Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine
www.ScuppernongGazette.com
April 2014
Photo by Ingrid Lemme
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PUBLISHER: INGRID LEMME ~ EDITOR: TIM NIELSEN
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Quote of the Month
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“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” ― Pablo Neruda
DEAR READER !
Shouting the News!
Yes, it’s time for the Tyrrell County 4-H Livestock Show April 16th at Tyrrell Hall. Show starts @ 2:30pm and Sale starts @ 7:00pm! Dinner will be served at Tyrrell Hall from 4:00pm-6:30pm. Plates are $7.00 each.
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Columbia AA
Spring has finally arrived in Tyrrell County, our turtles are sunbathing on the logs and the crabbers are preparing their pots for the season. I was able to cover many events in this issue and am especially excited to be featuring a dear friend, Edith. Mrs. Deltgen is one of the most
The “Scuppernong Group” now holds two Alcoholics Anonymous Rarely have we seen a person meetings weekly at Wesley fail who has thoroughly followed Memorial United Church at 502 our path. This path leads to AA Main St, Columbia, NC 27925. meetings in and around Monday evenings at 7pm and Columbia, North Carolina Thursday evening at 8pm. Coffee
fascinating artists I have ever met, so I hope you enjoy her profile. I also wish Mr. Bryant a very Happy 107th Birthday; he is celebrating on April 26th at the Columbia High School cafeteria. Thanking everyone who has been working on my house, the story is still to come. ~ Love, Ingrid and tea and cookies are served and visitors are always
“Must be spring – warm enough to crawl in the dirt!”
GETTIN’ DOWN AND DIRTY BY BARBARA SNELL KREBS OK, I think we were all a bit tired of Old Man Winter this year. Snow, sleet, singledigit temperatures, and holing up inside are so "last month." Thank goodness it’s finally Spring. We’re ready for warm weather, sunny skies and the joys of dirt. Now I know that for some of you that means planting the garden. And that’s fantastic, because nothing beats a vineripened tomato, still warm from the sun. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. But what I’m really talking about here is the tactile delight of dirt--smelling its rich, heavy odor; feeling its gritty texture as you crumble it between your fingers; digging your toes into it and feeling the coolness beneath the surface. At first glance, it may seem a bit strange to rhapsodize about dirt, but let’s face it. Soil is our heritage. We depend on it, we nurture it, and we reap the benefits from it. And besides, it’s FUN! Or at least I
certainly thought it was as a kid. One of my favorite photographs from my childhood is one of my brother, my cousin and me sitting on the floor playing--a typical family scene. But what makes this stand out in my mind is my feet. I mean they aren’t just dirty, they are FILTHY! And the only way feet can look like that is from gettin’ down
and dirty, playing outside in your bare feet for hours! A quick internet search tells me that North Carolina has over 400 different soils. I’m sure if I dug further, I could discover which types of soil are native to which areas of the state; the chemical compositions
of said soil; and which crops grow best in each soil type. I’m also certain that I could talk to the local farmers and they would further enlighten me about which soils are in which fields. But what I really know about dirt is this. When it’s been raining a lot, it gets muddy. Then the dirt squishes between your toes and coats them with a thick, dark layer that won’t go away until you scrub it off. And even then, sometimes, you’ll discover a small pocket of dirt that escaped your notice. On the other hand, if the rain gods have been busy elsewhere, the dirt becomes talcum powder. Its fine, gray grains puff around your feet as you walk, creating little clouds of dust that rise and settle with each step you take. Its silky texture sits between your toes like a finegrained emory board. Not the course, scrub-your-nails-off side, but the “finishing” side. Just enough to gently tickle your toes with its presence. Occasionally you’ll find a seam of clay--golden-red and, when wet, providing the closest thing to ice skating you’re going to get in usually temperate
workers to a desperate scramble to grab as many handfuls of dirt as you could, head down, arms flying, never being able to stay ahead of the grim, nonstop march of ruthless, relentless clods. But as the years passed, life led me away from the farm and the dirt receded in my memory. “Feet this dirty can only mean a good time!” Despite my early (mostly pleasant) relationship with soil, I eastern NC. Its heavy, thick, didn’t give it much thought slick consistency invites you to anymore. By the time my mold it into something, as daughter was born, we were in potters in our state have done the age of anti-bacterial wipes, for ages. soaps and cleaners. Dirt was an Of course, dirt isn’t all enemy to be fought by any fun and games. It also has its dark side. Dirt clods. Those were the big clumps of earth that tried to pose as potatoes. When I worked at my grandfather’s potato grader in the summers, it was my job to separate the dirt clods from the potatoes as they passed me. Depending on recent weather, this could be as easy as flicking a few dusty lumps away while having a leisurely conversation with your fellow
means necessary. And yet … From an early age, Colette has come to Columbia, and I never shied away from letting her get down and dirty. In fact, one of my favorite photos of her early childhood shows us sitting on the ground at my dad’s place. Her legs and clothes are smeared with the dirt that she had recently been crawling in. Her hand is in her mouth, so I’m sure her tactile experience also includes how dirt tastes. Mmm, mmm, good! So, now that spring has finally arrived, the weather is warming up nicely and the outdoors beckons. Why don’t we head outside, take our shoes off, and sink our toes into some soil? I think it’s about time to get down and dirty. Anyone with me?
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FEELING FROGGY BY DEAN ROUGHTON
The February edition of The Scuppernong Gazette exemplified just how bipolar the weather has been over the past couple of months. The front cover portrayed a small-town winter wonderland, while the back cover showed a beautiful rainbow over Tyrrell County waters. Mind you, these weather extremes happened within days of one another, and that erratic weather behavior has continued well into March. At one point, I was so frustrated by winter’s refusal to depart that I seriously considered a trip to Punxsutawney for a nice Double McPhil burger with cheese. Now it just so happens that as I am writing this month’s column, it is the day of the vernal equinox, and Mother Nature has been very gracious in supplying us with some springlike sunshine and accompanying temperatures. (As you read this article in April, hopefully the nice weather has continued.) For many of the women of Tyrrell County (and some men too), this means planning out this year’s flower gardens, complete with
trips to Pledger Hardware for supplies. For many of the men of Tyrrell County (and some women too), this means planning out the commencement of this year’s froggin’ season. Ok, planning may be too strong a word here since for us that really means just making sure we got the frog gig back from whoever
borrowed it last year, throwing it in the back of the truck, and making sure the spotlight still works--oh, and possibly finding a burlap bag that is not completely dilapidated. If you have never eaten frogs’ legs, you don’t know what you are missing. As I am typing these words, I can feel a little bit of drool pooling up in the corners of my mouth just thinking about a batch of hot, fried frogs’ legs fresh out of the
pan with a nice side of fries homemade from some yummy Tyrrell County taters. Winter has gone on too long, and while the venison has been most welcome, I am ready for the country delicacies that spring has to offer. I do have to interject here that in the froggin’ off-season, you might be tempted to try frogs’ legs available at a Chinese buffet. Don’t do it! These things are half fried, half sautéed, and half raw with almost no coating and are topped with garden fresh, crunchy onions. No selfrespecting Tyrrellinian could find pleasure in this dish. I saw my father try one once, and judging by his facial expression, I do believe if he would have had his . 30-06 rifle with him, we would never have had to worry about that particular cook making such a travesty of frogs’ legs ever again. For me growing up, going froggin’ was an event. It was an opportunity to spend time with my dad and to stay up WAY past my bedtime, as it was not uncommon for us to come traipsing in at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning with our bag of frogs. I wrote last month about my grandmother, Viola, being a dutiful wife, and she clearly set the example for my mom as on multiple occasions I recall mom
voluntarily getting up out of bed in the middle of the night to cook us frogs that just hours, or even minutes, beforehand were plucked from the murky waters of Sound Side, Alligator, River Neck, Frying Pan, and even as far as Gum Neck. Now I don’t know about you, but my idea of a good time is not getting up at 3:00 am from a sound sleep to go fumble around the kitchen to satisfy the hunger of a bunch of noisy and possibly swampy smelling folks. That, my friends, is a mother’s love right there.
Winter is now officially
gone. While these next few weeks will be abuzz with gardeners buying topsoil, flowers, and mulch; with homeowners prepping lawnmowers, weed
eaters, and pump-up sprayers; and with children playing in neighborhood yards, fields, and woods--while all of this noise is going on, just know that the
TRUE sound of Spring is the bellowing of a bullfrog in your front ditch. And he is taunting you, my friend. He is calling you out, daring you to imagine his golden fried, succulent legs amid a pile of his brethren on your plate. Are you going to let this bold amphibian smack talk you with impunity? I dare say not! So I encourage you to fill your FryDaddy with oil and slip on your hip waders because we are about to be feeling froggy!
VISIT DEAN ROUGHTON AT WWW.DEANROUGHTON.COM
TYRRELL COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO “BUY LOCAL” SUPPORT TYRRELL COUNTY!
BY ANN WARD, CHAMBER PRESIDENT
Why should I buy local, you might ask. These are some reasons: First and foremost, when we buy in Tyrrell County we contribute to the tax revenues for our county. It is important to know that these tax revenues provide support for our schools, law enforcement, emergency services and other family services. Why should we support other counties when we can benefit from these dollars ourselves? Secondly, supporting local businesses
keeps jobs in Tyrrell County. When our local businesses no longer have our support, they will have to close their doors. What happens then is that we have people without jobs and a higher unemployment rate we must support. Thirdly, we should feel a sense of pride knowing we are helping our local businesses. And in a small county it is even more important to support each other. And finally, you can win prizes! Each month a gift is donated by one of our local businesses. A winner’s name is drawn at the Greater Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce meeting (held on the third Thursday of each month). To participate you simply place
five sales receipts (a minimum of $5 per purchase each) in one of the pre-printed envelopes and drop it off at one of the collection boxes. The envelopes and boxes are available to residents at the Tyrrell County Water Department, the Tyrrell County Visitors’ Center, Tyrrell County Senior Center, Tyrrell County Library and the Town of Columbia. Personally, knowing I support the community which has supported me and my family for many years makes me feel good. I want to see Tyrrell County remain a viable and wonderful place to work, play and raise our families. I encourage everyone, when possible, to please Buy Local! www.visittyrrellcounty.com
Inner Banks Hotline invites you to our 3rd Annual
Join us for our 3rd Annual Spring Fling silent auction reception, dinner, and dance. All proceeds go to victims of domestic violence/sexual victimization and purchase of a shelter in Tyrrell County. Have fun while supporting a great cause!
507 US 64 E. PO Box 558 Columbia, NC 27925 252-796-5526 (office/thrift store) 1-877-429-5526 (24hr Crisis Line)
When: Saturday, April 5, 2014 Where: &ROXPELD &URVVLQJ¶V 5HVWDXUDQW Time: Auction 6:00pm Dinner 7:00pm Dancing to follow Cost: $40 per person or $70 per couple
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST BY EDITH DELTGEN
In 1946 I was born in Germany at a hospital called by the people of Stommeln "Maria Abkratz"-- which means “At St. Mary Say Good Bye!”--so named because of its low survival rate? The only available doctor was a Veterinarian who had just delivered a calf; bloody apron and all he delivered me feet first and two months early. To make it short: my father fainted (he had just returned home from French captivity during the War). He promised to never have another child! Maybe this rough start made my dyslexic brain a little different. Instead of a warming bed in a hospital, my parents put me in a box filled with cotton and wool. They fed me veal bone broth because I could not tolerate milk. My craving for independence, freedom and self reliance started early--my family called me stubborn. Maybe that’s why the USA attracted me? My artistic endeavors began in the first grade when my friend Ruth and I produced a play named after a song: “Es wollt ein Schneider wandern…”
Ruth's role was The Devil, while I impersonated The Taylor, made the backdrop, the fire, and sold tickets to family and neighbors for five pennies a piece, while Ruth organized the chairs. My devotion to working with fabric started early. My grandmother Anna gave with a pedal sewing machine; the trunks filled with fur
coats and wedding dresses came from my parent’s attic. Tante Pauline (who weighed 250 lbs.) got a new "baby doll" nightgown with fur trim, size eight. She paid me 50 pennies and fed me her buttermilk pear soup. Grandfather Jean’s underwear
was beautified with lace, and he paid me 10 pennies that I didn’t ask for and wore them to the office! Later, in college, my art professor gave me for the final exam a bed sheet, a box of fabric scraps, glue and two hours to produce "fabric art." Out came a tropical scene (I got an A+) that was exhibited in the front hall of the college for years. The spontaneous thing is the key for me. During high school my art teacher encouraged me to make clothing by measuring only with my eyes. To make crazy cloth without a measuring tape was fun. I got another A+ and it was suggested my career should be in the arts. I even passed the entry exam for a rare place at the Cologne Art Institute. But my family decided that a career in the arts was not for me, and my desire to become a race car driver was also considered not so good. First I was sent to a women-only college for a degree in home economics. Then came another degree from a teaching college. For the next 15 years I ran Kindergartens and Horts (for children up to 14 yrs. of age) in and around Cologne, with surprising success, as pottery, swimming, cooking and dancing became part of the curriculum. At the Children’s Center in Ahe /
Bergheim the building's facade still boasts a relief of pottery tiles, self portraits made by “my children and parents.” I studied pottery with Ferdinand Gombert, a famous sculptor and a Cologne "original.” The windows of his basement studio housed tarantulas, and Ferdinand’s flowerbeds were lined with ceramic breasts instead of stones. He featured large, medium, and small, and was very proud of them all. Mr.Gombert had a terrible stutter, and used to say, “Edith, du, du, du ha ha hast au, au, auch ganz nette Bruestchen!” His wife was a slim blonde with a commanding voice. I learned great pottery techniques from Ferdinand! When my husband Florian and I moved to Ahaus, with our daughter Tanja in high school as well as two small sons, I finally got my own pottery studio and a house keeper--who also helped with the babies in the mornings. Freed from housework for a few hours every day, my pottery production thrived! A lot of single-artist shows followed in Cologne, Frechen, Gronau, Bochum, Pulheim, Brauweiler, Bergheim, Ahaus, Enschede, Erftstadt and
more. My pieces, mostly objects, were displayed in shows titled "A Buffet in Clay," "Underwear and Clothing in Clay," "Cemetery Bouquets from Scotland in Clay," "Lace, Shoes, Purses and Pillows in Clay," and "Metamorphosis of Plants." The town of Ahaus even asked me to teach pottery at the adult
education Center (Volkshochschule). After our move to the US in 1983, I attended art classes at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Va., learning mold making, paper casting, portrait
sculpture, stone casting and basket weaving. Joe Pisani, then the Art Director of the Pentagon, was my drawing and art restoration teacher. For 3 years my studio was at the “Side Porch Gallery and Art School” in Fairfax City. I taught paper casting, and my art work was accepted for juried shows like The Washington Project for the Arts, the Torpedo Factory Shows, the Multi-Media Show and more. When we moved to the OBX in 1993, Glen Eure, legendary artist at the Ghost Fleet Gallery, became my mentor and inspiration. Print making was added to my repertoire, and then my performing arts at the Icarus Shows, the Frank Stick and Molly Fearing Shows won awards. My “Marilyn Monroe” dancing on Glens gallery roof while releasing 100 balloons was a big success. So was my huge bird’s nest, with three men wearing bird masks while dancing to some music. However, my “Drive-through Taliban Wedding” was not too popular, or funny, because of the subject. My sculptures also won several awards. As a board member of the Icarus Committee, I organized
the “Icarus Children’s Shows” for many years. Twice I organized international fine arts shows in Germany, for selected OBX artists, myself and the faculty members of ECU School of Arts in Greenville, NC. How I mustered the courage to do so can only be credited to my innocence and ignorance! The labor and cost was incredible! ECU had spent $20,000 to get a show in Cologne, and they failed. I didn't get a dime for my efforts, but I did get a show at ECU Minden Hall. Then in return for helping with the traveling shows in Germany, I organized two shows in the US for German artists. After moving to Columbia, NC in 2006, I began putting cast paper fish onto furniture. For years my fish, faces and other stuff “graced” windows and driftwood. My new studio had enough space to make large things, and that worked well until my son got seriously ill, moved back home and into my studio. Now I work in my favorite place--the kitchen.
When I lived still at the OBX, a lot of teenagers with no place to go ended up in my kitchen doing art work. Two teens my son’s age had died, and their friend Waldo Morales was struck by lightening and killed right in front of them at the OBX; that was so traumatic! We worked on a show about death. Glen Eure gave us his old Gallery Mailbox. It became a little "House of Horrors." We used old windows for graffiti, scrap wood for sculptures and lots of recycled stuff. The show was at the Kill Devil Hills Library and got a lot of attention. Many people were moved, and the kids even sold their art work and got awards. One OBX artist complained about the show because he did not like the subject! I do not like
it myself, but death was and is real. Barbara White, the head librarian, had to take some criticism, but she stood up for us, for which I was grateful. Soon after, I began doing art sessions for children with special needs in Dare County Schools. Members of The Nags Head Lions Club volunteered with me for many years; the OBX Woman’s Club helped me too. I included the Cahoon Center in Columbia (Tyrrell County) and the Lake Mattamuskeet Opportunity Center (Hyde County), where both facilities house adults with mental and physical challenges. For years I also volun-teered for the former GEM Center (for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia) in Kill
Devil Hills. Another session is planned in April for Columbia and Fairfield. I organized three art shows for vision-impaired people. The first show was in 1998 at the Chico-macomico Life Saving Station on Hatteras Island. Angelo Sonnesso (a blind musician), Hanna Jebron (professor at ECU) and his wife helped to put it together. The second show was held at the Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo and was followed by one at Visions Gallery in Norfolk Va. The last show took place in October 2013 at the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo. Thanks to many wonderful volunteers, it was a great success! Hundreds of vision-impaired visitors who come
to the OBX for the yearly fishing tournament, organized by the local Lions Clubs, were bused to the location with their companions and dogs.
I took on this latest challenge after my daughter Tanja died last April, losing a two-year battle with cancer. Tanja was an accomplished artist with a Master’s Degree from the Düsseldorf Art Academy and a second Masters from the Cologne Media Academy in Computer Art. While she was a minimalist, I am “Baroque”--a person who never found a piece of trash or kitsch that could not be incorporated into art! I loved Tanja's sparsely furnished Zenlike home, and she liked my complicated and crowded space. How I love her art work and how much I miss her can’t be put into words. To keep myself from despair, I started to create tableaus, or scenes, in cigar
boxes--first about Tanja, and then about politics and other subjects. So far I have created 22. To finish on a lighter note, here is a story about my career as a water color artist. When my friend Lillian Rosenthal was still alive, she served for years on the board of the Portsmouth, Va. Museum. Lillian asked me to give a presentation at the museum for the Ports-mouth Water Color Society. I was surprised and felt honored. A $100 stipend sounded good! Facing the fact that I didn’t have a clue about water color and can only sculpt on paper. I called my friend John Dela Vega (a famous water colorist) and asked him to come along. We agreed to split the money and I promised him lunch. Before leaving the OBX for Portsmouth, I packed
up my body casting materials. When we arrived, the museum was full of people. Lillian gave her intro-duction, and then it was my turn. I confessed that water color was not my medium and
that I had brought sculpting material to cast hands instead. Every one agreed to do their hands and we had a great time. John helped with the casting and everyone went home with a hand made from plaster bandages. The ladies thanked me greatly, and Lillian took us to her favorite kosher deli in Portsmouth, buying each of us a half of a chicken sandwich. One of the ladies from the Water Color Society took me aside and told me that this was a “First, � because Lillian had never bought anyone a sandwich before! I felt honored again!
PAPER OR PLASTIC BY GABRIELLA CRAIL We all associate recycling with that little tub that sits mostly empty, shadowed by our trash barrels, with various bottles or cans. We have the blind advantage of not knowing what becomes of our old soda cans and water bottles. The fact is, many things are recyclable but not much is actually recycled. We Americans seem to think everything is disposable. Think about all the different resources we use in a typically day, like plastic bags. Here are some startling numbers to consider: Americans use more than 100 billion plastic bags each year, and fewer than one percent are recycled! Though they may seem harmless, plastic bags are not biodegradable. And they aren't the only plastics sent to landfills either. Consider plastic bottles, cups, electronics, and the list goes on; there is an alarming number of products produced with plastic. A massive amount of energy is used to create and then ship these products. But most of them end unnecessarily in landfills, creating harmful gases and polluting our sensitive ecosystem. The most simple solution
is to stop using plastics altogether. It may be difficult to avoid plastic, but you can make it a habit to carry reusable shopping bags which are now widely available. Put new meaning into your old favorite tees you can't part with by sewing them into bags. They hold up better for heavier items, they insulate refrigerated items, and are lighter and smaller for produce. It is said that more than four pounds of trash per person each day is produced. If we all reduced our waste by even one pound a day, that would be a reduction of 25%. Composting alone would eliminate food scraps and reduce that number further. If one-fourth of us used 10 fewer plastic bags a month, it could eliminate the production of over 2.5 billion bags per year. It's such a small change that can make a substantial difference. Some companies are now using less plastic in water bottles, while some have even gone as far as using biodegradable packaging. At Elements we use cups made with postconsumer materials or cups that are biodegradable altogether. It is a small step, but considering how many drinks we sell in a day, it is that many fewer
paper or plastic cups going into the unknown. I encourage the use of stainless steel tumblers. They are easy to travel with, they withstand hot or cold temperatures longer, most of them are spill proof and they are extremely reusable. Some places even offer discounts for using your own cups (ahem). There are a number of things that can be done with trash. Glass bottles can be reused for many things, from decorative vases to candle holders and even terrariums. Colored glass is nice for casting dancing lights into a well lit room when placed near a window. Each person can take small steps toward reducing their own waste. Pinterest is my favorite source for inventive upcycling of old treasures. If you have spring cleaning on your mind, remember to donate items that are still usable, and look into new ways to use the items that are not. You'll be surprised at the innovative ways people are using recyclables; let them inspire you. Paper or plastic? No thanks, I brought my own.
SHOREBIRDS BY CHASE LUKER Sometimes, people must do more with less. There are places and times where that very phrase is almost ironically appropriate – they were places and times far from the outstretched arm of the law and times when wind and weather affected travel more than fuel or funds. The coastal islands and strings of sand that dot the North Carolina coastline are such areas. Places like these are romanticized by their remote and stark vistas, formidable terrain, and troublesome weather. At one time though, before Americans
dreamed and escaped to these faraway places by motor ferry and car, humans filled with ability, determination, and inventiveness occupied these tiny, out-of-the-way towns. Locals thrived on what washed in with the tide and what might appear on the irregularly-timed cargo boat. To make ends meet, most fished or farmed, but found food and sport in waterfowling. For the waterfowlers, ducks, geese and swans were the hey-makers, but the beach birds bookended the winter months with incredible flights, which eventually wound up in rolling pots of stew. Just as hunters made ducks and geese decoys, shorebird decoys were turned out by able hands, and often in quick fashion, depending
on available materials. Columbia, and Tyrrell County as a whole, still receives visits from migratory beach birds. They’re the familiar little birds that many see at the ocean’s edge, racing tides, waves, and occasionally the ambitious human. They seem playful, harmless, and almost pass us by as casual fixtures in a visit to the beaches. There are hundreds of species of shorebirds that exist today, but only a few are important to our area’s history. And while they’re still visible on the sandy beaches and slightly above the low tide line in our coastal areas, they’re also very common in our inland, isolated wetlands. Concerning our locale, specifically, are the beach robins, curlews, yellowlegs, and
dowitchers. They all have colloquial names, if not multiple aliases. The beach robin likely has the most, and is often referred to as the red knot, robin snipe, red-belly, and yes, plain-old beach bird. They’re frequent visitors to the coast, but the best time to see them is in April or May. Beach robins are roughly the size of the common redbreasted robin that plows our yards for worms; they’re also about the same color. However, they’re much more nimble flyers than their more domesticated brethren. Beach robins can be found in Tyrrell County, especially in places where marshes have lower grasses and soggy earth. They’re flocks may number 30 or 40 strong, and their acrobatics are almost incomparable when seen on the wing. For many years prior to the 1920’s, these were an important part of family diets, from Columbia to points eastward. While it took three or four birds to adequately feed a single person, bagging a “mess” of beach robins wasn’t difficult. A small set, or “stool,” of decoys would be constructed from available materials, usually, driftwood (to carve the bodies and heads) and wire (for the bills and legs). These decoys would be placed at the water’s edge to lure
in the flights of beach robins. Other shorebirds would land in the decoy stool, and they too became a part of the day’s take and the night’s menu when the lucky hunter shouldered his firearm and pulled the trigger. As grim as it seems, it was a large part of the diet when fish and crabs were still too cold to catch, and the big flocks of ducks and geese had already departed for the return trip north. Curlews are probably nature’s most awkward shorebird. The feathers and coloration are muted grays and browns, but their size is what’s astounding. They’re roughly the size of chickens! They also have very long, sickle-shaped bills. The long bills are for siphoning deeper into the mud and water to find either seeds or tiny bugs. In flight, curlews are remarkably graceful. The tremendous flights of curlews to the North Carolina
shores are all but extinct as most finish their southern migration in New Jersey. Still, curlews were hunted and harvested in strong numbers in our region, and they often shared territory with beach robins, yellowlegs, and dowitchers. The yellowlegs and dowitchers were also regular visitors to our area. Dowitchers, also known as “graybacks,” were often hunted with ducks and geese, as they tend to be present most of the winter. An average sized bird, early hunting journals illustrate that many hunters preferred the taste of dowitchers over other smaller shorebird species. Roughly the size of a mourning dove, only on a pair of longer legs, a “mess” of dowitchers would only be two per person. Yellowlegs, though, come in two varieties, a lesser and a greater. Generally confined to the beaches of the coast, yellowlegs
were and are a fairly common visitor to our area, too. Their name is derived from, obviously, their long yellow legs. All of these shorebirds were hunted in similar fashion-small shorebird decoys, carved and painted to match the species, were used to lure birds into range. The hunter, with a small bore shotgun, would wait until the birds “knotted up� to pull the trigger, increasing his efficiency by harvesting as many birds as possible with the least number of shells as possible; all things, shotgun shells included, were then hard to come by! Decoy spreads were often much smaller than those used in duck hunting. A duck or goose
decoy rig may have 100 or more wooden decoys, while a shorebird decoy rig may only have 15 to 2, tops. This helps to explain the rarity of old, working shorebird decoys. Those of a North Carolina vintage are hard to come by, but highly desirable to collectors. Usually Carolina shorebird decoys are very folksy, but simply made. Increasing their rarity is the propensity for hurricanes and other wind events to flood the beaches and wash away decoys that may have been stored in a boathouse or a beached skiff. Shorebird hunting was fully outlawed in the late 1930’s, therefore ceasing most hunters need to make shorebird decoys. The old shorebird decoy rigs were either tossed in a fire,
washed away, or forgotten about and ending up who-knowswhere! The few that do exist were passed down within families or remained safe in a highground net house. Some were still used, despite the sport being made illegal! Either way, an old North Carolina shorebird. www.facebook.com/chase.luker
107! ~ Happy Birthday Mr. Henry!
MR. HENRY-CENTENARIAN BY BARBARA FLEMING When we speak of 107 years, we may be speaking of a tree, a piece of land or our ancestors. Ummmmm Nope, we are speaking of Mr. Henry Bryant. The grinning, smart, amusing, and kind Mr. Henry. The sharp as a tack, clever as all get out, still looks great for his age Mr. Henry. That's what he is turning, on April 23rd, 2014......Whewwww!!!! He, as among other things, is definitely not shy, doesn't mind at all having his picture taken, and/or answering a bunch of questions. My husband and I first became acquainted with Mr. H around 15 years ago. We had purchased the piece of land across the street from his home-the former (BOOTSIES, aka Rhodes Grocery). When Jimmy decided to open the existing building, Mr. H would come over almost daily, sit in a chair inside of the building, and reminisce. But mostly, he would give Jimmy helpful hints about light construction work (because he was a jackleg of many professions over the years) Jimmy was
attempting. And Jimmy was oh so grateful for his expertise, and his company. Mr. Henry remarked that he couldn't wait until life was bustling across the street again. When Mr. Henry was 103, one day I asked him boocoos of questions, and he seemed to enjoy my curiosity. I asked him would he mind if I video-taped him for later generations to see. Tyrrell County had a centenarian that was pleased to remember back as far as he could. “Yes, of course,” he said. YAYY--I hurried home and wrote down many, many questions to ask him on the next day. That day was absolutely beautiful, no doubt, and a perfect day to have him outside. Mr H wheeled his chair onto the store patio, and he was ready. I was soooo excited to hear a piece of that mind of his, for he compares closely to an elephant, because of his memory; he never forgets a thing. He told me he was born in the Old Bay Post Office section of Tyrrell County, on April 23, 1907; he was one of several children. He recalls seeing his first automobile when he was around six or seven years old. He
remembered it was a Model T, and that a new car back then would cost around 800 dollars. He was always afraid of being run over by a car, he said jokingly. His favorite pastime was running, or kids pulling a string and he jumping over it. His favorite sport was baseball. When I asked him how many times did he get to travel to the town of Columbia, he answered only two or three times a year--because they had to walk. He attended school in a one-room building, and the teacher taught grades one through seven in that room. Sadly, he had to quit school at the age of 12, because his father had become very ill and he had to help with the family. Farming was his first job, and then he ventured to logging, where there were only crosscut saws for felling trees. Then the trees had to be floated down the river. Mr. H wasn't involved in any wars or conflicts, he said, because he was too young for the first world war, and too old for the second; but a couple of his brothers had gone to war. He spoke of the bridges that crossed the Scuppernong River. The first two were wooden, and then the next one extended into Piney Marsh with wooden slats.
Mr. Henry could remember so many people's names that day. He brought up many names I have heard over my lifetime. Sharp, sharp as a tack I tell ya ! In the last few years, I have had to go to Mr. Henry's home for various reasons off and on, and each time I went he was in the corner, reading his Bible. If anyone is any more devout over their religion, Mr. H is the one on top. He spoke about the churches here, and in the Bible, and told how many churches were in Columbia. He was baptized in 1922, at Chapel Hill Baptist. Another thing Mr. Henry was right on top of was his politics ! He exclaimed that everyone cursed President Hoover during the Great Depression--so we all know how he must have felt. He even went into a little detail about Columbia's politics. He went on to talk about businesses in town, and on and on, and my mouth dropped again as I was thinking, how much can one gent remember. Mr. H was full of information that beautiful day. When I asked him, if he could do it all again, 103 years,again, what would he like to do. His answer, "farming," because he loved watching things
grow. Especially, he said, if he could be the land owner. When I asked him how he would tend the land--would it be with tractors and such, he replied, "Nope, with a mule and a plow." Yep, just exactly what I thought he would say.
"chicken wings--make that fried." (OK folks, there you have it.) And then the question that he wasn't expecting, again, "What is the secret of longevity?" He pointed up, and answered with a huge grin, "You'll have to ask Him."
I can't tell you of what type of pleasure it was interviewing Mr. Henry that day. My camera time had run out. The part I didn't get, and I wanted to kick myself over was, before my daughter Codi walked by and asked him: "Mr. Henry, what is the secret to longevity?" His answer: "Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you."
Wow, we love some Mr. Henry, unbelievable icon of our county, unbelievable wealth of info, wrapped up in one little package. Happy, Happy Birthday Mr. H. And we all hope to have you around for 107 more--with much love, you smart rascal you!
Today, at request of Ingrid, we went to visit Mr. H, and again he didn't mind his picture being taken, or us asking him a ton of questions. When asked about what was his favorite food he said
If you are interested in seeing the Youtube video we did when he was 103, type in "Mr. Henry Bryant Columbia NC Centenarian." You definitely won't believe his energy, his enthusiasm, his remembering to way back when. Thanks to my son Ty, for editing, adding music, maps, pictures etc. for the video.
POP-UPS!
All of these highlighted items in red borders ACTUALLY INSTALL THE VIRUS! Even though the “cancel” button says cancel, it actually means YES install the virus. The example above has four options to clickable buttons that all perform the same function: YES! This example is especially misleading because of the phrase “Stop executing scripts on this page.” In most web browsers you do get a pop-up offering a choice to stop scripts, just in case the page is loading incorrectly. WinAntiVirus Pro 2007, in this example, prevents a user from opening any folders, files, the start bar or anything on your desktop. It says that all of these items are infected and that you must pay them $45.00 for their “pro” antivirus. Everything you open--even task manager-- will come up as "infected" and be denied access by the malware.
If you do happen to get any suspicious pop-up, such as the above scam, simply press alt+f4 on your keyboard to close the window. Then immediately scan your system for malware, because malicious "root kits" are common in this type of malware. I highly recommend Malwarebytes to remove this attack.
All computer users who surf the Internet need to be aware of the dangers of pop-ups.
Adam Nielsen, Bachelor of Applied Science in Network Security and Forensics. Associate of Occupational Science in Information Technology.
Soundside Freewill Baptist Backyard Mission Program at Work!
A few weeks ago I hired local carpenter Wayne Hollie for some work on my house, and when Wayne mentioned that he would be volunteering all Saturday for his church, I wanted to find out more. Interestingly, Soundside Freewill Baptist sponsors “Backyard Community Mission Program” and a
THE
SOUNDSIDE FREEWILL BAPTIST “BACKYARD COMMUNITY MISSION PROGRAM”
HAS SPONSORED A DOZEN RAMPS OVER THE PAST YEARS AND WORKED ON TWENTYFIVE PROJECTS SPENDING CLOSE TO
$30,000.
his wife Shelia, who recently broke her kneecap, works as a Teacher’s Assistant at Tyrrell County Elementary School. When I visited Miss Shelia in her home as the crew worked on their ramp, she was tied to her rocking chair with her food resting. She said: “God blessed me with the most wonderful coworkers and Christian church family. If it wouldn’t have been for all these folks, I wouldn't have been able
volunteer group would be building a ramp for a couple in desperate need of wheelchair access that day. Eddie and Shelia Reynolds’ home was on the agenda, because both now are unfortunately walkingimpaired. Mr. Reynolds used to be the Tyrrell County School System Transportation Director, and to get out at all.”
James Cahoon, C.J. Brickhouse, Jake Her brother-inBrickhouse, Darren Pate, law, Royce Reynolds, has Stephen Spruill, Ted been the pastor of Stephens and my Soundside Freewill amazing remodeler, Baptist for fourteen years. Wayne Hollie, were all Royce Reynolds, Howard part of the volunteer crew Liverman, Barry that completed the ramp Brickhouse, Walter for the Reynolds within a Davenport Jr., Brandon few hours. Taylor Sr., Eric Williams,
SOUNDSIDE FREEWILL BAPTIST BACKYARD MISSION PROGRAM AT WORK!
Photo below featuring Pastor Royce Raynolds ( standing ) with his brother Eddie on a walker. Photo on the bottom featuring the crew helping to build a ramp for Eddie & Shelia
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CROXPELD²V Historic District Business Group for the
Development and Preservation of Business in our Historic District We have watched Plymouth, NC with dismay, as business continues to betray an idyllic and historic downtown in favor of new locations out on Highway 64. This is understandable, as commerce must fol- low, or reroute traffic. Plymouth's Riverfront Business District never had a chance, trying to encourage travelers through three or four blocks of neighborhoods. Columbia, however, does not have this problem. But we might. The relocation of the Hotline Thrift Store and the new ABC store is just the beginning. And who could blame the new Chinese Restaurant for choosing its high-traffic site? Time is growing short for Columbia's downtown merchants to unite--to Preserve and Protect, to Develop and Promote our unique, quaint and historic locations--only one block off 64! With the advantage of North Carolina's busiest rest area so close at hand, we don't have to move the traffic far. In fact Pocosin Arts' new Riverside Lodge and the Old Salt Oyster Bar already are helping.
Each weekend The Winery and Maggie Duke Antiques happily direct their customers back and forth, and back and forth--attempting to explain why no other retailers are open for business--sending them down 64 to find ice cream! If you support simple changes to accomplish significant goals, please express your interest by calling Tim Nielsen at Maggie Duke Antiques. (252)706-0534.
4 H HAPPENINGS BY MIRIAM FAUTH The past month of was quite busy for some of Tyrrell County's 4 H young people. On the sixth of March 4 H held a S.T.E.M (science, technology, engineering, math) fair. Before the event, 12 interested members picked up a tri-fold presentation board from the extension Office, and got to work on their S.T.E.M projects.
capacity, demonstrating water evaporation and its effects on sugar and salt, observing food dye in celery, and growing crystals. Older participants were awarded prizes. Examples of their projects were a study of gluten in flour, a comparison of baking powder and baking soda, studying backyard insects, comparing the use of honey and
In previous years the fairs have been quite large, and open not only to Tyrrell County 4 H, but also surrounding counties. Previous locations have been the Vernon James center in Roper and the Tyrrell County Elementary school. This year however, it was scaled down to only Tyrrell County only, and was held at the Tyrrell County Extension Office. It was quite encouraging to see a good turnout of members proudly bring in and display their tri- fold boards. The younger entrants, eight and under, were not judged. Examples of some of their projects were the testing of lung
sugar and molasses to feed yeast in bread making, comparing the effects of food marinades in meat, and the coloration of potatoes. Judges had been invited to the event to preview the entries, however, the focus of the event
was not on who won, but on congratulating all the participants for taking the time to prepare and present a science project. The participants were all awarded one prize that they were most excited about--a stipend towards a Tyrrell County 4 H summer event! Now that the S.T.E.M fair was over, the 4 H focus turned to the next big March event-District Activity Day. Usually held annually, this 4 H event is very large, and is eagerly awaited by members! Previous locations have been as far away as Tarboro, but this year (and last year) the College of the Albemarle Elizabeth City was the chosen place. District Activity day, is a day for 4 H members from 19 surrounding counties to give presentations on a wide variety of subjects ranging from forestry and egg cookery to horse care and sewing (to name a random few).Having been involved in these presentations for the past eight years, I can proudly say that Tyrrell County should be proud! Every year we have great participation, and every year we walk away with wonderful awards!
The commitment of our participating children and youth something to be proud of also. There is a lot of work involved-the research, the writing, the script memorization for their presentations. Boards and props need to be prepared to visually explain each subject. Even though the preparation seemed endless, seeing the children gain many life skills makes it all worthwhile; the skill to speak in public cannot be outweighed . On presentation day they must stand before three judges and present. The Cloverbuds, who are five to eight, are not judged. They stand and present to three people, and they are asked questions about their presentations; it is all very casual and encouraging for them. Ages nine and above are far more formal. It takes courage to stand there and follow all the instructions: speak slowly, speak clearly, stand still, make eye contact with the judges, look at all the judges, don't fidget and don't forget to smile! This year Tyrrell County's entries and awards were:
Lydia Swain , "bread cookery," silver --Sam Clough, "cross breeding potatoes," gold-William Schrekengoss," back yard bugs," participation ribbon-Layah Fauth, "Songs written about events in history," bronze-Jacob Fauth, "yoyo's," gold. The Clover Buds gave the following presentations: Ruthie Fauth, "The Secret Garden"--
H Entertains." This year, Jon Mark Swain entered with a Cecil and Leonard comedy skit, and was chosen to go on to compete in Raleigh. Gabby Smith sang and played guitar. And Layah Fauth sang and was chosen to entertain at the closing award ceremony.
This year there were roughly 230 presenters from 22 counties, and the college auditorium was packed at the closing ceremony. The representative of The College of Albemarle gave an address, commenting that she was very happy the 4 H had chosen their venue such an excellent educational program. On closing, I would like to thank the wonderful Tyrrell County people for help behind the scenes to encourage our children. Thanks for being involved in our children's lives.
Carter Brouche, "making a Lego movie"--Darcey Brouche, "making snow cream"--Anabelle Grayson, "weather safety"-Tucker and Brodie Flemming, " celery coloration with food dye" Another section of the District Activity Day, is called " 4
And of course, well done children! And now that these demanding events are over, 4H participants can look forward to summer events that promise to be fun-filled. Anyone interested contact the extension office at 796-1581.
CUTTING THE RIBBON When I entered the new Pocosin Arts Riverside Lodge for its official dedication I couldn't help remembering when the grounds were grass, with tents for the annual “Steamed Blue to Red-Hot, Lively!” But today we came together to “Celebrate the Individuals and Organizations that helped to make Pocosin Arts Riverside Lodge a reality!” stated Pocosin Art’s Director Marlene True. She shared her own history with Pocosin Arts, beginning as a Graduate Student in the arts at ECU. A CFR workshop was a transformative experience showing her a place to come back to. Marlene first returned to Pocosin Arts on the Scuppernong as a workshop assistant, then an instructor, a resident artist and employee. She continued: “One of the reasons I kept coming back is because this place met many needs for me. First, of importance to me as an artist, if offered lots of natural beauty, it was
quiet and without a lot of distractions, and Pocosin Arts offered the perfect environment in which to learn and grow as an artist and businessperson. Another huge reason was Feather Phillips, Pocosin’s founding director-- her energy and enthusiasm for this place and the arts was infectious, and she was a mentor for me in the truest sense
of the word, even if she didn’t know it.” Standing graciously on the staircase leading to the upper floor of the Riverside Lodge, she talked about the last event. The Cabin Fever Reliever brought over 40 people to downtown Columbia to learn together, dine, shop and wander along the boardwalk. Hosting this event in downtown Columbia was made possible only by the addition of the new Riverside lodge, with its additional studio space and sleeping capacity of 34. Marlene drew our attention to the window with the feather above the door. “We all passed under it as we came into this building, and it is a tribute to Feather Phillips, without whose visionary guidance and perseverance Pocosin Arts and this beautiful new building would not exist. So first let me begin by thanking Feather Phillips. We have lots of individuals and companies we would like to thank for all
their hard work and dedication to see this project through and they are: the Pocosin Arts Board of Directors from 1994 to present. Lots of individuals had a hand in planning, implementing, designing and raising funds for this project. Georgeann Eubanks guided us to look beyond our initial ideas and brought us to the lodge concept. Pocosin Arts Facility Committee Chair, Chip Jones, walked the project site every day. Debbye Utz, Dana Outten, Buck Spruill, Bill Voliva. Mark Basnight secured a bill in the NC legislature for the initial funds for this project. The Golden Leaf Foundation, without whose financial support Grant none of this would be possible. East Carolina University, who partnered with us to become an anchor tenant for the first three years. Mark Kasten of Cahoon and Kasten for listening to the board for many years and designing this beautiful building that fits so well in downtown. A R Chesson, for managing this project. Doug Chesson, for being a great team player and working hard to keep this project on time and under budget. Joe Maxson--You are the best--Thank you for all your insights, keeping the project moving, explaining every detail
and your commitment of hard work to your community. And it was great having a local resident overseeing this project. "Sub-contractors--it was great to be able to use so many local craftsmen for this project; you took a lot of pride in this project and it shows. David Armstrong--Heating and Air, Joey Reynolds--Plumbing, Mike, keeping our facility committee informed, staying on top of reports and all the thousands of details that went into and continue with this project. Taylor--electrical, Hatchell Concrete--site work and concrete, Straight Line Construction--Framing, Bland Carpentry--Ruben Bland who did the beautiful wood work and trim, Travis Creek Wood Products--hardwood supplier, AB. Denning--flooring, Sherwin Williams--paint, Williams
Sprinkler--fire protection, Strategic Connections--Data and voice cabling throughout the building. And John Crail, Jerry Murray, Arnold Santibanez and congregation, Perry Glass, CenturyLink, Dominion, Nobles Cabinetry, Creswell Furniture-furnishings, Reclaimed Resources-- furnishings, American Turf Grass-landscaping, Home Depot-landscaping, Lowe's-landscaping." And last but not least Marlene True mentioned her staff, Joshua Craig, the new program and marketing assistant, and Greg Orloff, Andrew Dutcher and Ally Short. In closing she said, “ I want to give a special thanks to Karen Clough, Pocosin Art’s Deputy Director, who coordinated this project for Pocosin Arts. www.pocosinarts.org
For All Your Electrical & Plumbing Needs Call Jason Smith (252) 796-1357
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Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine
www.ScuppernongGazette.com
April 2014
Photo by Ingrid Lemme