June 2010 ! ! !
Issue # 34
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Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine
www.ScuppernongGazette.com
Cover Photo: Neli Lemme
A weekend of fun, dancing, good food and company on the Albemarle Sound at the Eastern NC 4-H Center
Contact Info:! Charlene R. Pate cpate@tyrrellcounty.net 252-796-3421 Top Teams ""1"-"CANCER SURVIVORS """"""($1,070.00) ""2"-"The Life Group """"""($30.00) Top Participants ""1"-" Charlene Pate """"""($1,070.00) ""2"-" Susan Jackson """"""($200.00) Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, this year’s Relay for Life ""3"-" Billy Armstrong of Tyrrell County is set for Friday, June 4th and Saturday, June 5th. The event will be hosted by the Eastern 4-H Center, 100 N. Clover Way, Columbia, on the Inner Banks’ beautiful Albemarle Sound.
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PUBLISHER INGRID AND NELI LEMME
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Bazaar
Tyrrell County Summer
The Greater Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a Summer Bazaar on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm at Tyrrell Hall. Admission is $2 for adults. Children are free. Booth space is available for $20 inside and $10 outside. Home grown, hand-made, flea market, yard sale, arts and cafts items and antiques are welcome. No Commercial Food Booths. Please call 252-796-7079 for information and application. Pre-registration is due by June 8th and is required. First come, first served. The American Legion Post 182 will be sponsoring a BBQ dinner from
See Ya’ll
May 29th 2010. This inaugural Arts Fest is held in Tyrrell County centrally located within the Inner Banks. Independent 11:00 am -2:00 pm the same day. www.visittyrrellcounty.com
Quote of the Month
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“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” - John Lubbock
DEAR READER
June ~ summer time and livin' is easy. Swimming, fishing and boating on the Scuppernong river and on the Albemarle sound is fun, but please make sure to put on some sunscreen. And not to forget that we have now lots of fresh fish and crabs ‘n local veggies, and BBQs are popping up all over our
neighborhoods. Tyrrell County stands out as the real thing, genuine, down home and oh so unpretentious. We are so very sorry for the prom photos, they really didn't come out well because Neli had problems with her new camera. Alex thanks for the ‘wet & wild’ photo xox Love Ingrid and Neli
artists from the 22 county Inner Banks region are showing and sell their art and take home the full proceeds. www.IBXarts.org
June 2010
Man of the Month Lee G. Scripture III
Lee G. Scripture III Eastern 4-H Center Director Lee Scripture serves as the chief administrative officer and director for the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education and Conference Center. Lee is responsible for overall management of personnel, operations, and facilities at the Center. Lee is also involved in resource development and planning for the future growth and building of the Center.
June Kid of the Month Allie Cabacar
Couple of the Month Connie & Howard Liverman
www.eastern4hcenter.com
here with their daughter Tammy Brown June 2010
...On the Board Walk... Artist of the Month
Photographer Christy Maready, for “Tyrrell Bride on the Swing”
MAY 29
IBX Art Event Mega Art Show
Man of the Month
Lee Scripture III Director of Columbia’s 4-H Center
The lovely
Allie Cabacar
Organization of the Month
Columbia’s Red Wolf Coalition www.redwolves.com
JUNE 4&5
JUNE 12
Fun Weekend
Summer Bazar
Relay for Life Tyrrell County
Couple of the Month Connie & Howard Liverman
Kid of the Month
JUNE 25
“Life on the Edge” Show
JUNE" 09,16, 23, 30 - RED WOLF HOWLING
Website of the Month
Scuppernong Gazette on Facebook
Ladies of the Month
Mrs. Gladys Harrison and Mrs. Vera Clough, left to right.
Hot Tip of the Month
Spencer’s Sausage, founded in Tyrrell County
June 2010
June 2010
www.swanquartercampground.com
Photo by William West
June 2010
Business of the Month: Klip-n-Kurl Open Tuesday through Saturday. Please Call Ms. Gladys for Your Appointment at 252-796-1250 ------------------------Klip-n-Kurl 621 Riverneck Rd Columbia, NC""27925
Ladies of the Month Gladys Harrison & Vera Clough left to right
June 2010
GOOD EATIN’ BY WILLIAM WEST Do you remember those special cooks and meals in your life? I have always enjoyed eating and have been blessed by good cooks. My paternal greatgrandmother, Susan Dillon Liverman of Cross Landing, baked the best pound cake that I have ever tasted. My paternal grandmother, Lilly Liverman West, cooked an unforgettable pork roast. My maternal grandmother, Susan Brickhouse Beasley, prepared boiled, bootleg, short-nosed sturgeon or rock (stripped bass) and bag pudding for Easter. My mother, Rosalyn, prepared fresh pig liver smothered in onions and brown gravy so good that I salivate like Pavlov’s dog when I remember it. My wife couldn’t cook when we were married but she learned and now feeds me well even though she watches my diet and doesn‘t fry food. " June 2010
I was just a little shaver when my grandparents Beasley, my parents and I attended a mullet fry at Mr. Ab Rhode’s beach. Mr. Ab had a field on the sound shore across a tongue of swamp from his house. On that afternoon we all gathered at Mr. Ab’s house, took frying pans, lard, cornbread makings, coffee pots, etc., and walked over to
catch in the surf. “Flopping fresh” mullets and cornbread were soon frying, coffee was perking, and it was about time to begin our feast. There were Mr. Ab, his wife, Jim, their son, and his wife Stella, their son, Earl, Ed and Fannie Roughton, and their sons Cecil, Clarence and Jimmy Roughton and his family.
the sound shore. He had a permanent set of mullet net stakes just offshore and the men rowed out, set a string of gill nets, and returned to shore to build a fire of driftwood. Just about “dusky-dark” they rowed back out and removed the first mullets from the net and returned to shore to clean the
"“Dinner-on-the ground” was a special occasion at many rural Tyrrell County churches when I was a young boy, but, sadly, it is now almost a relic of the past. Today, many churches have meeting halls with kitchen facilities and the church meals are held inside. In those bygone days, the men set up tables on
saw horses under shade trees and the ladies covered the tables with white table cloths and a big spread of their favorite dishes. We could hardly wait for the final “amen” so we could line up opposite the best chocolate meringue pie, pineapple cake or grab a drumstick. " An especially memorable Tyrrell County feast occurred on a cold, frosty morning at Mills. My brother-in-law, Floyd Morris, and I were sitting in his pickup, well up Rowe Avenue, trying to hear the deer hounds that had gone beyond our hearing when the wind picked up. It was back when CB radios were “the thing” and Charley Armstrong called, “Floyd, whur y’at?” Floyd answered, “Up Rowe Avenue.” Charley called again, “C’mere,” but despite a repeated back-and-forth he wouldn’t tell what he wanted so that others on the hunt wouldn’t know what he was up to. We drove out to the main road, just down from the old house, and there was Charley, dressed in so many layers he could hardly walk. As we pulled in behind his pickup, he lowered the tail gate and, with a flourish, uncovered a steaming platter of braised
venison back-strap. He also had a bushel bag full of oysters in the shell and a big wedge of hoop cheese. No gourmet cook ever prepared a more memorable meal. " A few Octobers back, two of my local photographer buddies, my younger daughter and her husband, two of my former students, and another couple and their young daughter accompanied me on my annual Cades Cove camping trip. The two students volunteered to be our cooks and one of them, Harold Faulkner, is a master camp chef. One night he prepared a “Low Country boil” of shrimp, sausage, potatoes and the fixings. There was so much food that we fed a group of college students at the next group campsite. On another night Harold deep-fried a whole turkey, slabs of wild turkey breast and complimentary dishes to go with the turkey. Folks, it doesn’t get much better than that. As a young fisherman and hunter I enjoyed many lunches of sardines, “beanie wienies,” saltine crackers, a slab of cheese and a Pepsi. Now, when my rambling/camping buddies go
“down home” with me, we always stop by Buddy Brickhouse’s store to visit and buy the just named makings for a lunch that we will eat later somewhere out in the wilds. Somehow those ingredients in those locations, taste just about as fine as food can get. " I was introduced to Cajun cooking at Belello’s Restaurant in Houma, Louisiana, while on a working trip to Waubun, our company’s collecting station about 60 miles south of New Orleans. The dish was “crawfish” etouffe, consisting of crayfish cooked in a spicy roux and served over rice. On a return trip to Waubun, Harry Shoffner, one of my former students and co-worker, and I accompanied the station’s Cajun collector down into bayou country where the folks spoke “coonaise” to get crayfish. Late that afternoon, Danny, the collector, boiled 20 pounds of the crayfish with potatoes in water flavored with lemon and Cajun spices, and the three of us did a real number on those “mud bugs.” At the end of the meal I counted 97 head ends of the crayfish that I had eaten. "
June 2010
The most unusual food that I have ever eaten was butterfly pupae, called “sucampo” in the Quechua language of the Incas of Peru. It was the second day of our week-long trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, high in the Peruvian Andes. Our local, native carriers invited four of us to sample the delicacy they had prepared as part of their separate dinner meal. I grew up on raw oysters, hog “chit’lins,” and brain and eggs, so sucampo was not a challenge. " Now as I write this, my wife and I have just returned from “down home” in Tyrrell County to attend my cousin‘s spring party, where we feasted on more good eating. Mike served oysters, shrimp, barbecue, Brunswick stew and every guest brought a
dish. There was a table filled with casseroles, veggies, fried chicken, corn bread and much more. Another table groaned under a load of desserts. Tibble Davis brought a big pot of collards and Betty Sue Morris
sky was Carolina blue, there was a fine breeze and a mockingbird in one of the cedars sang as we feasted.
had baked a seven-layer black walnut cake. Each layer was smothered with a topping consisting of heavy cream, sugar, a pint of finely chopped black walnuts, and 1 # pints of finely chopped pecans. The food offering was awesome and I and probably just about everyone else ate far too much. Tables had been set up under 100-year old red cedar trees, the
Photos: Attendees at Mike’s party feasted at tables set up under 100 year-old red cedar trees, under a Carolina-blue sky, with a fine breeze blowing, while a mockingbird sang in one of the cedars.
" Bill West
PHOTOS AND STORY BY WILLIAM WEST A NATIVE OF TYRRELL COUNTY June 2010
THOSE WERE THE DAYS COLUMBIA MARINA HELPS TACKLE JAP While I was in Tyrrell County recently my sister gave me a scrapbook containing issues of a 1940s, World War II Tyrrell County newspaper devoted to news of servicemen then in Europe and the Pacific." Royce Rhodes returned home safely and later became a North Carolina Highway Patrol officer and served, I believe, at one time as sheriff of Tyrrell County. "" Among the other items in the collection were Savings Bonds Stamp book and ration stamp books, which I have photo copied to illustrate another article in the computer." There are a half-dozen or so articles in my computer and they will be coming to you (ya’ll) eventually. Bill ( William West) Betty W Morris: “Thomas Yerby was sheriff but died in office so Royce took over. He was sheriff when the Bishop family was found burned. At that time the sheriff was the tax collector but Royce did not want the job so I was his deputy collector until appointed by the Board of Commissioners in 74 or 75.”
June 2010
Sausage with a Long Tyrrell History Spencer Packing Company was founded in the late 1920's by Julius "Poppy" Spencer in Columbia, NC. Julius's son, Harold L. Spencer and his wife, Eva Spencer ran the business after his father (Julius) retired until 1976. Harold L. "Bud" Spencer and wife Pamela Spencer took over in 1976 when Bud's father retired. Bud graduated from Atlantic Christian College with a degree in Math and Science. He was a chemist with United Piece Dye Works before returning to Columbia and the family business. Kevin Spencer, son of Harold "Bud" Spencer graduated from East Carolina University in 1995 and worked with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Meat Inspection Service. He then came to work with his father to help expand the business. Greg Spencer graduated from North Carolina State University in 1997 with a degree in Food Science. He also came to work in the family business. Washington Packing Company started operation in 1947. Harold L. "Bud" Spencer purchased Washington Packing Company in 1998.
Give em a call, Picks up, and delivers.
Betty W Morris says: “I remember when my grandmother Lillie West raised sage and sold it to the Spencers to go in their sausage. I have been eating. Spencer’s sausage for 50 years.” And Arnette Cahoon Parker: “Spencer Sausage is known far and wide. We often pick up some for relatives in Raleigh. If you ever try it, you'll never want any other kind. They are delicious. Sure did hate that they moved to Washington area. The entire family members AND the business was a tremendous asset to Tyrrell County.” - Susan Holmes Jackson “Best sausage in the world!!” - Dom Lemme: “Just got my Wild Boar Sausages back from Spencers, Wow! Hog, Deer, Bear, Whatever, Give em a call, Picks up, and delivers.” - Theresa Smith: “Oh, I know I can't wait for the reunion to get me some fresh sausage.” - Roland Marshall: “now you hit on a soft spot, when I go up there for vacation I always get some and bring it back to Miami, I would freeze it wrap in newspaper and it would stay frozen till I got home. nothing can top their sausage......”
Take a step back in time and savor country-style sausage just like Grandma used to cook. Spencer's Whole Hog Sausage and Ole Tar Heel Meats are a unique Eastern North Carolina tradition, founded in Tyrrell County! www.spencersausage.com
June 2010
DON’T MISS A GREAT SHOW “LIFE ON THE EDGE” THURSDAY JUNE 25TH, 2010 @ 7PM It’s been quite a few years since the movie theater on Main Street ran its last film. It’s been longer still since the James Adams Floating Theatre made its way up the Scuppernong River to perform its vaudevillian delights. Entertainment, these days, is as close as the remote and as accessible as the click of a button.
the premise that life is hard and full of surprises. But through relationships with family and friends, we learn how to "be there" for one another. The group, now in its 37th year of performing, is directed by Scott and Nicole Hughes, a husband-and-wife team who are both teachers in the local public school system. After six years of directing, the two have figured
work at times. My work is mostly at the beginning of the season, and her work takes place mostly at the end of the season.” Though Soul Searchers is based out of Eastport United Methodist Church in Annapolis, Maryland, the group is non-denominational and comprised of children who range from fourth graders on up through high school and college. Some have been with the group
Despite that, there’s still something a bit magical about a live performance. Whether it’s listening to your favorite local band, watching your child’s play at school or jammin’ with Guitar Heroes, it’s hard to beat the fun that comes when you gather with folks to listen and watch as the entertainment unfolds right in front of you. So if you want to get out of the house and enjoy an evening of good music and drama, now’s your chance. Soul Searchers, an Annapolis-based Christian musical group, will perform Life on the Edge at the Columbia Christian Church on Thursday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. The play, a youth musical about real life and the choices we make, is based on
out their respective areas of expertise. Scott concentrates on directing, sound production, selecting each year’s musical, handling correspondence and logistics, and running solo auditions. Nicole focuses on lighting, choreography, character selection, and staging. Scott admits, however, that “we both cross paths and share some of the
multiple years and are growing up with Soul Searchers. The group typically picks a new musical in the fall, then rehearses once a week from January to May. At the beginning of June, Soul Searchers goes “out on the road” to perform, typically, at area churches. Although the majority of their performances June 2010
are local to Annapolis, Soul Searchers has a long history of heading up and down the Eastern Seaboard, including visits to Erie, PA; Martinsburg, WV; Richmond, VA; Durham, NC; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Orlando, FL, performing at, not only churches, but also city festivals, the Bowie Baysox minor league baseball park and Disneyworld. This year Soul Searchers performed at six churches in the Annapolis area. After their performance in Columbia, the group will continue on to South Carolina, where they will appear twice more in the Myrtle Beach area. For the 2010 Soul Searchers season, the group includes 18 girls and 6 boys, who are pretty typical. Rehearsals are a mixture of giggling girls, boys working on their cool factor, animated conversations and kids keyed up by caffeine and sugar – in other words – controlled chaos. But when the stage lights go on and the music rises, the kids hit their marks. Their energy and enthusiasm reels in the audience, one line, one laugh, one song at a time. So how did the Soul Searchers end up in Columbia? (In the spirit of full disclosure, the writer admits to growing up on Sound Side, and is the mother of a three-year Soul Searcher veteran,
whose grandfather, Collon Snell, still lives in the area.) But the real answer is the generosity and cooperation of the members of the local community. When asked if they would consider hosting the approximately 35 kids and adults for a night, feeding them and providing places to sleep, they answered without hesitation – yes! Columbia has
era when traveling actors came by boat on the Scuppernong River. And though the Dillon’s bus that the kids arrived on doesn’t have quite the romance of a floating theatre, the intent is still the same. So put down your remote, get out of the house and allow yourself to enjoy Life on the Edge – as the Soul Searchers provide an evening full of drama,
long been a warm and welcoming place, offering Southern hospitality and small-town charm. The hosting church, Columbia Christian, is simply continuing a tradition that stretches back to the days of circuit-riding preachers.
music and camaraderie with your fellow Tyrellinians.
Now that the stage has been set, allow yourself to be transported back in time a bit – back to an
If you’d like to learn more about Soul Searchers, its history, its 2010 touring schedule, and photos of past performances, please visit the group’s web site at www.soulsearchers.org By Barbara Snell Krebs
June 2010
www.redwolves.com
June 2010
www.redwolves.com June 2010
17th Annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Youth ages 5 to 12 are invited to participate in the 17th Annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day to be held June 22 at the Vernon James Center in Plymouth. !The day will begin at 9 am with youth will dividing into 5 to 8 and 9 to 12 year age groups and participating in 5 sessions, each geared at teaching safety on the farm and in rural areas. ! Some stations include: Large Equipment, ! Water Safety, Fire Safety and more. Teen and adult volunteers are needed to serve as Monitors for the day. Participants and volunteers will receive a Safety Day T-shirt, goodie bag, lunch, snacks and the insight to handle problems that may arise on the farm or in rural areas. Cost for the day is $6 per person, with a $18 maximum fee per family (Monitors attend FREE!). Limited transportation is available. This event is sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Centers of Tyrrell, Washington, Hyde, Martin, Bertie and Chowan and youth from all counties are invited to attend. ! Space is limited, so call the Tyrrell County Extension Center today at 796-1581! -Elizabeth "Dee" Furlough, CFCS Family and Consumer Sciences Agent North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Tyrrell County Center Post Office Box 209 407 Martha Street Columbia, North Carolina 27925 E-Mail Address: Dee_Furlough@ncsu.edu Phone !!: 252-796-1581 !!Fax: 252-796-2881 http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/tyrrell 2010 GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Governor's Award for Volunteer Service.! This year marks the 32nd anniversary of this program showcasing NC's most dedicated volunteers.! North Carolinians have proven their concern and compassion for their neighbors by volunteering in their local communities.! Each county selects five (5) individuals, businesses, and/or groups to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities.! One of the five recipients will be nominated to receive the NC Outstanding Volunteer Medallion.! A local committee evaluates the nominations.! Nomination forms are now available in Tyrrell County at the Tyrrell County Cooperative Extension at 407 Martha Street in Columbia, or electronically by contacting Dee Furlough at dee_furlough@ncsu.edu .! The completed forms should be returned to this office no later than August 13th (Friday).! For further information, call Dee at! 796-1581.
June 2010
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SCUPPERNONG gazette 436 Bridgepath Rd Columbia, NC 27925 Tyrrell County www.ColumbiaNC.com www.ScuppernongGazette.com www.SwanQuarterly.net
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June 2010