We're lucky to have a few good people joining our team. 💙 Please help us welcome the Town of Leland's newest employees! We're excited to have them here and can't wait to see the difference they'll make for our community. Take a moment to say hello in the comments! 👋

🎞️ This week marks 40 years since Maximum Overdrive, the greatest movie ever put to film, was released in theaters. Eagle-eyed viewers may spot a couple of familiar Leland locations. The Dixie Boy truck stop was built off U.S. 74/76 on the property that now houses Fire Station 51 and the Town’s Municipal Operations Center. The set looked so convincing that drivers reportedly stopped there for gas and lunch during filming. Additional scenes were filmed at the building now home to the Kicking Mule, near the railroad tracks at Lanvale Road and Fletcher Drive. The sets and killer trucks may be gone, but Leland’s place in cinematic history remains!

Next Friday's almost here! 🥳 Before you head to Founders Park for our Grand Opening celebration, we've rounded up everything you'll want to know ahead of time, including parking, what to bring, the evening schedule, food trucks, live music, and more. Give it a quick read at the link below, then we'll see y'all there! 💙

How it started ➡️ How it’s going Pedestrian improvements are taking shape along West Gate Drive, where crews are adding a new sidewalk along the north side of the road! The project also includes three high-visibility crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and updated pavement markings, all designed to make the area safer and easier to navigate for people walking, biking, driving, or using other ways to get around. Construction began earlier this month and is expected to wrap up later this summer.

Hey, Leland, now’s the perfect time to speak up about future transportation projects in our region! NCDOT’s interactive map shows a lot of projects in the works across southeastern North Carolina over the next ten years, and they’re asking residents to weigh in on which ones should be prioritized. That could include roads, intersections, sidewalks, bike and pedestrian connections, public transportation, or other projects that affect how people get around. Public input at this stage helps transportation leaders understand what matters most before future funding decisions are made. Share your feedback online using the link below by July 31!

Attention, Leland! The Parks and Recreation Board will hold its next regular meeting on Wednesday, July 22, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Here’s what’s on the agenda, and yes, there will be parks things! ✅ Swearing-in of new board members ✅ Election of chair and vice chair ✅ PROS plan update ✅ Loblolly Park update The full rundown can be found right here 👉 https://townofleland.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=10077

Three Town employees have recently added some well-earned credentials to their resumes! 🎉 Congratulations to Human Resources Manager Stephanie Putnam, Chief of Police Jeremy Humphries, and Finance/Payroll Coordinator Cindy McGrady for earning honors through the North Carolina League of Municipal Governments’ Advancing Municipal Leaders education program. Jeremy and Stephanie each earned a Certificate of Municipal Achievement and a Financial Management Certificate, while Cindy earned a Financial Management Certificate. Please join us in giving them a big round of applause for the time, effort, and commitment it took to reach these milestones! 👏

Say it ain’t so! 🐦 The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan community survey is still open, and we want to hear from Leland residents before it closes Sept. 14. Your feedback will help guide future decisions about parks, trails, open space, recreation programs, and other amenities as the Town continues to grow. Responses are anonymous, and the survey only takes a few minutes to complete. Don’t upset the birdie. Take the survey today using the link below!

We’ve got some tree-mendous news! 🌳 The Town of Leland recently received a $3,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to add approximately two dozen native trees along the Gateway Boulevard corridor. Don’t leaf without reading all the details 👉 https://ow.ly/K5Js50ZoVH4

Trust us, you'll want a game plan for this one. 👀 We've packed a whole lot of fun into our Founders Park Grand Opening, so consider this your cheat sheet for what's happening and when. Tap ▶️ to see how the evening unfolds.

☀️ That little break from the heat? It was nice while it lasted. Hot, humid weather returns Thursday and sticks around for the next few days. If you'll be spending time outdoors, make sure you: • Drink plenty of water. Like, a lot of water. • Take frequent breaks in the shade. • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. • Save strenuous work for the early morning or evening if you can. • Check on older adults, vulnerable family members, and neighbors. • Walk your pets during the early morning or evening. Stay cool and stay safe, Leland. 💙

Good afternoon, folks! The next Leland Town Council meeting will be held Thursday, July 16, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Here's what's on the agenda: ✅ Service recognition of Board and Committee Members ✅ Presentation by the Leland Area Garden Club ✅ Authorizing the exchange of real property action item The full agenda can be found right here 👉 https://ow.ly/KaOw50Zny5O