Salvation Army to raise money and stock their pantry this holiday.  By the way, in 2016 we set a record by collecting more than 25,000 pounds of food and nearly $700 in cash.
That record no longer stands. Maj. Mark Craddock with The Salvation Army says the community came together and donated 33,100 pounds of food to restock shelves for 2017. That’s 16.55 tons of food and tens of thousands of donuts given out as a thank you!

On November 11th WWAY was awarded Best Special Report for our Commercial-Free Election Night coverage by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.  It was an honor to be recognized by our peers for our work in local news. 

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I was fortunate to co-anchor the election night coverage with Daniel Seamans and we were joined by a hardworking group of reporters, analyst and production crew.

I'm very proud that we are being recognized for our work as a team, because it says a lot about what we can do together.

The awards luncheon was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord and Tom Llamas from ABC was the guest speaker.

Check out that one time my co-workers tried to scare me and let's just say it didn't go so well!  2004 WCSC flashback throwback Halloween scare tactic caught on camera!

It was a fun day in Charlotte!  So great seeing friends at the Casino Night Saturday, brunch at Sports One and going to the Randy Houser Concert at Rooftop at Epicenter!

Amanda spent the afternoon speaking to young girls apart of the group "GIRL Power" about making good choices, staying in school and how to become successful.  It was a group started by the New Hanover County school district to inspire the students to succeed in and outside of the classroom,.

We were excited to get a chance to be invited to the private party at the upcoming VIDA nightclub in Wilmington.  There were a lot of movers and shakers including the Mayor, City council members, the owner of Blackfinn/Vida and the owner of the Marina downtown!  We really enjoyed the free tapas and drinks plus meeting new people.  The club has two floors including a rooftop bar that overlooks the marina and Cape Fear river.  We had a blast with our new friends another couple new to the area.  Can't wait until they officially open!

I was so excited to be asked to be the Grand Marshall of the 34th Annual Maple Hill fall festival and parade!  Roughly 3,000 people came out to watch the parade full of bands, motorcycle clubs, corvettes, horse riding, and I was the Grand Marshall!
After the parade, there were plenty of things to do, including a fall festival with 17 food vendors from Atlanta to Virginia seafood and more plus you can shop vendors selling Jewelry, fashion, plus music, fun for kids including amusement park rides.

The Fete is a magical event bringing together people from across the Wilmington area to dine, fellowship, dance and get to know one another in a unique setting. No one knew of exactly what it was, or where it was being held.  When I first received an envelope with a unique sticker and no return address inviting me to attend, I'll admit, I was nervous!  Once I discovered more about the charity it benefited, Blue Ribbon Commission and the person behind it, Lynn Jones I was so excited! 
The event was mystery until the end, two hours before it was set to start we were given the address to meet.  Once there, we were picked up in a limo bus and driven to our secret location.  The dinner was held at Grand Cru at Lumina Station in Wrightsville Beach. There was also excellent music, a live band featuring music by the talented Darryl Sax Murrill ! 

​Dozens came out to network and mingle with other professionals at the Wilmington Black Professionals inaugural mix & mingle networking event. .  The free event offered free tapas and music by Coast 97.3 Bigg B.  WWAY's Basil John took pictures and Amanda & Yusef organized the event along with YWCA Board Member Evelyn Bryant, Spectrum News Reporter Kendra Douglas, Starnews Reporter Elizabeth Montgomery, and Champion of Compassion Rebecca Trammell.
To learn more or join the Wilmington Black Professionals group click on the link.

Amanda got a chance to speak to nearly a dozen students participating in the 100 Black Men of Coastal Carolina Adult Scholar program about being a news reporter and anchor at WWAY.  Read more here. 

I love supporting people in the community who are making a difference and I was given the opportunity to attend Rebecca Trammell's luncheon to raise money and awareness for victims of drug abuse.  

Awesome getting a chance to play with the Harlem Globetrotters!!!!Thanks to votes from out viewers I was given the chane to play with the team, yes I was officially a Globetrotter for the day.  AND! I made a shot, no actually I made two shots, so overall they were impressed with my basketball skills.  To see the video and read more click the link: www.wwaytv3.com/2017/04/02/harlem-globetrotters-amanda-fitzpatrick/

As concerns continue about the safety of the region’s drinking water, three newsrooms are joining forces to better bring the public into the conversation.WWAY News, the StarNews Media and WHQR News 91.3 are sponsoring a GenX Forum Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium.
Amanda Fitzpatrick moderated questions and answers from the audience and speakers on the panel.

Amanda was awarded a special recognition award by the New Hanover County Chapter of the NAACP at their annual Freedom Fund Banquet.  Ms. Fitzpatrick was the mistress of ceremony to the sold out crowd of 500 dignitaries, public officials and community leaders. The event was held in Downtown Wilmington at the Coastline Convention Center August 19, 2017.

Taking in the solar eclipse at work with colleagues!  Most of Southeastern North Carolina will have to content itself with a partial eclipse. The Wilmington area expected about 96 percent totality, which began around 1ish and the approach to totality about 2:48 p.m.  Just in time to watch and then go do the news!

Thursday night was Ladies Night for a group of women in Brunswick County.
Hundreds of ladies gathered in Supply for the 3rd Annual Ladies Night Out Purse Bash hosted by the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce.  ​Our very own anchor Amanda Fitzpatrick was there to emcee and help give away the prized purses.

Celebrated July 4th at Blackfinn in Downtown Wilmington.