"Instead of Santa hats, creative lovers of history may want to put on their thinking caps this month. Through Dec. 30, the Historic Preservation Commission of Wilmington is seeking contest entries to design a logo commemorating its 50th anniversary in 2012.

The commission reviews new construction and proposed additions, alterations and changes in materials in various districts across the city, with some of the strictest rules applying to the downtown residential historic district. Other areas use regular zoning with a component of historical preservation as an overlay, vice chair Janet Seapker explained on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

"Basically, we wouldn’t have a historic district had it not been for the preservation commission," Seapker said. She added that Wilmington was among the first cities in North Carolina that the state authorized to maintain a historic district"