Cape Fear River Watch

Environmental Zine Fest
2023-05-05 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Waterline Brewing Co, 721 Surry St, Wilmington, 28401, United States
We are so proud of our Spring intern Sidney! She not only helped put on the Chemours roast in December 2022, but she is now planning an Environmental Zine Festival at Waterline Brewing!
Cape Fear River Watch is hosting a mini environmental Zine Fest at Waterline Brewing on May 5th! From 4 pm – 7 pm, we will be passing out zines about environmental issues produced exclusively for Cape Fear River Watch by small artists. Holly’s Typewriter Poetry will also be at the fest with a select number of free environmental poems. Come enjoy music, drinks, and some local art supporting the environment!

Bellamy Mansion Family Fun Day
2023-04-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Bellamy Mansion, 503 Market Street, Wilmington, 28401
Come see us at the Bellamy Mansion Family Fun Day!
“Family Fun Day is an annual FREE community event where visitors enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, storytelling, games, arts & crafts, live music and MORE!”

Wilmington Earth Day Festival
2023-04-22 12:00 - 18:00 | Longleaf Park, 314 Pine Grove Drive, Wilmington, 28409
Come see CFRW at the Earth Day Festival, April 22nd, at Long Leaf Park, 314 Pine Grove Dr, Wilmington, NC 28409. For more information visit https://www.wilmingtonearthday.com/

Spring Eco Tour
2023-04-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Greenfield Lake Boathouse, 302 Willard St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Join us for a Greenfield Lake Walking Eco Tour!
Join us for a leisurely, 1-hour walking eco-tour of Greenfield Lake. Greenfield Lake is a cypress dome ecosystem in the heart of Wilmington. You will learn about the flora and fauna, environmental impacts, and best management practices of Greenfield Lake while your guide identifies plants and animals along the way! Greenfield Lake harbors a surprising amount of wildlife, including alligators, anhingas, yellow-bellied sliders, and several varieties of herons and egrets.
This tour is open to all ages! Please consider bringing: sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, water, and comfortable walking shoes.
Please meet at the Greenfield Lake Boathouse. Parking is at 298 Park St., Wilmington, NC 28401. Once parked, walk towards the lake and you will see the boathouse on your right. Fee is $5.

Mad Mole/CFRW Cleanup
2023-04-15 09:00 - 11:00
CFRW is excited to partner with Mad Mole and Keep New Hanover Beautiful for a “Pick Up and Pint Cleanup!” We will be focusing our efforts on a piece of land that drains into Bradley Creek. The cleanup will take place on April 15th from 9am-11am. We will be meeting at a parking lot at this address: 102 Autumn Hall Dr. Wilmington, NC 28403. Just look for the CFRW cleanup signs! We will provide pickers, bags, safety vests, gloves, and a good time. As always remember to dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, and water. After the cleanup we will all be heading over to Mad Mole(6309 Boathouse Rd unit c, Wilmington, NC 28403) where we can enjoy a hard earned beer brewed by their solar powered brewery! We hope to see you out there!
Click here to register!

Greenfield Lake Family Day
2023-04-15 09:00 - 10:00 | Greenfield Lake Boathouse, 302 Willard St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
This spring, we are partnering with Cape Fear Bird Observatory to co-host monthly, family-friendly, 1-hr long nature and birding walks. Our first walk will take place on Saturday, April 15th from 9-10am. This short walk is geared towards kids & families who are new to birding. No equipment needed – we will have a few pairs of binoculars to share! We will be meeting at the Greenfield Lake Boathouse (298 Park St.) and hope your family can join us! Free!

April 2023 Paddle - Ivanhoe *Requires experience (Black River)
2023-04-15 07:30 - 15:00 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
This Paddle will be a little longer than past paddles. We’ll paddle about 7 1/2 miles of the upper reaches of the Black River from the WRC put-in near Ivanhoe, NC to Beatty’s Bridge. This is a more advanced paddle and is not recommended for beginners. There will be approximately 3 hours of paddling and some possible portages due to downed trees or blockages in the river. In addition to a beautiful blackwater river, expect snags, strainers, low water, parking that is not ideal, and a big hill at the takeout – this is not the paddle for first time paddlers.
Paddlers can meet at the Cape Fear River Watch headquarters where we will meet to caravan, or meet up with the caravan at the put in location. We will meet at CFRW headquarters at 7:30 am for an 8:00am departure. Those meeting us at the put in should be there by 8:30am. Click HERE for a map to the put in location! You can enter your address into “Box A” to get specific directions from your location to the put in!
All paddlers should wear a PFD, however those paddlers using CFRW boats are required to wear a PFD. Other items to remember include sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack and water shoes if you would like to explore the beaches where oyster shells are present. You are welcome to bring your own kayak and supplies.
If you need to rent a boat they are just $25 for the day if you are a CFRW Member. If you would like to rent a boat please indicate such during your registration.
If you would like to join or renew before the paddle, you can click here to join online or call our office at 910-762-5606. To help River Watch continue to bring you great programs like our Paddle Series and Educational Seminars, we ask you make a $10 donation either online with your registration or by bringing cash or check to the paddle on Saturday. THANK YOU!
If you need help the day of please call Kemp at 910-264-8036. Conditions may change in the period leading up to the paddle. Please check your email the night before and the morning of the paddle to ensure that the paddle has not been cancelled.
REGISTER HERE

Second Saturday Cleanup
2023-04-08 09:00 - 11:00
CFRW will be partnering with Keep New Hanover Beautiful and hosting our monthly second Saturday cleanup. The cleanup will take place on April 8th, from 9-11am. We are going to focus our efforts on the Greenfield Lake Watershed by cleaning up Squash Branch. This area will require kayaks to clean so if you have your own kayak please feel free to bring it! I will also bring some from CFRW. Parking can be found along Lake Branch Dr. across from Lake Forest Baptist Church(1626 Lake Branch Dr.). Look for the CFRW cleanup signs! We will provide pickers, bags, safety vests, gloves, and a good time. The areas along the banks can get a bit mucky so if you have waterproof boots bring them! As always remember to dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, and water. We hope to see you out there!
Click here to register!

1st Saturday Seminar - Cooking the GOOS: Salinity, sea level rise and the oceans
2023-04-01 08:00 - 10:00 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Speaker: Dr. Frederick Bingham, professor in the Department of Physics & Physical Oceanography and Center for Marine Science at UNCW
Topic: Salinity, sea level rise and the oceans. Join us as Dr. Frederick Bingham will be talking about some of the ways that the ocean is observed, including in situ (wet) instruments, tide gauges and satellites relating them to how we observe and understand sea level rise. He will also talk about salinity, how it is defined and measured, how it is changing globally and how it is being monitored (or really not) in the Cape Fear River.
Bio: Dr. Frederick Bingham has been a professor in the Department of Physics & Physical Oceanography and Center for Marine Science at UNCW for almost 30 years (29). He has a PhD in Oceanography from the University of California San Diego, and a Masters degree in Computer Science and Information Systems from UNCW. He has held previous positions at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Fred has spent his career studying the circulation of the oceans at large scales, their interaction with the atmosphere, their role in the climate, and the importance of ocean salinity in all of that. He has over 50 published papers in the field and his research has been funded by NASA as a member of their Ocean Salinity Science Team since 2009.
8:00 am – Doors open for coffee and pancakes
9:00 am – Seminar begins
Note: Pre-registration not required. In-person only. Coffee and pancakes at 8am, presentation begins at 9am. The recording will be available online the following week.

March 2023 Paddle (4th Saturday) - Black River
2023-03-25 08:30 - 15:00 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
THIS PADDLE IS A UNIQUE 4TH SATURDAY PADDLE TO ACCOMODATE FOR THE MEDIC WILDERNESS COURSE THAT FALLS ON THE 3RD SATURDAY OF MARCH– ALL OTHER PADDLES WIL FALL ON THE USUAL 3RD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH.
Meet at the CFRW office at 617 Surry St. at 8:30 am
OR, at the put in at Hunt’s Bluff at 9:15 am.

After an easy 4-5 mile paddle we will take out near Point Caswell on Estate Road.
All paddlers should wear a PFD and those using CFRW boats are required to wear a PFD. Other items to consider bringing: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snack and water shoes.
Need a boat?

Boat rentals are for members only with a suggestion donation of: $25
Non-members are encourage to join today!
Boat rental choices offered during online registration are first-come, first-served and include single or tandem kayaks and canoes.
Once you receive your email confirmation, your boat has been confirmed and we will see you the day of the paddle.
Please be aware that this paddle will require shuttling, so you will be in a car with others. Please bring your mask if that would make you feel more comfortable, or arrange to shuttle with family or friends. If you have questions about this, please contact Kemp at kemp@cfrw.us or 910-264-8036.

Have a boat?

Please consider a donation of at least $10 during online registration or bring a check or cash with you on the day of the event.

If you need help the day of the paddle, please call Kemp at 910-264-8036.
Click here to learn more/ register

MEDIC SOLO Disaster+Travel+Wilderness First Aid Course
2023-03-18 07:00 - 2023-03-19 17:00
This is not a CFRW event! We are helping to promote. Cape Fear River Watch will receive 10% of the course proceeds.

Walkabout Outfitter &
MEDIC Solo Disaster + Wilderness Medicine School
are hosting a

Disaster+Travel+Wilderness First Aid certification course
on
March 18-19, 2023
in the Wilmington, NC area

LEARN HOW to SAVE LIFE and LIMB in a
-Wilderness area-rural area (not near a hospital)

-disaster site or
-travel anywhere

This is a great course for anyone who ventures outdoors, travels, or wants to help in case of an emergency during a disaster!

>> TIMING: These are a 2 day class. 8:00am to 7:00pm both days.

>> FEE: $245 (note: another organization in the region charges $350. You save $105 thanks in part to GOPC’s sponsorship of the class.)

WHY: Mired in a disaster zone, travel or rural area far from a hospital, or natural area miles from an access point … accidents, destructive weather, and terrorism happen, and all-too-often members of a group are not capable of dealing with the emergency. This leads to improper care of the patient, and endangers the entire group. Many recreational accidents are preventable, and improper care of trauma can compound even simple injuries. Very few first aid programs actually address the issues of providing emergency care in a setting where 911 is overwhelmed or not immediately reachable. In this course, classroom instruction and Q&A are interwoven with practical work and problem-solving exercises. Hands-on experience – a most powerful learning tool – during scenarios comprise ~50% of class. You come away with actual do-it-yourself care-giving confidence. Satisfaction guaranteed.
OVERVIEW:
-No prerequisites
-For adults and focused teens. Know your loved ones are safe wherever they are.
-Hands-on learn how to care for an injured / ill person during the critical minutes or hours before ambulance / hospital arrival
-Blend of classroom instruction & hands-on rescue scenario practice
-Approved by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Girl Scouts of the USA, American Camping Association (ACA), University of Virginia (100% reimbursement for certain academic employees), and more
-2-year SOLO WFA certification
-Counts as recertification for WFA, AWFA, WFR and wilderness part of W-EMT

TOPICS:-Beyond the ‘golden hour’: wilderness/remote travel/disaster-delayed EMS arrival injury challenges and long-term patient care
-Patient Assessment System: thorough patient examination, treatment, monitoring, safety, and documentation
-Orthopedic Injuries and Treatment: Sprains, Strains, Fractures, and Spinal Cord Management
-Circulatory System Form and Function: Heart, Blood, Blood Vessels, Lungs, Brain
-Soft Tissue Injuries and Wound Treatment: Contusions, Abrasions, Lacerations, Flap Avulsions, Amputation, Punctures, Impalements,
-Bites, Stings, Blisters, Burns, and Infections
-Environmental Injuries and Treatment: Cold, Heat, Dehydration and Wilderness Survival
-Medical Emergencies and Critical Care: Shock, Allergies, Shortness of Breath, Brain Problems, and Heart Problems
-Patient movement: spinal cord precautions and clearing; pre- and post-evacuation treatment
-International Travel: preparing & packing for safe travel, problem prevention before and during travel, and identification & treatment of many travel illnesses – presented in a special hand-out for those who indicate interest.
Instructor: Matthew Rosefsky, Geo Medic, Wilderness EMT, CERT, MRC, and SOLO Instructor-Trainer; or a top-notch, highly-qualified expert Matt personally trained.
Course INFO, ONLINE REGISTRATION, other locations & dates:
http://www.solowfa.com/
A fully completed registration and payment will reserve your spot in the class. Feel free to contact courses@solowfa.com with questions…

2nd Saturday Cleanup
2023-03-11 09:00 - 11:00 | 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to partner with Keep New Hanover Beautiful for our Second Saturday Cleanup on March 11th! The cleanup will take place in an area that flows into Greenfield Lake! We will be focusing our efforts on the stormwater pond, ditches, creek, and the surrounding forest. If you have waterproof boots it wouldn’t hurt to bring them. They will be helpful in the creek and retention pond. The cleanup will take place from 9:00am-11:00am. We will be meeting at the cul de sac on Silver Stream Lane. An address that will get you close is 735 Medical Center Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401. Just look for the CFRW cleanup signs! CFRW will provide pickers,bags,gloves, and safety vests. As always remember to dress appropriately and bring water. We hope to see you out there!
Click here to register.

1st Saturday Seminar - Oysters
2023-03-04 08:00 - 10:00 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Speaker: James Hargrove, Owner of Middle Sound Mariculture
Topic: Oysters
8:00 am – Doors open for coffee and pancakes
9:00 am – Seminar begins
Note: Pre-registration not required. In-person only. Coffee and pancakes at 8am, presentation begins at 9am. The recording will be available online the following week.

No February Paddle!
2023-02-18 08:00 - 12:00 | 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
We host our Third Saturday Paddle series March – November, weather dependent. See you back in March!

2nd Saturday Cleanup- Front Street
2023-02-11 09:00 - 11:00 | 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to partner with Keep New Hanover Beautiful for our Second Saturday Cleanup on February 11th! The cleanup will take place in an area that drains directly into the Cape Fear River! We will be focusing our efforts on the stormwater ditches, roadsides, and the connecting wetlands on Front Street. This cleanup will be BYOB(bring your own boots) as we will need as many people with waterproof boots to access the litter on the wetland side of the stormwater ditch. There is also a large amount of litter that has been deposited in the adjacent wetlands. This litter is only accessible with waterproof boots. The cleanup will take place from 9:00am-11:00am. Parking is available in front of New Anthem Brewing as well as the overflow lot across the street. An address that will get you close is 110 Greenfield St, Wilmington, NC 28401. Just look for the CFRW cleanup signs! CFRW will provide pickers, bags, gloves, and safety vests. As always remember to dress appropriately and bring water. We hope to see you out there!
Please register here!

1st Saturday Seminar - Bird Atlasing in NC
2023-02-04 08:00 - 10:30 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Speaker: John Carpenter
Topic: Bird Atlasing in NC
The NC Bird Atlas, now in its third year, is a project that maps bird distribution and abundance through bird observations. Come out to learn about the NC Bird Atlas, its function, and how you can get involved. Learn about priority blocks and where you can find additional resources on atlasing. Great if you are new to birding, or an experienced birder who wants to contribute to the Atlas.
About the speaker: John Carpenter has worked as a Wildlife Biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for the past 13 years. He received a M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Note: Pre-registration not required. In-person only. Coffee and pancakes at 8am, presentation begins at 9am. The recording will be available online the following week.

December/January Book Club
2023-01-28 10:30 - 11:30 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Our next book selection is a true lock and dam story about Americans who live near the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri River titled, Holding Back the River: The Struggle Against Nature On America’s Waterways by Tyler J. Kelley.! Copies will be available at Pomegranate Books for a 15% discount!

America’s infrastructure is old and underfunded. While our economy, society, and climate have changed, our levees, locks, and dams have not. Yet to fix what’s wrong will require more than money. It will require an act of imagination. Holding Back the River brings us into the lives of the Americans who grapple with our mighty rivers and, through their stories, suggests solutions to some of the century’s greatest challenges.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:30AM outside at Pomegranate Books (Weather Permitting).

CFRW Book Club members receive a 15% discount at Pomegranate Books (910) 452-1107.

No January Paddle!
2023-01-21 08:00 - 12:00 | 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States

2nd Saturday Cleanup: 3rd - 17th St Railroad Tracks
2023-01-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Railroad Tracks 3rd-17th, 811 Martin St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
We will once again be partnering with Keep New Hanover Beautiful to host our monthly Second Saturday Cleanup on January 14th from 9-11am. We are going to focus our efforts on the Greenfield Lake Watershed by cleaning up the railroad tracks that run from 3rd to 17th St. The railroad tracks, the roadway, and the storm drains will all need to be cleaned.

The address (811 Martin St.) will lead you to the Good Shepherd Center. Please don’t park in their parking lot – rather, park on either 8th St or Martin St. Look for the CFRW cleanup signs!

There is potential for some of our houseless community members to be in the area of our cleanup. Please be respectful of their space and belongings. If you see something that may be someone’s personal belongings, please leave it be.

We will provide pickers, bags, safety vests, gloves, and a good time. We will need some volunteers to clean up the interior of the ditch. So if you have your waders or tall rubber boots, bring them! As always remember to dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, and water. We hope to see you out there!

Please register here.

1st Saturday Seminar - Magnificent Rescue: Protecting Biodiversity at Ecosystem Scale
2023-01-07 08:00 - 10:30 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Speaker: Andy Wood
Topic: Magnificent Rescue: Protecting Biodiversity at Ecosystem Scale
Cape Fear River swamps and other wetland habitats are imperiled by river dredging, the wood pellet industry, and an expanding ocean. This engaging program explores the environmental challenges our species must meet head-on for the sake of future generations—ecologically, economically, and politically—with attention to protecting the living nuts and bolts holding-together our Starship life-support system.
About the speaker:Andy Wood is a biologist and conservation educator. His career includes 12 years as Education Curator with the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and 11 years as State Education Director with the National Audubon Society. As director of Coastal Plain Conservation Group, Andy is focused on preventing unfettered habitat loss and extinction of southeast North Carolina plants and wildlife. Andy is otherwise an environmental consultant with his wife Sandy’s company, Habitats Gardens, LLC.
Note: Pre-registration not required. In-person only. Coffee and pancakes at 8am, presentation begins at 9am. The recording will be available online within the next couple of weeks.

No December Paddle!
2022-12-17 08:00 - 12:00 | 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States

NO Dec 2nd Saturday Cleanup
2022-12-10 09:00 - 11:00 | 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
We will not be hosting a 2nd Saturday Cleanup in December. Please join us in January!

GenX Exposure Study Community Meeting on Latest Results
2022-12-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station, 502 N Front St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
NC State GenX Exposure Study researchers will give an overview of the 2020-2021 PFAS blood findings and answer any of your questions.
Learn more about the study here.

1st Saturday Seminar - From Mountains to Sea: An Adventure in Plant Communities
2022-12-03 08:00 - 10:30 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Speaker: Amy Renfranz
Topic: From Mountains to Sea: An Adventure in Plant Communities
Join naturalist Amy Renfranz as she makes parallels between the plant communities on the coast and in the mountains of North Carolina. Her talk will leave you with a bucket list of places to visit and a few ideas for ways to incorporate natural ecology into your own backyard!
About the speaker: Amy Renfranz lives for exploring and investigating the world around her – and sharing those experiences with others.
Amy began in environmental education on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2008. In 2011, she was awarded the National Park Service at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s “Ranger of the Year” award for her work in creating new programming for youth and adults. She is a NC Certified Environmental Educator and a Certified Naturalist through the Yellowstone Institute. She has also worked at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Lees-McRae College, the Yellowstone Association Institute, and New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District. For nearly ten years, she wrote an award-winning, weekly newspaper column called “Dear Naturalist.” In 2022, she began pursuing a full-time career in native plant landscaping.
Amy is a graduate of Appalachian State University and North Carolina State University, where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management. She currently serves on the board of Keep New Hanover Beautiful and the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. She volunteers as a Creek Watcher for Cape Fear River Watch, and facilitates litter cleanups in her neighborhood.
Note: Pre-registration not required. In-person only. Coffee and pancakes at 8am, presentation begins at 9am. The recording will be available online within the next couple of weeks.

October/November Book Club
2022-11-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Pomegranate Books, 4418 Park Ave, Wilmington, NC, 28403, United States
Our next book selection is Life on the Mississippi: An Epic American Adventure by Rinker Buck. This New York Times Best-Seller, which was recommended by our new member Jessica Parks, is a true story about historian Rinker Buck’s modern-day journey down the Mississippi River to New Orleans with his shipmates after building an 1800s era flatboat! Copies will be available at Pomegranate Books for a 15% discount!

Life on the Mississippi is an epic, enchanting blend of history and adventure in which Buck builds a wooden flatboat from the grand “flatboat era” of the 1800s and sails it down the Mississippi River, illuminating the forgotten past of America’s first western frontier.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 26, 2022, at 10:30AM outside at Pomegranate Books (Weather Permitting).

Annual Membership Meeting 2022
2022-11-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Cape Fear River Watch Headquarters, 617 Surry Street, Wilmington, NC, 28405, United States
Please feel welcome to attend our annual membership meeting! All River Watch members or people interested in joining are welcome. We will provide a year in review, and then CFRW members will vote on the 2023 Board of Directors.
Snacks and beverages provided.

3rd Saturday Paddle: CANCELLED
2022-11-19 08:30 - 13:00 | Cypress Cove Recreation Park, 844 Appleton Way NE, Leland, NC, 28451, United States
This paddle has been cancelled due to cold weather. If you already registered, you will receive an email soon with information about refunds. Thank you for your understanding.

The Smell of Money: Documentary Screening + Panel Discussion
2022-11-17 19:00 - 22:00
Cucalorus Film Festival* is showing the feature documentary The Smell of Money on Thursday, November 17th at 7pm in Thalian Black. Following the film, guests will be invited to move into City Council Chambers for an hour-long discussion of the film featuring NC Environmental Justice Network’s Naeema Mohammad, Cape Fear River Watch’s Kemp Burdette, and filmmaker Shawn Bannon. The discussion will be moderated by Erin Carey, Director of Coastal Programs at North Carolina Sierra Club.
Please purchase tickets in advance to reserve your spot! After tax, tickets cost about $25 if you are not a Cucalorus pass holder. You can purchase your tickets here.
About the film:
The Smell of Money is an 84-minute feature documentary from award-winning filmmaker Shawn Bannon. The Smell of Money‘s international premiere was at Hot Docs in Toronto, Canada where it received the Top 5 Audience Award and the film recently won the Best Life & Liberty Film at Sidewalk Film Festival.
When a corporate hog farm moves in––uninvited––on land her grandfather had purchased after claiming his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring decides to fight back. But as her rural community becomes the epicenter of the pork industry’s explosion in America, Elsie’s struggle to save her family’s home and heritage becomes a battle against one of the world’s most powerful companies and its deadly pollution. After decades of defeat, Elsie, her neighbors, and a gutsy small-town lawyer take the world’s largest pork company to court. The residents risk everything for their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of shit. A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over colossal forces of injustice, The Smell of Money calls upon viewers to see the people behind what’s on our plates––and to join the fight for a better future for us all.
About the panelists:
Naeema Mohammad has been Organizing Co-Director with NCEJN since 2013 and now serves as Senior Advisor. She has worked on two NIEHS funded grants. The first was Community Health and Environmental Reawakening (CHER) in which she served as a community organizer working with communities dealing with waste from industrial hog operations. In this position, she worked with the late Dr. Steve Wing, a founding member of NCEJN and Associate Professor at UNC Gillngs School of Public Health, and was supervised by Gary Grant, Executive Director of Concerned Citizens of Tillery. She has co-authored publications with Dr. Wing regarding community based participatory research (most recently in the New Solutions Health Journal). She also serves on the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary’s Environmental Justice & Equity Advisory Board.
Kemp Burdette is the Cape Fear Riverkeeper and he works to protect and improve the water quality of the Lower Cape Fear River. He is a Wilmington native who grew up exploring the waterways and swamps that make our area so special. Kemp has lived and traveled around the world as a US Navy search and rescue swimmer, a Fulbright Scholar, and a Peace Corps volunteer. At home and abroad Kemp has always been interested in the way humans interact with their environment.His academic background is in geology and history, graduating from UNCW magna cum laude with honors, and he holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA), also from UNCW. He also holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University.
Shawn Bannon is an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened at the Sundance Film Festival, AFI FEST, Hot Docs, and they’ve been featured on The Atlantic, Forbes, and BBC America. His short films, Hurricane Heroes, Bloody Barbara and A Ghost Story – 10 Pages, have all been selected for Vimeo Staff Picks. His recent film The Green Knight Documentary was made for A24 and premiered on iTunes. The Smell of Money is his first feature documentary, it premiered at Sarasota Film Festival in April 2022 where it won the Documentary Feature Jury Prize.
*”The Cucalorus Film Festival takes place in Wilmington, North Carolina every November for five days of new indie films, paired with bold performances and deep discussions about justice and the future. Cucalorus brings together bold, emerging creatives to share stories that challenge us to look at the world in new ways.”

2nd Saturday Cleanup: Squash Branch
2022-11-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Greenfield Lake-Northern Finger, 1626 Lake Branch Dr, Wilmington, 28401
REGISTER HERE.
CFRW will be partnering with Keep New Hanover Beautiful to host a cleanup of Greenfield Lake’s Squash Branch on Saturday, November 12h from 9-11am.
This area will require some kayaks, so if you have your own kayak please feel free to bring it! We will also bring some for volunteers to use. Parking can be found along Lake Branch Dr. across from Lake Forest Baptist Church (1626 Lake Branch Dr.). Look for the CFRW & KNHB cleanup signs! We will provide pickers, bags, safety vests, gloves, and a good time. The areas along the banks can get a bit mucky so if you have waterproof boots bring them! As always remember to dress appropriately, bring sunscreen, and water. We hope to see you out there!
