Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine November 2014
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PUBLISHER: INGRID LEMME ~ EDITOR: MARGIE BROOKS
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Quote of the Month
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If we meet someone who owes us thanks, we right away remember that. But how often do we meet someone to whom we owe thanks without remembering that? ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
DEAR READER
Albemarle Service Center Conveniently located across the street from our Tyrrell County Fire Department, this auto service center does it all! Phone: (252) 796-9100
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It’s Complicated
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH invites ya’ll to hear about Tyrrell County’s Opportunities and Challenges
So much to be grateful for! Columbia's annual Riverfest was a huge success and our yuletide Rivertown Christmas celebration will be here the first weekend in December. Columbia is sparkling because Scott McLaughlin, the owner of the Old Salt Oyster Bar, is cleaning November 12, 2014 at 7PM with Ladd Bayliss, NC Coastal Federation: “Working with NC Watermen to Remove Abandoned Fishing Gear”.
up the town on the weekends definitely something to be grateful for. I’ve met a few people here that have become good friends, and I am grateful for that. Grateful for the tall mountain man I have met, for my children and grandchildren, and for ya'll. God bless! ~ Love Ingrid @ 106 South Road Street, Columbia,
www.VisitTyrrellCounty.com
THE COUSIN CONNECTION BY BARBARA SNELL KREBS
Now that the trick-ortreaters have hung up their costumes and the jack-olanterns have been consigned to compost, we can turn our attention to the next holiday – Thanksgiving. Out go the skeletons, witches and black cats – in come the pilgrims, turkeys and cornucopias.
When I think of Thanksgiving, I can’t help but remember tables practically groaning under the weight of turkeys and hams, green beans and sweet potato casserole with their topping of golden-brown marshmallows. Canned cranberry sauce with the indent of the can ridges still on the side. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Pumpkin pies with enough Reddi-Whip to float a flotilla.
And though it was definitely a pigfest worthy of the holiday, what I truly enjoyed
was the chance to get together with my cousins.
You see, though both my father and mother were from Tyrrell County, as were their parents and countless generations before them, in the 1960s, the times they were achangin’. People were mobile and this new generation of young adults was happy to spread their wings and fly out into a larger world.
And so it was, that my parents’ siblings headed out for foreign lands (Fayetteville, Newport News, Clinton – OK, my uncle joined the army so he really was in foreign lands). At any rate, my brother and I grew up on Sound Side sans any first cousins nearby.
But when Thanksgiving or Christmas rolled around, the families would gather and my “lonely” existence would be transformed by the addition of crowds of cousins to get into mischief with. For instance, my older cousin on my mother’s side, Jay, and I would roam the streets of Creswell. He was
fascinated by the artesian well. As a cultured denizen of Newport News, he couldn’t fathom why there was a pump on Main Street where you could bring your Mason jar and fill it up with the “good” water. I, on the other hand, couldn’t picture a city where such amenities were not just absent, but actually frowned upon. Although I had to admit that the stone lions on a bridge near his house were pretty cool. None of our bridges had lions, more’s the pity.
And, of course, there was the whole aspect of being the big cousin who could provide pretty nifty entertainment. My cousin, Lisa (on my father’s side), still laughs about how I would spin her around. The trick was getting enough momentum going. We would link arms, then she would run in circles around me as quickly as possible until I could finally lift her up and we would rotate, her legs flying in the air until exhaustion or dizziness overcame me, whichever came first. Then we’d tumble to the ground, catch our breath and repeat the entire exercise again.
But what I’ve discovered as an adult is that this cousin connection is not just a childhood thing. Nor is it confined to just the cousins you grew up with. In recent years, I’ve gotten to know my cousin, Sylvia Snell Lundy, who’s in my Dad’s generation. Though she lives in California, we’ve gotten to know one another through emails and on Facebook. In one of her recent emails she wrote about family gatherings at James Britt Snell’s house in Columbia and her cousin connections there. She wrote: “All the family near Columbia would come for potlucks on his [James Britt Snell] birthday … The grownups sat around on all those tree seats and other tables to eat, and we grandchildren and various "once removed" cousins retreated to the three-across swings (three of them) on the corner and front porches to eat. There was a croquet court set up on the rosegarden lawn on the other side of the house.” “Scott and Patti were our two most
dedicated [tree] climbers, but they added hanging upside down and other refinements, some so spectacular that I didn't dare shout at them to break their concentration. Patti was the one who tried to walk tightrope around the top of the chain-link fence bar of the big dog kennel. Well, she almost made it, too! I painted colorful toadstools and elves on her plaster arm cast, which I'm afraid turned her into too much of a heroine at school – and got me "elected" to design the
poster ads for the next PTA carnival fundraiser....ha!”
So whether you were one of the cousins who grew up in Tyrrell County or whether your family lived a bit further afield and you only came to Columbia on holidays or vacations, those ties evoke strong memories of family – memories that stretch across years and generations.
So this Thanksgiving, no matter what your age, I invite you to put your fork down for just a few moments and renew your cousin connection. OK, well done – you can pick up your fork again now. Just one more slice of pumpkin pie, please? Photo Caption: The Spencer cousins gather around their grandparents (seated) for a family celebration. (The author is seated on the ground, far right.)
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5K-RUN
Hotline greatly appreciated our volunteers.
Inner Banks Hotline hosted a 5k fun run/walk on Saturday, October 4, 2014. The run was a huge success! Participants from last year doubled. The run was made up of 9 teams and 5 individuals for a total of 67 participants.
Every participant received a medallion, t-shirt, and goodie bag for participating. The first place male and the first place female received a trophy. Brent Cole from Virginia Beach won for male with a time of 21.50 and Regina Linton from Columbia won for female with a time of 25.45.
The race took place throughout the streets of Columbia. It started and ended at the waterfront, Town Commons. Several volunteers helped with the registration table and the water stations. Inner Banks
Inner Banks Hotline had several sponsors this year who were a huge part of our success. A big thank you goes to Ride to a Wish, Don Coberly, Ricky Rhodes Construction, Columbia Crossing Restaurant, Horton & Associates Financial Services, Windy H. Rose, Attorney at Law, Wheless & Wheless, PLLC, Bramble & bramble, PA, and Hornthal, Riley, Ellis, &Maland, LLP. Inner Banks Hotline’s goal for next year is an even bigger event; with continued community involvement, this will happen! www.ibxhotline.org
“ALISA” BY INGRID LEMME The first time I met Alisa Esposito Lucash was at Element’s Coffee Shop at the Scuppernong Vineyard Winery in Columbia. Her children Amelia 12, Noah 8, and Eden River 6 – where with her. When my laptop charger cable broke while I was working on the Scuppernong Gazette, I posted a HELP message on my Facebook page and she had responded. She is a beautiful woman with a kind smile. A wife, a mother--a Jacqueline of all trades, as I would soon find out when I visited her on the farm. When I entered Alisa's world something magical happened that is hard to explain and one must experience for oneself. I was brought back into a world where food doesn’t
grow in supermarkets and where life was moving at a little a slower pace.
“Sparkroot” is Eden, peacefully located on six acres of healthy land and surrounded by fields, a national wildlife refuge, and swamp forest. The micro-farm features a charming, old farm house surrounded by mixed woods and raised field beds overlooking an idyllic pond with horses grazing along its edge.
Alisa invited me into her home where her children were hovering over their homework, with the aroma of fresh baked goods lingering in the air. As I looked around her house I recognized the touch of the creative woman that made this place into a cozy and comfortable home for her
family. I followed Alisa out on her veranda where she offered me a basket of multigrain berry muffins and a lightly sweetened herbal iced tea. Both were incredible and tasted like those my grandmother made.
It was a beautiful day and the birds were competing for applause. “A great habitat for songbirds,” Alisa smiled. Asked about the raised beds (Hugelkultur), she explained: “Our vegetable garden feeds our family of five and a few friends. Our future includes weekend farmer's markets. We have a flock of egg-layers, dairy goats for milk, cheese, yogurt and soap. We grow potatoes, garlic, lettuce, beets, squash, leeks, onions, kale, broccoli, collards, kohlrabi, sunchokes, radishes, herbs, and more. A Shiitake mushroom production is under experimentation.”
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She guided me around the farm, introduced the horses and goats by name and then we came upon a rice paddy. “Doesn’t rice need a lot of water…?” I asked and found out that this is actually not the case. “Rice paddies are only flooded to kill the weeds, the rice plants like water, so flooding doesn’t hurt them.” I love to learn new things and Alisa has a wealth of knowledge that she freely shared.
apples, berries, grapes, figs, quinces, and pears” she said and continued: ”Our pond is being managed for blue gill, and there are some areas of camping around its perimeter.” I am stunned. This beautiful woman, who could very well be a model, is quite amazing. She can move 90 pounds of soap and plant 300 cloves of heirloom garlic in a day while she is listening to the tunes of Bela Flack…
“My husband and I are working on an extensive medicinal garden, as well as expanding our orchard into
Apropos, ‘Soaps’, Alisa’s cold processed handmade soaps are made with the fresh milk of the dairy goats. Her recipe is
palm oil free and rainforestfriendly. She makes chunky hand cut bars from a mix of coconut, olive, sunflower, safflower and sweet almond oils, dried herbs and pure essential oils that are rich-lathering and long-lasting and are for sale online. “The Violet Sparrow” Sparkroot’s online farm shop is filled with these wonderful soaps and other treasures inspired by things their children love. As a Waldorf-inspired home-learning family, Alisa and the kids are constantly creating new play things. To learn more about this wonderful place visit www.sparkrootfarm.com
POCOSIN PONDERINGS Pocosin Arts invited the community to an informal jam session on October 7th at St. Andrews Episcopal Church with visiting North Carolina Humanities Council “Road” scholar John Santa. The evening was filled with old time music, gospel, blues, and even Gershwin tunes as a crowd of nearly 20 people filled the front porch of St. Andrews with music from banjo’s, mandolins, ukuleles, bass, rhythm, and lead guitars. For the next few hours the sounds of singing and playing filled the night air as passersby on Road Street stopped to listen. It was a magical and fun filled event for those participating and for those in the community within earshot. Mr. Santa expressed his gratitude for the warmth and kindness of he received while in Columbia and left us with a promise to return again soon. When he does we will be sure to plan another jam session.
Now Pocosin Arts is gearing up for a great fall and winter season! With the Benefit Auction and Low Country Boil under their belts, the staff is excited to announce that the live
and silent auction and Scholarship Fund fundraiser brought in over $17,000! These funds will be used to help Summer Youth Art Camp, After School Youth Art classes as well as support outreach to local schools. Adult programing supported by this event includes workshops and weekly classes in metals and clay which are set to resume as soon as construction is completed on the Main Street Studios. New concrete floors are being poured in our downstairs studios signaling that time is not too far away. Get prepared to be back in the studio learning and making.
Children’s activities, art, and crab-hat sales at the Scuppernong River Festival were also a grand success and Pocosin Arts is committed to providing fun and free activities for kids next year so be sure to stop by if you need a creative break. Additional thanks go to donors and volunteers who helped build and fire a small outdoor kiln during the event. This small kiln is perfect for Raku, a fun and exciting technique for firing ceramic glazes. Current ECU graduate student Brett Beasley was out to assist Resident Stephanie with the firing as well as make some charming wheel-
thrown critters during his pottery demonstration. Pocosin is currently hosting three Artists in Residence through December 15th. Newly arrived Catherine Hart is a New Jersey native recently arrived from Penland, NC. She is an avid draftswoman, collager, painter and muralista with experience in glass as well. She continues work on her wheat paste mural on the south face of the Riverside Lodge. This technique is a method of quickly executing large scale mural works using a paste of flour boiled in a water to adhere the collage materials. It is a simple, safe, and temporary way to make exciting work and this allows children and passersby to collaborate in this dynamic piece-- what fun! Ms. Hart is eagerly anticipating other venues and opportunities to create her beautiful murals.
Resident Artist Samantha Clarke is holding down visitor operations at the Riverside Lodge When she is not spending her time managing visiting ECU students, faculty, and staff as they join us for research trips and special events, she can be found crafting gourmet dinners and exquisite jewelry for everyday and special occasions. Currently Ms.
"e Pocosin A#s Annual Benefit Auction and Dinner was a well a%enuated and well received aair.
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Clarke is experimenting with forged steel wire and fine silver overlay.
Stephanie Klausing is slinging mud in our temporary clay studio and teaching AfterSchool Arts Classes on Wednesday and Thursday. Fall Session II is currently underway with an emphasis on creative exploration to discover the connections between art, science, engineering, and math. Enrollment is ongoing and prorated fees and Scholarships are available for students.
Adult Workshop goers looking for a chance to get their hands on power tools and learn some basic woodworking can register for a special one-day workshop on November 22. Pocosin is joining forces with Eric Godwin at Columbia High School to offer a class on building Corn Hole Boards. Each participant in the workshop will get an introduction to the wood shop and use their talents to create a pair
of Corn-Hole game boards to take with them. Corn-Hole is a terrific yard game for all ages and a perfect way to liven up a Thanksgiving party or football tailgate with a little friendly competition. Tuition and registration information for the workshop can be found on the Pocosin Arts’ website or by calling the Pocosin Arts Office at 252-796-2787.
Pocosin will also be hosting the Rivertown Christmas Bazaar and we are excited see what holiday goodies vendors bring to share. Resident Artists
will also be selling their work and gift givers will have a selection of ceramics, metalwork, drawings, and more to choose from. If you are interested in being a vendor, contact Helen Craddock at the Visitor Center at 252-766-0200.
Following the Christmas Holiday and a much deserved break in programming, Pocosin Arts will ring in the New Year by hosting the their flagship event the Cabin Fever Reliever XV, February 19-22. Celebrating its 15th year, Pocosin will be hosting four artists for four days including Tom Muir, James Tisdale, Margaret Couch Cogswell, and Karen Newgard. Participants can choose from one of four workshops: engineering and problem solving in metals; narrative ceramic sculpture; papier mache menagerie; or porcelain techniques for function and aesthetics. This event is expected to draw 50+ artists and crafters to the area for a whirlwind of learning, making, and plain old good times.
For more information about Pocosin Arts, visit www.pocosinarts.org
GREATER TYRRELL COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UPDATE BY ANN WARD
Autumn brings with it falling leaves and temperatures but activities of the Greater Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce are not falling off. As a matter of fact, this is one of the busiest times of the year for our town and county. We have just successfully celebrated our 23rd Scuppernong River Festival which brought approximately 10,000 people to
the waterfront and streets of Columbia. The parade, bands, vendors, food, music, boat rides, helicopter rides, stunt bike shows, US Coast Guard rescue demonstration and much more kept people busy all day and into the evening which featured fireworks and outdoor concert. Numerous groups performed and entertained during the day with special guests including Miss North Carolina, NC’s Watermelon Queen, and NC Insurance Commissioner, Wayne Goodwin. We also had participation by the NC Departure of Agriculture, Beaufort County Community College, Solid Waste Authority and the NC Highway Patrol. Another very special touch to our festival this year was having the Elizabeth II docked at our town docks for school children and festival participants to be able to board the ship for a wonderful historical and educational experience.
Our next main event will be our annual River Town Christmas, scheduled for December 4-7. The weekend event will once again draw thousands of people to our wonderful town and county to
experience our hometown holiday celebration. Highlights of the weekend include tree lightings, parade, culinary arts contest, outdoor decorating contest, rock fish tournament, bazaar (featuring crafts, arts and food), caroling and singspiration, horse and carriage rides, holiday open houses at historic homes/ churches/ businesses, visits with Santa, band and chorus concerts and the wonderful La Posada.
Our Chamber Board of Directors have been working hard to develop an annual plan of work for next year. We held a Board Retreat back in the spring which resulted in many good ideas of things we need to do and accomplish to make our Chamber more productive and successful; thus becoming a greater asset to our county. Realizing it would be impossible to effectively accomplish all of the goals identified, Board members have recently completed a prioritization of goals and committee restructuring. The main goals will focus on marketing, membership, public relations, education and workforce
development, government affairs/economic development, staffing/finance, and special events. We encourage member involvement in all committees and welcome ideas on how to achieve our identified goals. Any Chamber members who would like to volunteer to serve on a/any committee(s), please let us know.
The Chamber and Rotary Club recently co-hosted a Candidates’ Night where political candidates for local and state offices were invited to attend, meet local residents, and make a presentation explaining
their qualifications and goals, if elected. The audience had the opportunity to ask candidates questions focusing on issues or concerns facing our county. Political candidates attending included: Angie Sexton, Clerk of Court (unopposed) Darrell Liverman, Sheriff (unopposed) NC House of Representative: Bob Steinburg (Incumbent) Garry Meiggs NC Senate: Erica Smith-Ingram (unopposed) Tyrrell County Commissioner: Leroy Spivery
Left to right: Doris Van Dorpe and Ann Ward
(Incumbent) Nina Griswell Carl Combs Candidate Mike Lam was not present due to a family emergency. Yes, autumn is here and before we know it, it will be a new year. The Greater Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce welcomes new members and ideas in an effort to make next year even bigger and better than this year. Anyone wanting to join the Chamber is welcome to call me at 252-216-6705.
4-H EXPLORERS AND THE CHOWAN COUNTY FAIR BY: MIRIAM FAUTH
Our 4-H Explorers were busy last month. It was really a simple time, as we walked around our very own town of Columbia. We stopped by the Senior Citizens building and had a very interesting tour as we learned about the center. Our group was most fascinated by the pottery room, and the kiln. We spent some time in there while Dee Dee Bullock, the center’s director, explained the whole firing process. She showed us the ceramics that seniors had enjoyed making.
Then we then walked on through the town, greeting people as we went by. Our next stop was Mr. Bobby’s Barber Shop. Mr. Bobby came down from his ladder, as he was up on the roof asphalting, to greet us. Now, this was quite
something for us all, to see Mr. Bobby (he is in his 90’s) up on the roof ! He was most welcoming and we sat and talked for a few minutes and asked a few questions. We thanked him for showing us his unique barber shop, and we then went on our way back to the Extension Office. It really was a simple walk, but it was filled with appreciation of our little town and people. The Chowan County Fair was the big event for this month. It was once again time to gather up our arts and crafts to enter in the craft show.
Tyrrell County also had some participants in the talent show and the pageant. John Mark Swain placed 2nd for his Cecil and Leonard comedy skit. Jacob and Ruthie Fauth were awarded participation ribbons. Grace and Lydia Swain placed 2nd for their song they sang, and Layah Fauth won 1st place for her version of “The Colors of the Wind.” It was also an exciting time for Grace Swain and Layah Fauth, as they both entered the beauty pageant for teenagers. They both had to wear business attire, have an interview on stage, show a talent, and show an evening gown. This competition is quite challenging, but it offers the girls a great opportunity to develop skills in confidence and performing. Our girls did very well! Layah was awarded 3rd place, and Grace was awarded 2nd. Well done Columbia girls!
A LIFECHANGING OPPORTUNITY – ART FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BY: MIRIAM FAUTH
Last month, the Scuppernong Gazette ran an article about the amazing life of artist Edith Deltgen. My family and I have had the honor to spend a little time with Edith in past months, and help her with some projects she is involved in. She had been approached by the Lions Club to present a “Touch, Feel, Hear, and Smell” art show for Visually Impaired People (VIP) that they host annually. Edith has presented this exhibition a few times and this year it was being held in The Elizabethan Gardens and we were able to help.
Edith sees arts as an opportunity to enhance people’s lives. Months before the show we went along with her to visit the Monarch Center in Columbia and the
Mattamuskeet Opportunities Center in Fairfield. She had prepared a craft for the clients of these centers, people who need “just a little assistance” in their daily lives. The intention was that the egg box decorated craft they would all make would be displayed at the upcoming Visually Impaired Art Exhibition. In addition to knowing that visually impaired art show visitors would be able to touch and feel their art work, they would also travel to The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo and see their own art work displayed. It is hard to imagine the hours of organization that is put into this three-day event. The Lions Club is responsible for getting hundreds of sightchallenged people hosted in the Outer Banks area. This year, 550 people were involved. Edith’s art show is just one part of their experience. The main attraction is a fishing tournament. It’s hard to imagine, but 550 VIPs were able to spend a day fishing on the piers, or out on the beach, and some even had the experience of going out on a fishing boat.
On the day the VIPs visited The Elizabeth Gardens, they walked through Edith’s exhibition that was to be on display during the month of October. Some felt - and some partially saw- textured art, shell art, musical art, comical sculptures, and perfumed art. They got to feel a 6-foot long snake made of material that had ‘swallowed’ a stuffed rabbit! They rummaged for buried treasure in the sand with a magnet. They got to hear and touch a singing fish, and shake bottles filled with mystery items. Along with the art show, Edith had planned a craft for anyone who was interested. The Elizabethan Gardens had provided a large tent area, along with chandeliers where the VIP could sit, have a snack and make a craft. This is where my two children and other volunteers had the honor of assisting people make a paper plate flower. They glued on moss at the base, decorated the flower with sunflower seeds and sprinkles of colorful paper, and they stuck paper petals all around. Guide dogs sat patiently at their owner’s feet, and all helpers were on board! The end result was about 70 -
all very different flowers standing in pots - waiting to be shown at the banquet, the grand finale of the three days. I can sum the whole event up as lifechanging. To be included was an honor for us. Edith is to be commended for the countless hours she devoted to this project and all of her ideas and art that she has worked on that helped make it a success. The Lions Club member’s dedication to put together such a huge event, that hundreds of VIP look forward to every year was unparalleled. This could only have come together with good hearts, commitment, and a real desire to want to help
people who are sight-challenged. Helen Keller wrote, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even
touched. They must be felt with the heart.”
YARD SALE-ING IN YOUR BACKYARD WITH THE CLICK OF A MOUSE BY BARBARA FLEMING ADMINISTRATOR FOR TYRRELL COUNTY ONLINE YARD SALE https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 631849316878083/
Just by knowing that people in Tyrrell County and the surrounding counties love a good yard sale... the new “Tyrrell County Online Yard Sale” was born. I sat at my computer one night and typed in ‘yard sales’ and the names just came popping up. I came up with a list of rules compiled by looking at many different sites. People at first were slow to post… and a few of the
rules were not read... and there have been people that are constantly trying to spam the site. But now it is pretty much straightening out, and I am finding it very enjoyable. The TCOYS site is now benefitting lots of people, just like I hoped it would. There are currently over 1,100 members. And there is a lot to be found on the site from clothes to animals, and furniture to vehicles. Anyone is welcome to join. I hope the members continue to buy, sell, and find things they are looking for (ISO). I have only posted two or three items to sell, but it was really cool to get rid of my unwanted stuff in just a few minutes, or a few hours.
Editor’s note: I love a good yard sale! For us aficionados, there is nothing better than going through someone else’s trash to find a special treasure and then
negotiating the price. But living in a rural area where there are few such sales, or where you have to get up early and drive many miles to such sales poses a real dilemma. With modern technology, the popularity of on-line yard sale sites is growing. Using social media to reach out to your friends and neighbors, Facebook seems to have cornered the market for people wanting to buy and sell locally. Just about every county in eastern NC has one or more sites. Some are closed (you must ask to join or receive an invitation to join) but others are open to anyone and free to use for anyone with access to a computer and who has a Facebook account. Most have rules and site administrators who enforce them, which makes for a pleasant experience. One other aspect that Barbara mentions above is the “In Search Of ” (ISO) feature. In addition to buying and selling online, an “ISO” post lets you put the word out that you are looking for a special item – who knows that item might be upstairs in your neighbor’s attic right now!
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SCUPPERNONG RIVER FESTIVAL SOUNDS BY MIRIAM FAUTH Living right in the center of the town of Columbia, this year I reflected on the sounds of the Scuppernong River Festival which is held every autumn. In the days leading up to the Scuppernong River Festival you can feel a change of energy in the air. You can sense a busyness of people preparing. Our tiny town of Columbia which is usually relatively quiet, starts to echo new sounds all around. For example, people living in town are out and about in their yards cleaning up and mowing. On Thursday we heard the sounds of the arrival of the Elizabeth II as she sailed in from Manteo, docking on our water front here in Columbia. The cannon fire boomed to alert us all that she was here, getting ready to show herself off to visitors. And early Saturday morning, the morning of the festival, the clang of metal was heard as vendors erected their metal stands. As the morning went by, we heard the
generators running as they supplied power to the food vendors. As 10:00 am approached, the streets started to fill with the sounds of people walking and talking and the children running in excitement as the parade was about to begin! Our little town of Columbia can boast quite an impressive parade during the festival, but one sound that we do not usually hear was the clipclopping of a few very majestic horses as their owners proudly rode them along the route. Immediately after the parade, crowds gathered at the Court House to hear the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band Concert. This concert was most inspiring. As they played, the audience was stirred to reflect on the honor of being a part of a Great Nation. In history, music has been associated with leading battles. I felt honored that the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band would come to Columbia and bring us to a place of connecting with America’s fight for liberty and freedom throughout times, using the sound of music. Columbia High School continued the patriotic theme
with their performance that followed. Bear Grass Charter School band played a great version of Don’t Stop Believing. Plymouth High School Band was last, but not least! They entertained us with some very high energy rhythms! Next on the quest for ‘sound’ was a visit to the Water Front Tent, where the Alligator String Band was playing. They have been together entertaining with blue grass music for roughly two years. A local band, it presently has four members: Frances Smyth/violin and vocals; Carol Lee/guitar and vocals; Andy Keeler/guitar and banjo; and Ron Cerimele/guitar and vocals. The Scuppernong River was a perfect backdrop with a beautiful view to sit and listen to the Alligator String Band’s music. Their performance included some very catchy and original songs, with lyrics that shared some of their life experiences, put to music. We had a new event at the Festival this year, the Protown BMX Stunt Show. This brought the sound of some very excited, loud cheers, shouts and clapping. Large crowds gathered around a fly box and quarter pipe ramp to watch as BMX bike riders performed some quite impressive stunts!
While the events on the ground were continuing on throughout the day, another different sound was in the air! Scenic helicopter rides were being offered. We could hear the helicopter’s engine as they flew all day. This was a unique experience for anyone who wanted to fly! As 7:00 pm approached, it was time for the fireworks. Of course, the sound of fireworks needs no explanation. Even though it was rainy, we all enjoyed the sight and sounds of Columbia’s firework show. This
year we watched from the Elements Coffee Shop. Our daughter Layah had been asked to share some of her music at the Coffee Shop. She played the keyboard and sang. She was excited to share her version of “On My Own” from “Les Misérables” and other songs. What was lovely about ending the day there, was that a couple of young friends joined Layah to sing and play the keyboard too. It was wonderful to hear them share their talents. Coffee shop owner Gabby Crail and her mother also shared a
lovely mother and daughter moment, and sang with quite impressive harmonies! Late in the evening as we were walking home, there were still sounds of excitement in the air. The concert was in full swing at the Court House and the music was echoing. We could hear the sounds from the food court which was still open. It was a most fulfilling day, filled with new and exciting sounds that would soon be coming to an end, leaving us a quiet little Columbia, until next year.
THANK YOU RIVER FESTIVAL COMMITTEE I just wanted to express to you how much my husband and I enjoyed the River Festival. The town/committee that had input and organized it did an exceptional job.
It was amazing!
I thought we would come and watch the parade, grab a bite to eat and then leave. Well, we ended up staying well into the evening. We found so many activities and things to do that time just flew by. I have some great pictures if you need any I'd be happy to share them with you. ( below )
I really just want to say thanks for all of the work that went into this, if you could pass this message on to the proper folks, I'd appreciate it.
Cheryl Keller
For a Stress-free, All-Inclusive Holiday Event, Celebrate at the Eastern 4-H Center! All packages include a private dining room that is decorated with holiday linens and centerpieces.
All packages include garden salad, two side selections, bread basket, choice of dessert and beverages (tea, coffee, water) The Green Bow Package with One Entrée³$14.95 The Red Holly Package with Two Entrees³$16.95 Entrée Choices: Baked Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef, Roasted Pork Loin, Baked or Fried Chicken
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The Gold Star Package with Two Entrees³$24.95 Entrée Choices: Prime Rib or Rib eye Steak and Shrimp (Steamed or Fried) Side Selections Creamed Potatoes
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Green Peas
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Desserts Apple or Peach Cobbler
Assorted Cheesecakes
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THE RED WOLF BY ROBERT LETHCO
The Red Wolf is an endangered species. In Columbia, North Carolina there is an organization helping to bring back the red wolf from near extinction. It is the Red Wolf Coalition. I visited the Red Wolf Education Center in Columbia this month. I was impressed with the center and saw the two resident Wolves - Hank a twelve-year old male and Betty an elevenyear old female.
The Executive Director, Kim Wheeler, is an expert on red wolves. She educated me on the organization and what her role is in this great endeavor. Since North Carolina has an open season on coyote, the Fish and Wildlife Service offers educational information on the identification between the red wolf and the coyote. This will further protect the red wolf
from mistakenly being killed. I highly recommend that everybody go visit the center in Columbia and take advantage of seeing a red wolf up close.
The red wolf is beautiful. In North Carolina it is presently indigenous to the Northeastern area of five counties: Beaufort, Dare, Hyde,
Tyrrell, and Washington. This is an ideal location since there are four National Wildlife Refuges here: Alligator River, Mattamuskeet, Pocosin Lakes, and Swan Quarter. They are elusive creatures that only a handful of people get to see in the wild. They roamed freely for centuries till modernization started pushing them back to almost extinction. They were so depleted in numbers that they
cross bred with coyotes to form what many say are the results of the present day red wolf.
The red wolf lifespan is seven years on average in the wild; however, in captivity they may reach fifteen years. They are a mix of colors - red buff, cinnamon brown, black and some white features. They are camouflaged so they can disappear in the forests. They range from 50 pounds to 80 pounds. They stand around 27 inches tall, about the size of a German shepherd dog. There are an estimated 120 plus red wolves in Northeast North Carolina. They live in packs of 6 to 8 animals. They feed on white tailed deer and small mammals such as rabbits, nutria, and raccoons. They eat from 2 to 5 pounds of meat each day. Their numbers are increasing due to the Red Wolf Coalition’s tireless efforts to save this beautiful animal from extinction. Please take a little time and visit the Red Wolf Educational Center. www.redwolves.com
FORMER GUM NECK PASTOR DEBUTS AS WRITER BY MARGIE BROOKS With the holidays fast approaching, how many of us will be looking for a gift for our tweens and teens that isn’t a video game? And if we could actually get our children to read something – and maybe even throw in a little history at the same time, we will feel like we have accomplished something!
Phil Emmert, the former pastor of Gum Neck Church of Christ in Tyrrell County, has just published his first ever book – When War Was Heck, which will fit the bill to a “T.” Twelve years in the writing, the book is set in the mid-1940s as World War II is on everyone’s mind. It combines easy reading with history, and Emmert seasons the story with homespun bits of humor and nostalgia. Filled with typical boyhood adventures: swimming, baseball, basketball, and snowball fights, the story is intermingled with the wreckage
of war, escapes from bullies, and monsters on the home front. This story is told from the unique perspective of a ten-year old boy, William Henry, who spends a lot of time in his thinking tree and sometimes shares that special refuge with his friend Peanut. And lest you think this is a book for boys only, there’s curly-headed Mary Ann with an attitude and Buck, the black and
white Border Collie – all based on real characters with lots of imagination thrown in.
Emmert originally hails from Indiana, but spent just as many years in eastern North Carolina where he has pastored in both Hyde and Tyrrell counties. He also taught middle and high school and worked with the Department of Social Services in Hyde County. Currently married to the former Beatrice (Bea) O’Neal, he has four children, 11 grandchildren, three step-children and 4 step-
grandchildren. They recently moved from the Makelyville community in Hyde County to Washington, NC. When War Was Heck is published by Jan Fix at www.thewordverve.com who said: “What a special book this has been for us! I giggled all the way through the publishing process, as did our proofreaders and beta readers, and we’re all over the age of 50! So while it will definitely appeal to the youngsters, I think the book’s reach is far greater than that. No age boundaries for this one!”
You may purchase a hardcopy of the book online at http:// www.thewordverve.com/war-heck/ The e-Book versions are available at any of the following sites: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ id932039313 http://www.inktera.com/store/title/ af5b5923-98ed-4409bd11-1c8bbe8f2190 https://www.scribd.com/book/ 243856300/When-War-Was-Heck http://www.amazon.com/WhenWar-Heck-Phil-Emmert-ebook/dp/ B00OQOWB2Q http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ when-war-was-heck-phil-emmert/
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CAPT. FRANK BRINGING THE ELIZABETH II TO COLUMBIA FOR THE RIVERFEST!
Captain Frank Hughes was asked to guide the Elizabeth II from Manteo into the Scuppernong River for exhibition during the recent Scuppernong Riverfest. Captain Frank, supported by his wife Sandy, departed from Cypress Cove Marina on Thursday afternoon before the Riverfest aboard his motor yacht and cruised into the Albemarle Sound to meet the Elizabeth II. Tyrrell County Manager David L. Clegg, Columbia Town Manager Rhett White, and a few invited guests were also aboard as Captain Frank expertly navigated the waterways to the town dock
in Columbia. It was a spectacular sight! For more information visit www.roanokeisland.com/ElizabethTwo.aspx
THE PERMACULTURE SOLUTION WRITTEN BY
PERMACULTURE PRACTITIONER, ALISA ESPOSITO OF SPARKROOT FARM COOPERATIVE
Twentieth century inventor and visionary, Buckminster Fuller, wisely asserted, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Bill Mollison, father of Permaculture (the “new model”) defined the philosophy as simply “not [defecating] in your own bed.” While this is plain truth, permaculture is a design science that goes much deeper and wider in scope than Mollison’s irreverent assertion. Molllison himself wrote the premier book on the subject, and coined the term by contracting two words together: “permanent” and “culture.” That is, with its techniques and principles in action, we can indeed have a “permanent culture” — an infinitely sustainable and abundant future — rather than
the certain collapse of western civilization even NASA has forecast just around the bend. We are facing hard times in this era when multinational corporation Monsanto is putting American farmers out of business for saving their own seeds. This Big-Ag giant has recently agreed to pay $93 million in damages for poisoning a whole town with chemical-warfare toxin Agent Orange. Their former executives run top-level in writing FDA regulation. Former Monsanto lawyer, Justice Thomas serves on a Supreme Court which defines corporations as “people.” Surely something is very wrong when our local economies are being crippled in servitude to multinational polluters. Surely it is time to stop both accepting or “fighting the existing reality” and begin cultivating local connection to land and community by active intention toward resurrecting local food sovereignty and free market economies.
Permaculture offers three basic ethics to counter the many problems of the dominant polluting, petro-chemical addicted, extractive system. These ethics are Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share. "Earth Care,” is all about building and maintaining healthy,
rich soils for planting, creating zero pollution by fully recycling waste, managing watershed and reducing our impact on the landscape. The second ethic, "People Care," is about promoting community responsibility and self-reliance within a local, accessible environment necessary for our existence. And the third ethic, “Fair Share,” is summed up in Ghandi’s words: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every person’s need, but not every person’s greed.” We can achieve the goals of Earth Care and People Care by operating in the paradigm of Fair Share: gifting and trading surplus goods and produce, time, labor, information and energy with our friends, families and neighbors. These three ethics act as a foundation for twelve additional permaculture design principles** which follow the lessons and patterns found within nature. Mindful application of these, in cooperation with nature, will create regenerative systems for settlements of “permanent” human culture and have us on our way to that more beautiful, resilient and regenerative world we all know is possible.
Contrary to popular assumption, the state of nature is not of scarcity, but of abundance.
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Our Creator has blessed us with a world full of natural gifts and treasures. Industrial agriculture is dangerously anti-nature, highly extractive and destructive to soils and soil life, requires annual applications of chemical fertilizers and toxic poisons to destroy the overgrowth of pests which naturally plague its vast fields of intensive monocultural crops. Without cheap oil, this system will grind to a screeching, rusting halt—it is only a matter of time. However, once a regenerative permaculture system is established, the only danger, according to Bill Mollison, is from “falling food.” By patterning our design systems around the lessons of nature, we eliminate the need for continued applications, increased work, annual intensive management or chemical poisons, for a system working with nature, rather than against it, takes care of itself.
At Sparkroot Farm Cooperative, we are finding this is true as our systems mature. We do little but sow seeds, harvest and mulch. There is no weeding or watering and the garden space is green and lively. Our soils are rich, our community is growing and there is plenty to share. We have transferred all of our
growing beds over to raised hugelkultur beds, a raised mound and swale system which uses buried logs to lift the bed to workable, flood-free heights, all the while providing nutrient to the soil, creating microclimates, increasing growing season and water retention in the soil. We have a zero waste policy, recycling animal manure into compost and cut plant materials into weeddefying, soil-building mulch. We grow our own fodder for the animals we raise and butcher for the freezer. New additions to the land this year include a rice paddy flooded with water harvested off of a nearby roof. Our land is full of wild flowers and edible weeds, which we forage for ourselves and our livestock (rabbits, chickens and goats). We allow these wild plants to grow and flower, thereby providing a rich source of nectar to flow for our recently added honeybees. This first year in bees, our hive split twice due to the rich abundance of our flowering pollinator plantings and our new fruit tree “food forest” orchard. We have noticed, by adding new beds with intermingled plantings, increased diversity and edge, there has been a corresponding leap in the population of frogs, toads, and beneficial insects such as ladybugs, praying mantis and
garden spiders. This has, in turn, resulted in fewer formerly problematic insects like Japanese and cucumber beetles. Our time spent tending and harvesting the garden is accompanied by the blessing of meeting these lovely and beneficial insect predators, whom we consider as equally important a “crop” as any sweet potato, okra or bean we may have planted.
According to geneticist and author, David Suzuki, “What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet.” So let us start now. Will the multinationals return to us to local food sovereignty? Will they encourage us to grow our local economies? Will they stop polluting our children’s world? Do they care about the frogs, toads or the soil we all share? It is clearly up to us to quietly reclaim our local freedoms; thereby creating connection. healing, health and abundance in our own backyards, on our own small farms and in our own towns. Permaculture is our tool to reclamation, and its proven technologies are available right now. Why wait? ** addressed in future articles
To find out more about permaculture, visit Sparkroot Farm Cooperative by appointment. To contact Alisa call 252-766-0123 or e-mail her sparkrootfarm@gmail.com Visit online at www.sparkrootfarm.com or Facebook at Sparkroot Farm Co-op
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Maggie Wants
Maggie Duke Antiques always is seeking to purchase your fine antiques and collectibles and will pay top prices for better items. Free verbal appraisals are available, and discretion is guaranteed. 210 Main Street, Columbia, NC ***** (252) 706-0534
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SCUPPERNONG RIVER FEST DAY BY INGRID LEMME With a sky as blue as only Carolina can do, it was going to be a beautiful day to celebrate the annual Scuppernong River Festival in Columbia. Main Street was packed long before the parade actually started. But by ten o’clock lots of people were flocking to town that didn’t want to miss the start of the parade. The food vendors flanked both sides of Columbia’s main streets and were ready to serve the masses with all kinds of foods including turkey legs and the famous fried bread. With a couple of thousand people expected, helicopter tours, and the Elizabeth II at the harbor, this was going to a big day.
Of course there were plenty of stands lined up with toys, arts and crafts, even homemade jellies and jams, and then some. My favorite radio station “The Shark” had a presence as well and was parked by Columbia’s new Consignment Shop on Main Street--with my favorite host ( ??? name to come ) reporting live from Columbia. Many of the local nonprofit organizations were represented with volunteers greeting people and explaining what they were all about. Pocosin Arts offered interesting hands-on projects all day for children and adults. On the big lot behind the BB&T Bank a tent was set up with a stage and lots of chairs for the people to listen to free concerts by local bands like “Blackwater” and “Johnny Waters & Company.”
The variable inflatable youth rides behind Sandy’s Place added to the amusement of the kids who made plenty of new friends while their parents greeted old friends. The crew of the Elizabeth II sailing ship replica had docked on the downtown pier couple of days earlier and was ready to lift the ropes from the gangway. When the parade started the crowd applauded enthusiastically and every float, marching band, beauty queen and fire truck was well received. By the time the first fireworks were lighting up the dark sky over the Scuppernong River we all agreed that it had been a terrific day.
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Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine November 2014
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