SE FALL 2018
North Carolina
A change of season A FOND FAREWELL TO SURF CITY’S SWING BRIDGE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A NIGHT AMONGST THE BOOKS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MOUNT OLIVE GHOST TOWN ON SHACKLEFORD BANKS THE BIG STINK OVER HOG FARMS
Elizabeth Blair, MD
Keep your child well with the start of this new school year
Barbie Renchen, CPNP
Pediatric specialists here for you
With school back in session, carpools, field trips and sports activities enrich your child’s life. At the same time, they also present opportunities for illnesses and injuries you’d never expect. So get to know the skilled experts at Vidant Pediatrics in Kenansville. You’ll like the comfort and convenience of having your child’s needs met — even in the middle of the night. Dr. Elizabeth Blair and Barbie Renchen, pediatric nurse practitioner, also offer well-child physicals, flu shots and other important immunizations. As a plus, you’ll get access to Vidant MyChart so you can track your child’s health information online 24/7. With local pediatric care, you can help your child make the most of the school year.
Schedule an appointment at 910-275-0060. Also accepting walk-ins. 144 Liberty Square Shopping Center, Kenansville VidantHealth.com
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SEPTEMBER RECITAL SERIES – MICHAEL STEPHENSON
Thursday, September 6 • 7:30 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
BARROW LECTURE
Tuesday, September 11 • 7 PM Wednesday, September 12 • 11 AM Rodgers Chapel Contact: Dr. John Blackwell at jblackwell@umo.edu
LEIPERS FORK BLUEGRASS GROUP
Thursday, September 13 • 7:30 PM Concert Friday, September 14 • 12:30 PM Educational Session Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
OCTOBER
FOUNDERS DAY
Wednesday, November 14 • 11 AM Southern Bank Auditorium in Raper Hall Contact: Kathy Gardner at kgardner@umo.edu
FALL 2018 SENIOR ART SHOW RECEPTION
Thursday, November 15 • 4–6 PM Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery in Laughinghouse Hall Contact: Bob Murray at rmurray@umo.edu
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Thursday, November 15 • 7:30 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
November 16–18 Contact: Hope Fields at hfields@umo.edu
53RD ANNUAL PICKLE CLASSIC
Friday, October 5 • 10 AM George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena Contact: Rhonda Jessup at rjessup@umo.edu
Friday and Saturday, November 16–17 Game Times: 5 and 7 PM both nights George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena Cost: Advance tickets are $15 for both days or $10 per day on game day Contact: Tina Loy at cloy@umo.edu
ALL-STAR CHOIR FESTIVAL
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
UMO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
Friday, October 12 • 4:30 PM Concert Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
LOS VALIENTES
Monday, October 22 • 7:30 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
RECITAL SERIES—NEW YORK POLYPHONY
Thursday, October 25 • 7:30 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
MEET AUTHOR WILLIAM R. FORSTCHEN
Monday, October 29 • 4 PM Southern Bank Auditorium in Raper Hall Contact: Dr. Delight Yokley at dyokley@umo.edu
NOVEMBER HONOR CHOIR FESTIVAL
Saturday, November 17 • 3 PM Holmes and Lois K. Murphy Center Contact: Tina Loy at cloy@umo.edu
THE UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Friday, November 30 • 7:30 PM Saturday, December 1 • 2:30 and 6:30 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * For advance tickets contact Melba Ingram at mingram@umo.edu or (919) 299-4582
DECEMBER SCROOGICAL—EBENEZER’S MUSICAL RHYME AND REASON
Saturday, December 8 • 7:30 PM Sunday, December 9 • 3 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: John Clifton at john.clifton@umo.edu
Friday, November 2 • 4:30 PM Concert Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT Thursday, November 8 • 7:30 PM Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall * Contact: Cindi Wellinger at cwellinger@umo.edu
The Fine Arts Circle works to promote the cultural, social, and economic importance of the arts to the community at large by not only participating in fine arts gatherings, but also by helping to support them. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted
919-658-2502 | www.umo.edu/news FALL 2018 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | 3
Editor’s Note
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
SE North Carolina www.sencmag.com Issue No. 15
Staff / Credits / Contributions PUBLISHER Jim Sills EDITOR Abby Cavenaugh PRODUCTION/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jillian Smith Content & Photography Abby Cavenaugh Trevor Normile Jeff Wenzel CONTRIBUTING WriterS Andrew Cole Annesophia Richards Advertising Becky Cole Alan Wells CIRCULATION Lauren Guy SUBSCRIBE: Four issues (one year) $19.95 plus tax lguy@ncweeklies.com CONTACT senc.ads@nccooke.com senc@nccooke.com 1.910.296.0239 ON THE COVER Photographer Jeff Wenzel provided this shot of the Swing Bridge in Surf City. The Swing Bridge will soon be replaced with a high-rise, more traffic-friendly bridge, but will leave us with many happy memories of beach days gone by. SouthEast North Carolina Magazine is a publication of the Duplin Times and Adams Publishing Group. Contents may not be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.
Pumpkin spice lattes and frappucinos. Pumpkin Krispy Kremes. Pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin cheesecake. Pumpkinflavored mouthwash. I don’t care. If it’s pumpkin, I’m eating/drinking it. But that’s not even my favorite thing about fall (well... okay, it’s definitely one of my favorite things). What I love more than anything is going out on a cool morning, needing a hoodie, and there’s that crisp fall air, the trees are a thousand shades of orange, red, yellow and green, maybe someone’s got a fire nearby and you catch a whiff, close your eyes, and sigh happily. And then take a sip of your pumpkin spice latte. Obviously, if you haven’t inferred it by now, fall is my favorite season. I’ve always been intrigued by local legends and ghost stories, which is why one of our Snapshots this month focuses on ghost stories along the Carolina coast. There’s a listing of area ghost walks in our Play Dates section, too. If the supernatural aspect of fall isn’t your thing, I bet you’ll be interested in the story of Diamond City, a once-thriving community on Shackleford Banks that is now a ghost town. There’s not much left, but in the late 1800s, Diamond City was a close-knit fishing and whaling village. I’d never heard of this place until I was researching ghost stories and found quite a creepy story about Diamond City. Andrew Cole tells us the history of this now-defunct island town. If you’re fascinated by this and other legends of North Carolina history, a great place to visit is downtown Wilmington, and more specifically, Old Books on Front Street, where you can even spend a night amongst the books in the secondfloor Top Shelf Literary Loft. My twin sister, her two daughters and I stayed in the loft this summer, where we had our pick of numerous North Carolina books, and could even play Scrabble on a giant board that takes up half the living room.
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North Carolina
It’s an experience every book lover should have, at least once. Speaking of legends, there’s one in the making in Mount Olive, where 14-yearold Mackenzie Hinson has created and run her own food pantry since 2015. The feisty redhead is certainly a force to be reckoned with. One legend that’s sadly fading into the twilight is the Swing Bridge in Surf City. The mighty steel structure has welcomed motorists to the island since the 1950s, but will soon be replaced by a more modern bridge that will handle the traffic flow better. I know I, for one, will miss the bump-da-bump-bump of driving over the Swing Bridge on my way to the beach. Annesophia Richards helps us bid a fond farewell. Finally, there’s the ongoing issue of hog farm lawsuits in our part of the state. Trevor Normile takes an in-depth look at the big stink over these nuisance lawsuits. There’s no real theme tying the stories together this issue — except they have one major thing in common. They all help to make Southeastern North Carolina the fascinating place we call home.
Abby Cavenaugh, Editor
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SINCE A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, HERE ARE SOME SELECTED PHOTOS OF DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA ON INSTAGRAM
#southeasternnorthcarolina
@se.north.carolina
Cape Fear Heavenly Lights Friday Sunset over the river #heavenly #sunsets #southeasternnorthcarolina #sunset_madness #sunset #capefear @COASTALBYDESIGN
Hammocks Beach State Park It’s going to be a perfect beach day #onlyinonslow #topsailbeach #sandandsurf #kidsjustwannahavefun #onslowbeach #coastalnc #visitnc #southeasternnorthcarolina @ONLYINONSLOW
Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area Sunset on the Cape Fear River #lovewhereyoulive #capefearriver #northcarolinaoutdoors_ #southeasternnorthcarolina #ncoutdoors @BECK_112
Sneads Ferry Just a quiet night at home! #southeasternnorthcarolina @CHRISTYTWIGG
Burgaw There is a bit of weatherlore that says “For every fog in August, there will be a snow in winter.” (The Old Farmer’s Almanac says October) #foginaugust #snowinwinter #southeasternnorthcarolina @TWISTEDOAKFARM
Fort Fisher Highlight: Fort Fisher in Kure Beach is just another unique and beautiful place located at our back door! The sight of the maritime forest and coquina rocks are simply mesmerizing. #ncbeaches #southeasternnorthcarolina #carolinacoast @ALLISONDONOVAN
Guides to the Good Stuff Join us on social media for insider tips from Southeastern North Carolina natives...
@SENorthCarolinaMagazine
SENCMAG.COM Our staff conceived this publication with a very basic idea in mind: to highlight interesting people, places, and events in Southeastern North Carolina in a way that honors the history and idiosyncratic spirit of the region.
Want your photo featured? Simply post photos of what you love about Southeastern North Carolina on Instagram and use the hashtag at the top of the page! Follow us, too!
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Contents
Features 8
Our Readers Respond
Some of our readers had great things to say about our summer issue. Y’all come back now, ya hear?
14
End of an era
The swing bridge leading onto Topsail Island at Surf City will soon be a thing of the past. Take a look back at its storied history.
20
Find your place on the Top Shelf
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26
EXTRAS
10
Mackenzie Hinson
At the age of 10, Mackenzie Hinson started her own food pantry. Now 14, she truly has made a difference for thousands.
34
The Rise & Fall of Diamond City
Want to catch a Broadway show? See big names in concert? Eat festival food? Check out our list of goings-on in Southeastern N.C.!
13
33
54
Storming the Gates
The loft that’s literally a dream come true for book lovers.
Nuisance lawsuits against hog farmers are making a big stink in this part of the state.
14
26
Snapshot- Celebs visit SENC
Celebrity sightings aren’t unheard of in this area... though they’re not as common as they used to be! Snapshot- Ghost
There’s no sign of it today, but in the late 1800s, a whaling town thrived on Shackleford Banks.
38
Play Dates
Stories
It wouldn’t be Halloween-time without a few good ghost stories...
Folk: In the good ol’ days
Remember when malls ruled? And Pizza Hut served only pizza?
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our readers respond
SE North Carolina’s latest issue had lots of people talking. Take a look at what they had to say...
SE North Carolina Magazine Summer 2018 Edition 2018
SE MER
SUM
No rth
ina Caro l
ATION RY SENS CULINA & L IR YG COUNTR A
OLIN TS OF CAR TASTES ’’ BARBECUE JOIN AFOOD RRY SE IN ‘SMOK Y SNEADS FE BURGER AR D LEGEND ONE-OF-A-KIN S W TO E- N’ A ON TAP CH KOMBU
A Texas-sized compliment Greetings, Your wonderful magazine arrived via my daughter who lives in Goldsboro. The Vivian Howard story was most interesting as I have seen her here on PBS. However, the meat (no pun intended) was Abby Cavenaugh’s editor note on SE NC, a whole good place to be. I was in Fayetteville for 35 years, and retired from Fort Bragg in the post civilian fire service. We were often along the N.C. coast from Wilmington and south during the times.
Being from Ohio (sorry) and sent to Pope AFB for military service, I was exposed to a whole new way of eating. I loved it. Greens and cornbread, REAL BBQ pork and REAL fish, trout flounder etc. etc. etc. and much more! Well, I had a great job offer in the Dallas area after leaving Bragg and found two things. I like my small rural environment, BUT, there is nothing to eat in Texas. BBQ? If you like a slab (likened to a slice of cardboard) of beef with red stuff on it, welcome to beef BBQ. Pork, what you find is a fat-looking fat-encased hot dog looking thing with red stuff on it. Fish, if it ain’t catfish, it ain’t happening. Yes, SE NC was a great piece of my history, great folks and real great food. Thanks for jogging the little grey cells. You have a worthwhile magazine and it is continuing to be a fun read. Thomas Parsons Ennis, Texas
A tasty treat My wife and I were out dining last night, and we picked up a copy of SE North Carolina summer issue. I spent the evening going from the Editor’s Note to the last story and I wanted you to know that I
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really enjoyed the entire magazine. I most enjoyed your story about working in tobacco. Keep up the good work. Warren Hepler Wallace
Good job Good job on the summer issue. I read this issue entirely. I would like to see a feature on the straw bales between Chinquapin and Wallace. They are painted with designs to represent special occasions and holidays. They are on the left side of [Highway] 41 as one goes to Wallace from Chinquapin. The Onslow County Museum in Richlands would also make an interesting article. Judy Jones Chinquapin
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks to all of our readers for writing to tell us your thoughts! We love your suggestions, and may even use them for a future feature in SE North Carolina, so always feel free to contact us. Contact information is below!
FEEDBACK: Got something to tell us? We want to know. Send comments or suggestions to SE North Carolina, Abby Cavenaugh- Editor, P.O. Box 69, Kenansville, NC 28349 or email senc@nccooke.com.
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SE Snapshot
North Carolina
‘The Walking Dead’ star visits sea turtle hospital
S
ince most television and movie productions left North Carolina in favor of filming in states that offer higher incentives like Georgia and Texas, celebrity sightings have become more and more rare. However, it would appear that not all the famous folks have completely abandoned Southeastern North Carolina. In July, “The Walking Dead” star Khary Payton, who plays Ezekiel on the monster-hit zombie AMC series, visited the Topsail Island area. He posted a photo on his Instagram account from The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, showing him hugging a giant stuffed turtle in the gift shop. The sea turtle hospital was featured in the Spring 2018 issue of SE North Carolina magazine. Payton wrote: “Had a sublime time at Sea Turtle Rescue. You guys take great care of these endangered beauties! Had to ‘adopt’ lovely Lennie.”
Lennie is one of the permanent residents of the hospital, due to being partially blinded by blunt-force head trauma. The gift shop offers patrons the chance to “adopt” some of the turtles in the hospital, and apparently, Payton couldn’t pass up the opportunity. (No word on whether or not he also “adopted” the giant stuffed turtle.) “The Walking Dead” actually films in Georgia. North Carolina hosted a number of productions up until the General Assembly voted to discontinue incentives for the TV and film industry in 2014. Prior to that decision, TV series like “Homeland,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Under the Dome,” “Revolution,” “Banshee” and “Eastbound & Down” filmed in the state. High-grossing films like “The Hunger Games” and “Iron Man 3” were also filmed in North Carolina. The state government has reinstated the incentives, but so far, there haven’t been many takers. SE
Above, actor Khary Payton’s Instagram post about visiting the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in July. Below, Payton as Ezekiel on “The Walking Dead.”
SE PICKS: Stars in SE NC Robert Downey, Jr.
Michelle Dockery
One of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, Robert Downey, Jr. was frequently spotted during the filming of “Iron Man 3” in the summer of 2012. The film went on to become the highest-grossing movie of 2013, earning well over $1 billion. Filming locations, according to IMDb, included Wilmington, Kenansville, Rose Hill, Oak Island and Currie.
Best known for her role as Lady Mary Crawley on PBS’s “Downton Abbey,” British actress Michelle Dockery also made an appearance in southeastern N.C. for the filming of her TNT series, “Good Behavior.” Mostly filmed in Wilmington, the series also filmed some scenes in surrounding rural areas. The series aired from 20162017. No word on whether Robert Downey, Jr. is shown with Michael Ussery, left, an employee in a or not it’s been renewed for a downtown Wilmington shop, and as Tony Stark in “Iron Man 3.” third season.
Michelle Dockery in “Good Behavior,” above, and as Lady Mary Crawley in “Downton Abbey.”
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End of an era
Surf City bridge swings into history Story: Annesophia Richards Photos: Trevor Normile Like the tides, change is a constant, and right now big changes are underway on Topsail Island. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is in the process of replacing the existing Surf City Swing Bridge, known locally as the Sears Landing Bridge, a beloved town landmark that is now functionally obsolete. Originally built in 1954, the historic steel truss bridge is one of two bridges that connect Topsail Island to the mainland, and at over 60 years old, it is becoming structurally unsound and unable to pro-
Earl Batts, one of the original bridge tenders
vide adequate access to the growing tourist destination. In its place, a fixed span high-rise bridge is under construction over the placid waters of the Intracoastal. At almost 4,000 feet long and 53 feet wide, this new bridge’s 65-foot vertical clearance will allow vessels to move freely in the waterway underneath, thereby eliminating the traffic delays the swing bridge causes. The new bridge will meet current design standards, and its increased capacity will also improve the island’s emergency access and hurricane evacuation capabilities.
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Other changes include the addition of a new roundabout intersection, a 10-foot wide multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path, and the ultimate removal of the iconic swing bridge. Engineer Trevor Carroll with the North Carolina Department of Transportation says the replacement project will benefit the Topsail community by ensuring greater accessibility for years to come. “The existing bridge is safe for travelers today, but it’s deteriorating and is certainly obsolete with regards to functionality. Once the new bridge is complete, vehicles
Originally built in 1954, the historic steel truss bridge is one of two bridges that connect Topsail Island to the mainland, and at over 60 years old, it is becoming structurally unsound and unable to provide adequate access to the growing tourist destination. and vessels will be able to operate freely because of the new structure.” While many local residents eagerly follow the progress of the new bridge’s construction as it stretches across the Intracoastal Waterway, a sense of nostalgia and loss can also be felt amongst some who have called the island home all their life. “I have deep roots in this community, and thus the bridge carries significant sentimental value to me,” says Topsail Island realtor Teresa Batts. Her grandfather, James Franklin Batson, was one of the original swing bridge’s first three tenders. “I
spent a lot of my childhood at the bridge, visiting my grandfather, fishing, and playing with all the children in the area. We were told that when you hear the bridge siren go off, it’s time to come home.” In the 1940s, a pontoon bridge was built initially just north of the current bridge’s position in response to a need by the military. Soldiers from nearby Camp Davis required a way to cross over to the beach for artillery training. At that time, Earl G. Batts owned land that included the mainland ferry landing known as Sears Landing, as well as land across
the waterway on the island side. Audrey Viner, Batts’ daughter, remembers the story her mother told her as a child about how the bridge came to be. “In the early 1940s, a man dressed in a military uniform came riding up to the house on his horse, and he wanted to know from my daddy if he knew the shortest route from the inland to the island. My daddy said that he did know the shortest way, and that it was the Sears Landing, which was on my daddy’s property. Well, this Sears Landing is where the Army decided to build that pontoon bridge.”
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Viner’s father worked as bridge tender of the pontoon bridge before it was destroyed during Hurricane Hazel in 1954. He then worked on the current swing bridge that was built as a replacement, before he eventually retired in the early 1970s. “I remember that swing bridge more than the pontoon bridge,” says Viner. “We went down there to crab around the bridge and Daddy watched out for us while he was tending. When Daddy was working, we took his meals to him and climbed up the stairs to go to the top where the controls were and where Daddy stayed most of the time. I was afraid of falling into the water during those climbs!” If you ask Lacy Atkinson, Jr. about his memories of the original Sears Landing bridge, what comes to mind first is his father, Lacy Atkinson, who also was one of its first operators. He, along with Earl G. Batts and James Franklin Batson, were all born and raised locally, their families going back generations. The three men were farmers and fishermen, and they built their homes and raised their families while working together to keep the “new” bridge in
operation. In order to do so, twelvehour work shifts were the norm, and bridge maintenance was part of their job requirements, such as greasing the gears underneath. If the electricity went out, which it often did due to storms, a large hand crank located on the railings of the bridge required the efforts of several men to open or close the bridge, as well as a second crank to raise or lower the gates and barriers. “Many times these men were called to the bridge in the middle of the night or stormy weather to keep the bridge working. They were a family, they joked and laughed, helped each other, swapped shifts if one needed to be off, and they truly cared about their job and the bridge,” says Atkinson. Bridge tender pay wasn’t much back then, and the tenders all worked in other ways, farming their own vegetables, raising livestock, and fishing in the sound. Atkinson, Sr. and James Batson built a pier at the end of the bridge on the mainland side where they kept their boats for oystering and shrimping. “I have fond memories of so many hours playing and crabbing at the foot of the bridge while Daddy
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worked on his boat and nets,” says Atkinson. “He would often send me up the bank to check if a boat was coming. For a young boy, getting to go to work with your dad at the bridge was truly special. And being awakened in the early morning hours to the sound of switches clacking and green and red lights flashing has left cherished and unforgettable memories.” The Sears Landing Bridge was an integral part of Atkinson’s young life, as well as the lives of the Batts and Batson families. Its replacement brings back fond memories and bittersweet sentiments for the children and grandchildren of the three original bridge tenders. “They’re all gone now, Earl Batts, James Batson, and Lacy Atkinson, and soon that old bridge will be gone too. It meant a lot more to a few local families other than just a means to reach Topsail Island,” says Atkinson. “We all know time marches on. Topsail Island’s not what it used to be, and I know it’s time for the old bridge to go. I’m just very thankful that I as well as a few others have some very special memories of those early years at Sears Landing Bridge.” SE
Preserving Memories of the Swing Bridge
ABOVE: Traffic crosses the Surf City Swing Bridge on a typical afternoon. BELOW: The original pontoon bridge that connected Topsail Island to the mainland.
This issue’s cover artist,Topsail Island’s Jeff Wenzel, is working on a film documenting people’s memories of the iconic Surf City Swing Bridge. Wenzel, who sells his photography artwork locally and online at www.AboveTopsail.com, was intrigued by people’s fascination with a 60-year-old piece of metal. “People have been telling me they need to buy one of my canvases of the Swing Bridge before it goes away. I kept hearing that over and over again.” Wenzel decided to chase the story. “I have enjoyed sitting in people’s homes listening to them talk. I realized that it wasn’t so much about the physical structure itself, but the memories that are tied to it.” As a young boy, Buddy Fowler used to be awakened in the back seat of the family car by the distinctive sound of the car tires rolling over the concrete cobblestone bridge surface. That sound brings back memories of weekend fishing trips with his dad. Fowler’s dad passed away in 1975. Wenzel added, “When the bridge goes away, in a sense, some people’s memories will fade away with it. It is very similar to the death of a family member. And in a very real way, people are already starting to mourn its passing.” Wenzel expects to release the film by Christmas — coincidentally, right when the new bridge is on track to open and the iconic 1950s Swing Bridge is removed. Find out more about the film at www. SwingBridgeMemories.com. FALL 2018 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | 17
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Find your place on the Top Shelf
A heavenly stay for literary lovers Story & Photos: Abby Cavenaugh
ABOVE: Seventeen-year-old niece Kirsten Graves takes a moment to enjoy the ambience of the Top Shelf Literary Loft in downtown Wilmington. BELOW: An antique Remington typewriter in the bedroom reminds today’s generation that writing was once a much more arduous task.
It’s a bookworm’s dream come true. Climbing a staircase made to look like a stack of book spines, opening a door covered in printed pages to find a mural of North Carolina listing off names of the state’s authors. And then there are cases and cases of books, all by North Carolina’s best and brightest, and the pièce de résistance — a gigantic Scrabble board taking up half the living room floor. If Scrabble’s not your game, no worries. There are “Poetry Paint Chips,” “Lit Wit” and Women Author playing cards, as well as numerous other games that cater to the literary set. And then again, the books. One wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t linger long in the Top Shelf Literary Loft, considering that downtown Wilmington is right down the stairs, with its plethora of dining joints, bars, shops and historic sites waiting to be taken in. But there’s something special about this literary loft that draws you in, makes you want to stay a while. It had my nieces, ages 11 and 17, declaring 20 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | FALL 2018
ABOVE: The living room area of the Top Shelf Literary Loft includes a futonstyle sofa, comfortable reading chairs and a fold-out Murphy bed. BELOW: Niece Adeline Cavenaugh, 11, peruses the many books by North Carolina authors on display in the literary loft.
within minutes that they wanted to move in permanently. I wouldn’t have minded moving in either, to be honest. The Top Shelf Literary Loft sits atop Old Books on Front Street, a used bookstore that states (quite rightly) on a sandwich board sign out front that “No One Loves That Old Kindle Smell.” The bookstore features more than two miles of new and used books, as well as literary dolls and action figures, board games, T-shirts and, once a week, a live performance by a local pianist. Gwenyfar Rohler’s family relocated the iconic bookstore to the Front Street location in 2010, and the loft came six years later. She said she always dreamed of using the loft apartment to pay homage to North Carolina’s writers, both prolific and not-so-wellknown. “It gives us the opportunity to really showcase our writers,” Rohler said. “There are so many talented writers in North Carolina that no one
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knows about. The loft really shines a light on these people.” There are those North Carolinian scribes you may know well — Maya Angelou, Clyde Edgerton, Charles Frazier, Kay Hooper, Sarah Addison Allen — and then those you may not have realized connect to North Carolina, like Steve Martin (who has a home in Brevard), Zelda Fitzgerald (who died in Asheville) and David Sedaris (who grew up in Raleigh). Books by these authors and many others are on display on the near floor-toceiling bookcase in the living room, and are available for purchase, using an honor system (a piggy bank, to be specific). State authors are also featured on a mural that takes up an entire wall in the full kitchen. A note to guests states that new authors are being added to the map all the time and solicits suggestions for anyone that may have been missed. The kitchen is the first place you notice the stained glass windows, which, naturally have a literary theme. There’s one featuring a stack of books with an orange tabby cat nestled among them, another with a writing quill, and one with a Sherlock Holmes-style pipe and magnifying glass. The rectangular stained glass windows were created by a local artist, and brighten up the interior spaces of the one-bedroom loft. The bathroom also has its own stained glass window above the door, and a deep fish-gutting sink that was relocated from Rohler’s childhood home. One of the treasures of this cozy hideaway is a working antique typewriter in the bedroom, with reams of paper to use if you feel a hankering to write the next Great American Novel during your stay. The typewriter was a marvel to my young nieces, who will never know the joy of the click-clacking of keys and the “ding” when you reached the end of the line of text. (And also the hassle of needing to use the White-Out.) In addition to the large, overflowing bookcases, the living room features a Murphy bed, chairs and a retro-style couch. And that gigantic Scrabble board. I wasn’t sure we could get the nieces to
ABOVE: The staircase leading to the Top Shelf Literary Loft is painted to look like book spines. All of the books represented have connections to North Carolina. BELOW: Kirsten Graves, 17, makes a play on the giant Scrabble board.
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The Top Shelf Literary Loft sits atop Old Books on Front Street in downtown Wilmington.
play the storied word game, but, with little prodding from my twin sister and me, we dug out the huge letters and spelled our way well into the night, with lots of laughter and fun ensuing. I think I will always look back fondly on that Scrabble game, even if I stubbed my toes a few times on the wooden block letters while forming words. One thing the loft does not feature is a television. But there’s so much to do and see — and read — that it’s difficult to be concerned about that. It’s almost like taking a step back in time to a bygone era, when we typed on typewriters and read paper books and played board games ... although there is free WiFi so you can also Instagram and Snapchat your friends photos of the loft, if you want. I know it was one of my favorite parts of our vacation this year, and when I woke up on Saturday morning, my birthday, surrounded by books, with downtown Wilmington bustling below, and my family right there with me, I couldn’t think of
any place I would rather have been. In fact, I’m thinking staying at the Top Shelf might become an annual birthday tradition. If you love books, I daresay there’s no better place to stay in Wilmington. A few things to note: the loft is accessible only by a steep staircase. Anyone who stays in the loft must be physically able to climb the stairs. There is no elevator. Also, as it’s located in downtown Wilmington, be aware that there will be some traffic noise and revelry on the street below, especially if you stay on a weekend night. It’s easily tuned out, however, especially if you’re concentrating on quality fun times with your friends and family — or a good book. The Top Shelf Literary Loft is located above Old Books on Front Street, 249 N. Front St. in downtown Wilmington, and can be reserved by emailing topshelfloft@ gmail.com or calling 910-76-BOOKS (26657).
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Mackenzie Hinson: A teen with a hunger to Make a Difference
Story & Photos: Abby Cavenaugh By age 14, most of us were proud of getting good grades or starting high school, maybe making a JV sports team. And then others, like Mackenzie Hinson of Mount Olive, have already built a thriving business from the ground up, organizing the distribution of food to more than 700,000 people in Wayne and surrounding counties since 2015. Mackenzie started the Make a Difference Food Pantry at the age of 10. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Watching her direct people four times her age where to put crates of corn, in which room to unpack cartloads of canned vegetables and where to display the latest award she’s received, it’s hard to believe you’re watching a teenager, rather than a seasoned nonprofit CEO. Of course, technically that’s what Mackenzie Hinson is, even if she is still in high school. “Kenzie,” as everyone calls her, says she started the pantry after giving a speech for 4-H on hunger in Wayne County. “When you look at the statistics in Wayne County, it kind of puts things in perspective.” In addition, Kenzie’s mother, Paige, had a stroke seven years ago that left her paralyzed on the left side of her body for several months. “My parents taught me to pay my blessings forward,” Kenzie says. She had volunteered in other food pantries before starting her own, and the 4-H speech and her mom’s health issues were the catalyst that led her to start Make a Difference. “We started at 500 square feet, and went to 800, and now we’re at 8,000
“My parents taught me to pay my blessings forward.” —Mackenzie Hinson square feet,” she says. Next up, she says, is a 50,000-square-foot warehouse. Kenzie’s got her eye on the former Southern States facility, Paige says. She also wants an 18-wheeler and a forklift. With her
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determination and work ethic, it’s likely she’ll get everything she wants. Quite possibly before she even turns 15. According to the website, “the food pantry has grown to include a fixed
Students from North Duplin Jr./Sr. High School painted this mural for Mackenzie Hinson as part of Mike Rowe’s Facebook Watch series, “Returning the Favor.”
Youth volunteers from First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Goldsboro help unload a delivery of Patrons of the Make a Difference Food Pantry in Mount Olive can shop corn donated by Cottle Farms at the MAD pana produce section, much like a grocery store. try.
food distribution site; mobile feeding programs for the elderly and children; and outreach pantries to reach even more North Carolinians in need.” The MAD complex in downtown Mount Olive houses not only the food pantry, but a thrift store that features clothing and shoes for all ages, from infants to adults. “She started this because she got some formula, and wasn’t sure where to put it, so she decided to start a kids’ closet,” Paige explains. There’s also a little free library where
anyone can “check out” but never return books, and give their own. A birdhouse-looking outdoor library stocked with books, Kenzie provides that free of charge, too. A children’s library is also available inside the pantry. “We tried to do a checkout system, but the kids cried and wanted to keep the books, so Kenzie decided to let them,” Paige says. There’s also Kenzie’s Kids Café, a weekly program in which she cooks a healthy meal for children in the community. During the school year, she has
a Buddy Backpack program, providing meals for local students. MAD has a mobile pantry for seniors as well, delivering food throughout the Goldsboro and Mount Olive area. S.T. Wooten donated an F-250 pickup truck for food deliveries, Enterprise of Wilson provided a $1,000 donation, and Lifestyle Limousine Services gave $2,000 to create the mobile food pantry. The first Thursday of every month, Paige says, Kenzie and a team of volunteers cook at the Salvation Army for
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LEFT: Jennifer Gardner and Pastor Walton Aycock from First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Goldsboro unload boxes of non-perishable food items that were donated to the MAD pantry. MIDDLE: Mackenzie Hinson’s numerous awards are displayed inside her Make a Difference Food Pantry, as well as her favorite quote: “It’s more than just food; it’s all about how you make people feel.” RIGHT: The donation of a F250 pickup truck has helped Mackenzie Hinson take her food pantry mobile, serving areas beyond downtown Mount Olive.
whoever’s in need of a hot meal. Kenzie planted a vegetable garden onsite, in memory of her friend, Kevin, who passed away in May due to an overdose. She’s growing her own collards, kale and other vegetables to stock the pantry. Kenzie’s work to help others extends far beyond her immediate geographical area. MAD provided emergency meals for first responders and volunteers after Hurricane Matthew, and collected donations for survivors of the Gatlinburg wildfires and Hurricane Harvey in Texas. In addition, farms and companies are donating food just about every day, and as the founder and director of MAD food pantry, Kenzie has to sign for every delivery. On a recent Wednesday, Paige reported, “We had five trucks come in today.” Kenzie coordinated each of those five truck deliveries, organizing volunteers into an assembly line to work as efficiently as possible. When asked what keeps her going, she replies without hesitation, “Mountain Dew.” It’s a rare glimpse at the 14-yearold that’s behind the no-nonsense nonprofit director. “I’m like a hummingbird on crack anyway, so it doesn’t bother me.” It’s tough to get a few words with Kenzie. She answers a question, and then, another volunteer appears and needs her help with some other part of her con-
stantly expanding philanthropic endeavors, or someone who dropped off a donation wants a photo op with the petite redhead. “We have a lot of calendars and schedules to keep us on track,” Kenzie says. On distribution days, Thursdays, more volunteers are needed, as sometimes the line of needy folks can stretch down the block, Paige says. “Some of them start lining up at 7:30 in the morning for distribution,” she adds. Distribution doesn’t begin until 5 that afternoon. The pantry serves more than 700 people a day, who come through the front door and shop produce sections, meat sections and dairy sections, just like in a grocery store. There are no questions asked, no forms to fill out; whoever’s hungry and needs food is able to get it at the MAD pantry. Of course, even being the pint-sized dynamo she is, Kenzie needs help to keep the pantry and other related businesses running smoothly. There is a team of about 20 volunteers that work on a daily basis, with church groups rotating through to help on any given day. The volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, though many are retirees and former recipients of the pantry’s services. Marvin Creech is one of those retired volunteers. “I thought I would volunteer a few hours a week,” he says, “but
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it turned out to be 60 hours a week. You can work here just as long as you want.” Liam Sutton does a lot of the cooking for the pantry, and helps deliver plates for churches and other groups. “She serves thousands of people,” Sutton says. “It’s just amazing.” “If you name it,” Creech adds, “she’ll help you with it.” There is more than one wall inside the MAD Food Pantry showcasing Kenzie’s awards, grants and other recognition. In March 2017, she was featured on Harry Connick, Jr.’s “The Harry Show.” An autographed photo of him hangs in the lobby of the pantry, alongside a mural painting of Kenzie in all her fiery-haired glory. The TV and music star also arranged for Kenzie to receive a $13,000 donation from the Food Lion Feeds program. In October 2016, Kenzie and the pantry were on UNC-TV’s “N.C. Now” program for their hurricane relief efforts. June of that same year, she was named a Tyson Foods Hero That Matters. That wasn’t just a title. Tyson Foods presented her with a brand new, three-door, commercial-grade freezer and a check for $20,000. Blanchard Refrigeration provided a walk-in freezer, and Food Lion donated a walk-in refrigerator. Earlier this year, Mike Rowe’s “Returning the Favor” Facebook Watch se-
The pantry serves more than 700 people a day, who come through the front door and shop produce sections, meat sections and dairy sections, just like in a grocery store.
Carolina’s Spokeskid for Volunteerism by Governor Roy Cooper, and most recently, was chosen to serve on FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council for 2018-19. She’s a member of Jordan’s Chapel 4-H, the Wayne County Skillathon Team, the Mayor’s Youth Council, the Artistic Dance Academy and the Hydrant Youth Group. But wait — there’s more. Kenzie is a prosecutor for Wayne County Teen Court, a clerk for the N.C. Youth Legislative Assembly and a Special
Olympics volunteer. Somehow, she also finds time for golf and homeschooling. She’s a sophomore in high school and a freshman in college. “My rule is I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” she says, before adding, “Well, I do sleep sometimes on Saturdays.” To learn more about the Make a Difference Food Pantry, visit the website at www.madpantry.org/. The pantry is located at 231 NW Center Street in downtown Mount Olive. SE
ries featured Kenzie and her pantry. “Anybody that comes to my door, we feed them and we serve them — and we have a good ol’ time!” Hinson shares in a video clip from “Returning the Favor.” The TV host had a tough time keeping up with Kenzie’s energy, but he and his team built a covered outdoor cooking area for her, complete with 36-inch grills, landscaping and a large mural on the brick wall, painted by students at North Duplin Jr./Sr. High School. In addition to her TV appearances and donations from major food providers, Kenzie has also been appointed North FALL 2018 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | 29
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Spooky ship stories still scintillate U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship has its fair share of ghostly tales
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hotspot for paranormal investigators, the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship has seen plenty of wartime horrors. But it’s the creepier sort of scares that draw in those who are fascinated by ghosts. In 2002, nighttime caretaker Danny Bradshaw wrote a book, titled “Ghosts on the Battleship North Carolina,” compiling many of the sightings and experiences he has had over the years. Most commonly seen is the apparition of a young man with blond hair. He’s been reportedly seen most often in the passageways of the massive World War II battleship. “This spirit seems to enjoy causing disruptions in electricity, trying to talk to the living, and even following certain individuals who board the ship,” states the website, HauntedPlacesToGo.com. The SyFy channel’s “Ghost Hunters” team visited the Battleship in the series’ second season in 2005 to perform an investigation of the ship. The team from TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) spent the night aboard the battleship, gathering audio and video evidence. In an interview with the TAPS team, Bradshaw recounted seeing an apparition with “a flaming head” in one of the porthole windows. There were also strange noises and the feeling of being watched. On the TV show, the ghost hunters chased a man-sized shadow into a
room with no exit, but never caught him. They had no explanation for what they’d seen. There were also the sounds of pots and pans banging in the kitchen, when no one was standing near them.
Most hauntingly (pardon the pun), TAPS captured an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) on a digital audio recorder. EVPs are disembodied voices that can only be heard on a recording device. On the Battleship, the “Ghost Hunters” show caught a raspy voice saying “The ship.” Other paranormal investigators have recorded groaning noises, a voice saying “Who’s this?” and various other ghostly sounds. Most believe that if the Battleship is haunted, it is likely the spirits of five men who were killed when a Japanese torpedo struck the ship in 1942. However, whether or not the ship is truly haunted, we may never know for sure. SE
As the story goes, a young Italian immigrant, Antonio Caseletta, was hired to play harp at the inn in 1882. Unfortunately, the 19-yearold drowned in a boating accident. His spirit, affectionately known as Tony, is said to play pranks on guests, as well as the Brunswick Inn owners. By all accounts, this ghost is a friendly one!
Harvey Mansion - New Bern Since it’s one of the last remaining original buildings in town, of course the Harvey Mansion has plenty of ghost stories. Some have reported seeing a woman in period dress gliding across the dining room. Others claim to hear a child laughing when no children were nearby. Who knows what you may encounter at this historic site?
Country Squire Restaurant, Inn & Winery - Warsaw
The Country Squire is legendary not only for its 72-ounce “Kiltbuster” steak, but also for a number of spirits— and we don’t mean liquor. Owner Iris Lennon tells the story of an instance in which darts flew six feet away from the dart board all by themselves. Paranormal investigator Stephen Lancaster also reports encountering a female apparition in one of the inn’s rooms. And those are just a few of the ghost stories from this Duplin County landmark.
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To the ‘Promise Land’: The Rise & Fall of Diamond City
Story: Andrew Cole Photos: Trevor Normile From the tall, windswept dunes of Shackleford Banks, the spotters could see the whales as they made their seasonal journey from warm, subtropic waters, to the cooler seas of the North Atlantic. By the time the pod of whales was off the Carolina coast, crews of dirty men, salt stung and sun kissed from camping on the shore, were ready for them. The spotter makes the presence of the whales known, and the crews quickly take up their oars and launch their 25-foot lapstrake boats into the choppy surf in pursuit of the magnificent creatures. Everything had been laid out beforehand. Boats, typically between four and six of them, had been strategically placed on the beach, along with gear — cutting spades, ropes, knives, scrapers, and everything needed to both pursue and process the crew’s kill. Out at sea, multiple crews worked together, trying vigorously to plunge a harpoon into the back of a right whale. If they were successful in hauling one of the animals to shore, they would all get a share of the bounty. Back on the beach, work began to ensure that the process of cleaning the whale went quickly. This was out of fear that the blubber may become too dry if left to the elements, and also due to the stench that would linger about the island for days on end from a rotting 50-ton animal. A communal affair, men, women, and children worked together, gathering the firewood and setting up large kettles needed to render the whale’s blubber into oil. Once killed, the whale would be hooked to the boats and towed to shore. There, men would set to work
This was Diamond City in its heyday, an Outer Banks community that saw both its rise and fall brought about by the bountiful and tempestuous Atlantic Ocean. with spades, peeling off chunks of blubber and separating flesh from bone. In about two weeks’ time, the whale was slaughtered and stripped clean, the sea creature’s oil was placed into a wooden cask, and, along with its bone, shipped off to port towns such as Beaufort or Morehead City to be sold. This was Diamond City in its heyday, an Outer Banks community that saw both its rise and fall brought about by the bountiful and tempestuous Atlantic Ocean. Folks had been whaling off the coast of Shackleford Banks, near what would eventually become Diamond City, since at least the early 18th century. Nevertheless, the seaside community that would eventually boast around 500 people went nameless until 1885. It was during that year that the village acquired the name Diamond City. This was
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a nod to the distinctive black and white pattern painted on the nearby Cape Lookout Lighthouse, which towered 163 feet over the landscape, keeping an ever-watchful eye on the Graveyard of the Atlantic. It was the abundant fruits of the Atlantic that attracted settlers to the banks. Pods of migrating whales kept Diamond City residents busy from winter and into early spring, as did porpoise and schools of mullet when no whales were in sight. The homes of the island’s residents were of simple build. They consisted mostly of small, wood-framed structures, built by their owners’ own hands. In addition to the modest homes and fisherman shacks which peppered the island, there were a couple of school houses, which at times doubled as churches, little general stores, and several family cemeteries. Aside from fishing, islanders also raised cows, pigs, chickens, and tended to small gardens. A massive sand dune, said to be at least 40 feet tall and 400 feet wide commanded the center of town, offering just a bit of protection from the sea. Yet, the towering dunes of Shackleford Banks wouldn’t be enough to protect Diamond City from utter ruin. On the morning of August 13, 1899, little over a decade after Diamond City had officially taken a name, a powerful storm dubbed the “San Ciriaco Hurricane” meandered its way up the coast of Florida and past Fort Lauderdale. Just a few days prior, the storm had cut across the island of Puerto Rico, wreaking havoc and leaving hundreds dead in its wake. Then, fed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, it made its way up the Eastern seaboard. By August 16, the storm had begun to shift towards the northwest, and, gaining strength, was on a direct
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center
One of the few surviving photos from Diamond City shows Devine Guthrie, a whaler, boat builder and preacher.
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course for Cape Lookout. In the early morning hours of August 17, 1899, the San Ciriaco Hurricane made landfall over North Carolina, smashing directly into the lower portion of the Outer Banks. A powerful storm surge washed over the thin chain of barrier islands, leaving Diamond City inundated. Strong currents washed homes from their foundations and pushed fishing craft out to sea. Saltwater tainted freshwater wells and killed the island’s trees, as gale force winds buried vegetable gardens with mounds of sand. Livestock was killed, and livelihoods destroyed as essential fishing equipment was swept into the rising tide. Nothing was left untouched, not even the dead. The powerful flood waters brought the caskets of Diamond City’s deceased bubbling to the surface and left the bones of loved ones scattered about the island. When the wind finally died down and the floodwaters receded, the remaining residents of Diamond City were faced with a daunting question: rebuild, or move to greener pastures? Many of the village’s residents opted for the latter, fearing the next big storm
to crash into the island may be their last. Out of the residents that still had homes standing, many of them decided to move their entire house, whole, rather than rebuild from scratch. Some property owners disassembled their homes plank by plank, and once on dry land again, reassembled it like a large upright puzzle. Some of Diamond City’s refugees set sail for nearby Harkers Island, while others made their way further inland, making new lives for themselves in a neighborhood in Morehead City, which they referred to as the Promise Land. Little by little, the population of Diamond City thinned, and by the 1910s there was little to no evidence that Diamond City ever existed. Over time, surging seas have made easy work of whatever fishing shacks were left over from the whaling days, and shifting sands continue to cover many of the remaining family plots. Today, Shackleford Banks helps make up Cape Lookout National Seashore. With limited intrusions by man, its only permanent residents consist of a herd of wild horses, believed to have made their way to the island centuries prior, as well as an abundance of other wildlife that
calls the Outer Banks home. Nowadays, visitors to Shackleford Banks camp on shore solely for leisure and are probably more interested in simply watching for whales than hunting them. Visitors sink tent poles into soft sand rather than harpoons into migrating sea creatures, for their big catch is a bit of solitude and a respite from the hustle and bustle of modern-day living. Their version of the Promise Land is not a neighborhood in a residential area, but back on Shackleford Banks, where, like the residents of Diamond City before them, they can sit high on the dunes, eyes towards the Atlantic, with the Cape Lookout lighthouse towering in the distance. Sources: Jay Barnes, North Carolina’s Hurricane Story: Fourth Edition. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2013. Daniel W. Barefoot, Touring the Backroads of North Carolina’s Lower Coast. Winston-Salem: John F. Blair Publisher, 1995. David Stick, The Outer Banks of North Carolina:1584-1985. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1958. SE
The Legend of Porpoise Sal Back in its heyday, whaling was the bread and butter of the Diamond City settlement. That is, until one day, the town received a mysterious visitor, with an ominous warning. It’s said that a large barrel was seen floating offshore, and when some of the men took a boat out to investigate, they were shocked to find that inside was “a beautiful, young woman, dressed in a pure white dress with long, flowing black hair and eyes that were the color of the sea,” according to the website, northcarolinaghosts.com. When asked her name and where she had come from, she responded only, “The killing must stop.” The woman spoke one other word during her year at Diamond City. After she’d set up house in the barrel, some of the men tried to haul it away to use as firewood. She said simply, “Mine.” The men droppped the ropes and left immediately. She could often be seen, swimming in the ocean, but she was never alone — she was always surrounded by a pod of dolphins 36 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | FALL 2018
and therefore, came to be known as Porpoise Sal. As whaling season drew near, Sal would approach people in town, always saying, “The killing must stop.” And then, one day, she said something different: “You were warned.” That night, a hurricane blew in and decimated the entire settlement. All the buildings were destroyed and all the boats washed away. As the survivors were picking up what little was left, they spotted a barrel floating offshore. Atop it stood the figure of a woman: Porpoise Sal. Someone said, “We should rescue her!” But, before the survivors could move, Sal dove off the barrel and disappeared into the waves. Shortly afterward, her barrel sank, too. Most Diamond City residents knew it was probably useless to rebuild, as another storm would only again devastate the town. Gradually, all the inhabitants moved away. And Diamond City became a ghost town. — Abby Cavenaugh
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STORMING THE GATES THE NUISANCE LAWSUITS, CUTTING AWAY THE FAT AND THE STORY UP ’TIL NOW
Story & Photos: Trevor Normile For years, the supremacy of livestock agriculture has reigned almost unquestioned in this part of the country. As textiles and tobacco declined, North Carolina, with its history of industrial farming, has helped feed the world. After all, no chicken was ever born with 30 wings, nor a pig with pre-marinated loins, yet we can still buy them at the meat counter. But many believe the system is in jeopardy, due to a storm of nuisance lawsuits filed by neighbors of hog farmers in this area. They claim the farms
have affected their way of life, while the livestock industry claims the lawsuits have affected theirs. NUISANCES AND NUANCES “Nuisance, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder,” said Congressman David Rouzer at a massive gathering of ag-people at the State Fairgrounds last month. The ag-people included U.S. representatives like Rouzer, Sen. Thom Tillis, state congress members, agriculture
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commissioners from a few states and more. They all agreed — the lawsuits are wrong and amount to a quasi-biblical hog-mageddon for the state economy. The group’s stance: Family farmers are pitted against the greatest evils of our time, progressive eco-nuts, cancer-hearted lawyers and a diseased press, especially the Raleigh paper, whose editorial cartoonist just won’t stop making fun of Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. It’s possible some could take Rouzer’s comment differently than he probably meant it. There’s nothing beautiful about
hog farms. Hogs are charming creatures, truly, despite all their drooling and defecation. The farms are efficient from a production standpoint and kept cleaner than many realize, but they are not God’s air fresheners. Despite all that, his point remains. What smells offensive to one person and another are two different kinds of noxium. So where’s the truth? It goes to the heart of the hog farm nuisance suits, which were filed in 2014 against Smithfield Foods and began in April with the Kinlaw Farm in the White Oak community. They continued in June with Joey Carter’s farm near Beulaville. The third was at the Greenwood Livestock farms in Pender County. The complaint: odors and pests from growers raising Smithfield hogs have been keeping farm neighbors from enjoying their property, even causing health problems. The response: This is a legal and highly-regulated industry. Studies warning of the possibility of health concerns are, they claim, biased, and do not amount to proof that farms are making anyone sick. The score, as of August: Plaintiffs 3, Smithfield 0. It has not gone well so far for the hog industry. Aside from the farmers, middleclass family men, and the plaintiffs, most of whom are African-American and live anywhere from yards to miles away from the farms in question, the players include the lawyers, Texans practicing on the licenses of the Wallace & Graham firm of Salisbury; federal Judge W. Earl Britt (replaced in two suits by Judge David Faber of West Virginia), agriculture-focused state congress members, environmental groups, some civil rights activists, lobbying groups like North Carolina Farm Families and voices in the vast industry connected to hog production, which has shrunk in recent years but nonetheless represents billions of dollars in profit in North Carolina alone.
They claim the farms have affected their way of life, while the livestock industry claims the lawsuits have affected theirs. BOOGEYMEN It began four or five years ago, with rumors that lawyers were visiting gas stations and soliciting potential clients in a massive suit against the hog industry. It came just a few months after Smithfield’s purchase by WH Group of China, then known as Shuanghui Group, to the tune of $4.7 billion. The attorneys filing the suits, Mona Lisa Wallace of Salisbury, Charlie Speer of Kansas City, Mo. and Richard Middleton of Savannah, Ga., collected nearly 600 claims initially. Speer and Middleton, who were reportedly connected with a group known as the Center to Expose and Close Animal Factories, were dismissed from the complaints in early 2014 by a Wake County Superior Court judge and instructed not to have further contact with them. The plaintiff side reloaded — this time with heavy-caliber business lawyers from Dallas. One is Lisa Blue Baron, the widow of Fred Baron, who died under a cloud of controversy after helping John Edwards’ pregnant paramour relocate out of North Carolina. The Barons are better known for the fortune they made in asbestos-mesothelioma litigation. The second, Malouf & Nockels, is involved in complex business litigation
and has represented clients in Africa and South America, and has sued big corporations like De Beers and Toyota for things like product liability and medical malpractice. The third is Michael Kaeske, Jr., Smithfield’s boogeyman. Getting his start at Fred Baron’s firm, Kaeske has moved into complex business litigation, negligence, toxic torts and more. Acerbic, arrogant and confident, Kaeske deals with the opposition in the courtroom in much the same way a shark does a bleeding sea lion. These suits, filed in the coastal plains of North Carolina, are a strike deep behind enemy lines for those opposed to the industry. The first win was at the Kinlaw Farm. Media outlets went into a frenzy announcing the $50 million verdict. That number was more symbolic than literal — $75,000 “actual” for each of 10 plaintiffs, plus $5 million “punitive.” Due to a state law that caps punitive, or punishment-based damages, to three times the actual, the true number was $300,000 for each plaintiff. Leaving inflated numbers out, the second suit, at the Carter Farm near Beulaville, ended with $260,000 (capped) for each of those two plaintiffs. It’s a paltry sum, compared to the industry as a whole. As of the 2012 Census of Agriculture (the 2017 Census is expected in 2019), Iowa leads the country by a mile with total sales ($6.8 billion), with North Carolina ($2.9 billion) and Minnesota ($2.8 billion) following. Duplin and Sampson counties lead the state in sales, at $614 million and $518 million, respectively, according to the 2012 study. The region is also among the most active poultry producers in the country. Statewide, North Carolina ties Georgia at $4.8 billion in sales, according to the Census. But the problem, as the hog industry sees it, isn’t the loss of a few lawsuits, it’s what the losses mean for
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Left photo: Joey Carter at his farm near Beulaville. Below: Sen. Brent Jackson speaks as Steve Troxler (left) and Rep. Jimmy Dixon look on. Right photo: Naeema Muhammad, NCEJN, gives a statement. the future. If it can happen in North Carolina, is anywhere safe? THIRD STRIKE It was the kicker during the Raleigh ag roundtable. A researcher who works for a progressive advocacy group looks over at me, frantically mouthing words and gesticulating. Other reporters are checking their Facebook pages or passively taking notes, mostly ignoring the Lt. Governor’s repeated complaints about the Raleigh paper, as one of its former reporters, now Pork Council CEO Andy Curliss, sits feet away. “Four-hundred-seventy-three-pointfive-million” she says silently, with a nod and an expression that appears to mean “damn right.” Sen. Tillis was the one to finally say something as others at the meeting got the news. “Literally, while this meeting has been going on, another blow has been struck. This is exactly why we can’t leave this meeting and go back individually,” Tillis said. The damage in the last lawsuit, before appeals and everything else was $473.5 million, capped to $94 million, the biggest win for plaintiffs so far. “When you do everything in your power, to do everything that is thrown at you and you still get sued, that is wrong on so many levels. We must continue
to fight this,” said North Carolina Sen. Brent Jackson, sitting across the table. “We are going to win. As bad as this has been for everybody, this has opened the eyes of North Carolina and, I believe, American farmers across this nation. I think they will stand up and be counted.” Jackson, whose company grows melons and other crops, was one of those responsible for the industry’s biggest shot in the arm to date — the 2018 Farm Bill, which limited the rights of property owners to sue over nuisances. It sets restrictions based on how far away from an operation a person lives, or when they moved in. Some called it common sense, others criticized it, claiming it intrudes on property rights. Either way, it doesn’t stop the lawsuits, it just stems the tide. To those in the industry, the lawsuits represent an existential threat. Hog production is tied into poultry production, because both produce poop. It’s also tied into the local car dealerships, which provide the pickup trucks farmers buy for their work. The state also offers tax exemptions for many properties that are or have been used for farming. Animal facilities, however, can be taxed, so hog houses and chicken houses, equipment and vehicles often make up a vast portion of rural counties’ income, which goes to fund local governments. The roots of the industry reach into
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nonprofits as well — farmers tithe in church and the meat companies often donate to the fundraisers on which volunteer organizations rely. So after global trade agreements poked a hole in the region’s textile industry years ago, livestock production became even more valuable. Many little towns have clung to life mainly because of agriculture. At the roundtable, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers called it “the last, best hope for rural America.” The domestic American appetite for meat is fierce — about 67 pounds of pork per capita in 2017 (carcass weight), according to the Pork Checkoff study, created in the 1980s by Congress to study meat consumption. It’s behind the European Union and China, but among the highest in the world. The North American Meat Institute reports that in 2013, 112 million hogs were processed in the United States, as well as a staggering 8.6 billion chickens and 239 million turkeys. Beef was most by weight, at about 26 billion pounds, followed by pork at 23 billion pounds. In an age when Walmart represents little more than a China Inc. franchise, food is also one of the few things the U.S. still exports, ahead of oil, aircraft and cars. Pork Checkoff reports that nearly 6 billion pounds of pork carcass were
exported in 2017, with a number that rose steadily from about one half-billion when the NAFTA was signed in 1994. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, Mexico imported 1.8 billion pounds of pork, followed by Japan at 1.2 billion, China (mainland and Hong Kong) at 597 million, Canada at 531 million and South Korea at 525 million pounds. With all that money moving around, is it realistic to think a few nuisance lawsuits could amount to an extinction-level event? STORMING THE GATES For three months, three weeks and three days in 1565, a group of 6,100 Catholic Knights Hospitaller and other soldiers held off the onslaught of the Ottoman Empire, one of the world superpowers of the time, at the Siege of Malta. The Europeans held out, even after losing Fort St. Elmo to the invaders. But they kept fighting, slowing the Ottomans until a contingent of soldiers from Spain landed and chased the Turks back into the ocean. Suleiman the Magnificent, who ruled 20 million people as sultan of the empire, was widely seen as unstoppable. At Malta, the crusaders at least proved he wasn’t.
For them, it was more than a battle for survival — Suleiman’s Turks represented a jab at the reign of Christendom in Europe, to which Malta was a stepping stone. Much like the Europeans in the siege of Malta, the growers’ side considers itself good and the other side evil. They’re surrounded on all sides and the bombardment is underway. “We gather here, because we know we are in the midst of a great struggle ... we’ll call it a massive fight. It’s not about one sector of agriculture, it’s about the future of food,” said Andy Curliss, the Pork Council CEO, at an event for N.C. Farm Families. It’s mid-July and growers and political leaders from across the region have gathered at a restaurant in Wallace to raise money for the group. “Make no mistake about one thing, we are the good guys and gals. We care about our livestock, we care about our environment ... We care, let’s not give them a chance to say otherwise.” The crowd erupted into applause. A check for $50,000 was presented to N.C. Farm Families. The Lt. Governor added, “This is a fight of good versus evil, right versus wrong.” “This isn’t a battle about Smithfield Foods, about hog farms, nui-
sances, lagoons, about the farming community. It’s about trial lawyers. They don’t care about ... Eastern North Carolina, the community. They’re in this to make a buck.” Instead of cannon and swords (so far, anyway), this fight has been waged in narrative. North Carolina Farm Families was organized in 2015 in response to nuisance lawsuits. They’re an influencing operation, they make ads and films meant to sway public opinion in favor of the livestock industry. They’re headed up by Chad Herring, himself a farmer with a family. At the center of N.C. Farm Families’ message is the farmer, toiling day and night to make a living producing meat. But as with any controversy, there is another side. At a press conference last month, N.C. Environmental Justice Network head Naeema Muhammad accused Smithfield of “pitting neighbors against neighbors” and called for the state to cover the improvement of farmers’ lagoons. Taryn Ratley, a Sampson County woman who actually lives near a farm, said the odor there was affecting her health. “I live across the street from a hog farm, I feel like a prisoner in my own home, I cannot enjoy any outdoor activities and my children
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suffer from health issues. We’re fighting a losing battle,” she said. Ratley said she can’t afford air purifiers and air fresheners to keep the smell and flies from her home and said her property value has dropped. “Smithfield should have superior technology, such as commercial septic systems, as I do, because if I’m a home owner, I have to have a septic system to protect the environment, so farms should as well.” The narrative fight has also been staged on home turf. After the second suit ended, farmers and supporters convened on Joey Carter’s farm near Beulaville. Now it was the press who were surrounded, by pissed-off, sign-wielding, citizens eager to show their strength in numbers in support of their growers. The panel included ag-friendly politicians promising support for the farmers, who applauded and cheered. But for all the hullabaloo, none could really describe watching their own livelihoods slip away as the lawsuit machine stomped forward. The only person who could, Joey Carter, sat on the sideline with his wife and kids, silent due to a judge-imposed gag order. THE TERM ‘OFFENSIVE’ Even a short time watching the McGowan v. Murphy-Brown trial is surreal. On the day Carter was to testify, I parked by the wrong courthouse and got lost walking to the correct one. I finally arrived, drenched in sweat, just in time to hear Don Butler, hog grower and P.R. man for Murphy-Brown (the hog-grower subsidiary of Smithfield Foods), finish getting grilled. Some jurors’ eyes were lolling and two were flat-out sleeping as Sharkman Michael Kaeske questioned Butler about “super soils.” Butler and others danced a fine line that morning. Smithfield’s on the hook, but they need their growers to stick up for them. And their growers need hogs
in their hoghouses. Kaeske seems to revel in making company people squirm, forcing them into a strange corner. The jury watched men like Kraig Westerbeek, MurphyBrown VP, claim they don’t know whether hog farms smell or not. “There is some level of odor that leaves the farms ... I’ve not used the term ‘offensive,’” Westerbeek meekly told Kaeske, who holds a degree in philosophy and probably knows damned well how to run a debate. As the jurors seem to try and understand the finer points of fertilizer application and lagoon construction, I imagine the Sharkman knows they may just err on the side of caution and vote against the one who keeps big ponds of doo-doo sitting around. Of course hog poop stinks. Handled improperly, it sets a medium-high bar for stink. It doesn’t smell like money, it smells like methane. It stinks, just like a paper mill or a packing plant stinks. But the naughty questions stunk too. Westerbeek, who lives next to his own farm, couldn’t answer forthrightly. If he said “yes sir, it stinks,” Kaeske could scream “A-Ha!” and then the sky falls. If he said “no sir, it doesn’t stink,” he’d come off as senseless. While the plaintiffs didn’t testify that day, one man did speak to their complaint. He was Dwayne Boyce, a handyman that farm neighbor Barbara Gibbs hired to spruce up her house. Boyce grew up on a farm, he said, where his father had a small number of free-roaming hogs. Still, Boyce said the smell inside and out was so strong, he’d go into town to eat his lunch in order to get away. “It’s hard to sit under the carport to eat when the odor’s hitting your nose. It’s in your nose, in your mouth,” Boyce said. Later came Joey Carter., a retired police officer used to courtrooms and lawyers. Carter calmly explained how the farm works, its history, that it already had about 1,000 hogs when neighbors moved in. “I was around 29 years old, felt like
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my life was starting, I wanted to do something for myself to support my family, which I did over the years, laid my foundation,” Carter said. Kaeske, trying to draw a line between the farm and its neighbors, asked Carter to confirm he didn’t know Elvis Williams, one of the plaintiffs. “Oh yeah, I went to school with him,” Carter smiled back, adding that they’d even sometimes talk about UNC basketball while waiting for their breakfasts at the local biscuit joint. It also came out that Carter never received any complaints about nuisances from the farm’s neighbors directly, and that one filed years ago apparently never made it the grower. The rhetoric on one side: if the neighbors were so uncomfortable, why didn’t they make more noise before filing lawsuits? On the other hand: Why hasn’t Smithfield done more over the years to prevent these kinds of problems from arising? Carter’s a far cry from the Boss Hog image built up by industry detractors, but it still wasn’t enough. Smithfield lost again. BOOTS ON THE GROUND I’ve known Joey Carter for a long time, mostly through his job as chief of police in the small town of Beulaville. I’ve covered his crime and fire scenes, sat next to him in the doldrums of town board meetings. I snapped a photo at his retirement party and it still hangs in the police department. I can’t read Joey’s mind, but I know him, and I don’t think he would use hog poop to make someone else’s life difficult. I also hear stories about local plaintiffs getting publicly shamed, but it’s hard to track them down. In one of the stories, a man involved in the suits was spotted buying pork chops at the local IGA. A farmer walked up and took the meat out of his cart and placed it back on the rack. The stones on that guy! Both of them! But the farmer isn’t really the point
Waste management system for a hog farm. Photo/Jeff Vanuga, USDA here, as far as the court is concerned. The suits are filed against Smithfield, not the farmers. While environmental and animal rights organizations have long been critical of the animal containment process, it’s the temporary injunctions that are causing concerns for the industry now. The worry is that the ability to sue once, win damages from a jury, and then sue again, means it could be easier for companies like Smithfield to simply take their operations elsewhere. For a while, both sides seemed unwilling to give ground. Rep. Jimmy Dixon, the industry’s most vocal proponent in the state legislature, repeatedly said that Smithfield higher-ups told him they wouldn’t settle, taking it to appeal if necessary. That was called into question Aug. 23, when Ken Sullivan, Smithfield CEO, wrote a letter to employees stating both sides had agreed to enter mediation. “We will ... enter into concurrent mediation discussions in an effort to resolve these matters,” he wrote. He added that both sides asked the judge to certify the first three outcomes and move onto appeal. The next suit, over Sholar Farms, has been postponed to November. It’s not known what turns the mediation could take. Still, many have said Smithfield could just pack up and leave. “Absolutely, yes, that is a possibility,” a source close to the company told me months ago, long before news broke Sept. 6 that the company will lay
off 100 workers and close its Clayton distribution center. Back in July, before the speeches began at the Farm Families fundraiser, a few gathered outside to smoke cigarettes in the rain. The dinner was held at the Mad Boar, a Murphy Family Ventures property, inextricably tied in with pork culture — even down to the massive boar statue out front. As impressive as the building is, with its big halls and decorated ceilings, this is still the countryside, where farmers wear boots to high-society functions and smoke Marlboros outside. They’re proud of what they do, they said, and they’re worried about what happens next. They agreed, the Pork Council donation was nice, and the dinner, with its lavish pork dishes, the ice cream garnished with bacon, were fine, but the narrative fight just wasn’t going far enough. Maybe it couldn’t. Even if Smithfield wins, will the plaintiffs’ lives be the same? Will they be able to buy pork safely again? Will hog waste disposal improve? If they lose, will the operations pack up and move to some other country, one that isn’t as regulated as the U.S.? If there is a problem now, will a worse one be created somewhere else? On the Friday before Hurricane Florence was due to hit North Carolina, Carter worked to ready his farm for another storm. The gag order lifted, he could finally speak publicly. “It was tough, going up there, thinking I never dreamed that day would come. Sitting up there, all the truth
didn’t come out, a lot more needed to be said,” he remembered. “You just hope one day you get that call, and the appellate courts overturned it.” The lawsuits are likely the biggest controversy to hit Carter’s community in his lifetime. They’re in the signs lining the roadways and the discussions of people in checkout lanes and church parking lots. At this point, I’m curious to know how Carter feels toward those suing him. “It’s kind of tough. If you’ve got a problem, you need to be man enough to talk about it, see if you could resolve it, you know? That opportunity was never given to me,” he said. “It’s just a bump in the road, I don’t know if it will be months or a year or whatever, but I feel it’s going to resolve itself. I feel my hogs will come back. That’s what I’m hoping for. I’ve got to stay positive, I’ve got to believe they are coming back, because I haven’t done anything at all wrong.” Like the Siege of Malta, the invaders are storming in and the battle rages. The question is, which will fall, the fort or the kingdom? EDITOR’S NOTE: This is still a developing news story. It is possible some of the information could change between SE North Carolina’s press deadline and the distribution date for this magazine. Please check The Duplin Times for the latest developments.
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North Carolina
Our corner of North Carolina offers much more than just scenic beauty... Here are some great places you can appreciate for the good food, good times, history, and old-fashioned SENC hospitality!
travel
LENOIR COUNTY
The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center offers state of the art exhibits that invite visitors to larn about the ironclad gunboat. The Confederate Navy launched the Neuse in al ill-fated attempt to gain control of the lower Neuse River and the occupied city of New Bern.
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3
www.nchistoricsites.org/neuse
P lanner ONSLOW COUNTY
Country Store & Restaurant We offer multiple venue locations for everything from family cook-outs to elegant weddings. We have a large covered shelter, a large banquet room, and The Barn. The Barn is our newest upscale venue for weddings and other events.
Thursday & Friday 4:30-8 p.m Saturday 4:00-8 p.m.
1600 Haw Branch Rd. Beulaville See the world’s only full-size replica of a Confederate Ironclad.
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3 www.cssneuseii.org
LENOIR COUNTY
Kinston-Lenoir County
Visitor & Information Center
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
“Make us your first stop in Lenoir County”
KENANSVILLE
Call for Details 910-324-3422 www.mikesfarm.com
CELEBRATE THE GRAPE! The N.C. Muscadine Festival brings you over 250 N.C. wines from more than 20 Wineries!
LIVE MUSIC • TAILGATING • CONTESTS VENDORS • N.C. WINES • AND MORE!
DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF: ANTIQUE OUTLAWS THE CAROLINA BAND SPARE CHANGE BLACKWATER RHYTHM AND BLUES
September 28th & 29th at Duplin County Events Center
www.ncmuscadinefestival.com
910.271.0030 • muscadonefestival@gmail.com
GARLAND
BEULAVILLE
No matter how you slice it...
PIZZA VILLAGE Is Still Beulaville’s Favorite Restaurant!
There’s a reason why our friends and family call our BBQ the best they’ve ever had. If you’ve never tried it, you must!
101 East New Bern Rd., Kinston, NC 252-522-0004
Kinston-Lenoir County
Parks & Recreation Department
Daily Lunch Buffet, Monday ~ Saturday
2602 W. Vernon Ave., Kinston, NC
811 W. Main Street 910-298-3346
252-939-3332
OPEN Thursdays & Fridays
from 11:30 am until the food runs out! Be sure to get there early! Catering is available. Please contact us to design your event menu.
29 Warren St. Garland, North Carolina
(910) 549-7484 http://southernsmokebbqnc.com
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We Strive to make living at home more COMFORTABLE!
WE CARRY A LARGE LINE OF DIABETIC SHOES Licensed, Professional, On-Site Associates will give you a personalized sizing!
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Jordan Shopping Center, Clinton NC 28328
910-592-3121
www.matthewsdrugs.com
NC License # 31589, 29077,20515 20515 & 24530
WE OFFER FINANCING ON REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS
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“See independent dealerProjects for complete eligibility, dates, detailsBank, and restrictions. Special Housing financing offers validSpecial on qualifying All sales must be to homeowners in theapproved United States. Void where prohibited. The Wells Theyour Wells Fargo Home cardprogram is issued by Wells Fargo N.A., an Equal Lender. termsequipment apply toonly. qualifying purchased charged with credit. The special terms APR Fargo will Home Projects credit card issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Equal Housing Special terms apply qualifying purchases charged with approved credit.pay Thefor special APR willincontinue apply payments until all qualifying are paid in continue to apply untilisall qualifying purchases are an paid in full. TheLender. monthly payment fortothis purchase will be the amount that will theterms purchased full intoequal duringpurchases the promotional full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you TheFor APRnewforaccounts, Purchases willforapply to certain feesIf such a late interest payment feebilling or ifcycle, you use the cardinterest for other transactions. accounts, the APR Purchases 28.99%. If youFor use(special the cardterms) for otherperiod. transactions. the APR Purchases is 28.99%. you areascharged in any the minimum charge will be $1.00. For This new information is accurate as offor 1/1/2018 and isissubject to change. are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge willcurrent be $1.00. This call information is accurateOffer as expires of 7/1/2018 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. information, us at 1-800-431-5921. 12/31/2018”
Offers vary by equipment. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited. Offer expires 12/31/2018.
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PLAY DATES Crown Complex
Fayetteville • Tickets at www.crowncomplexnc.com
Located in the heart of Cumberland County, the Crown Complex is a state-of-the-art, five-venue complex comprised of a 4,500-seat arena, a 9,200-square-foot ballroom, a 10,880-seat coliseum, an exposition center with 60,000 square feet and a 2,440-seat theatre. • Comedian/Actor Tracy Morgan Live at the Crown Theatre, Sept. 22, 8 p.m.; $35-100. Tracy Morgan, former “Saturday Night Live”and “30 Rock” star, is also known for starring in and executive producing the TBS series, “The Last O.G.” • Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker & Marvin Sapp at the Crown Coliseum, Oct. 13, 4 p.m.; $20-100. Fred Hammond returns as he headlines the 2018 WIDU 1600 AM Anniversary Celebration with special guests Hezekiah Walker and Marvin Sapp. This powerhouse trio of gospel legends account for some of gospel music’s greatest hits. This three-hour concert will give you the opportunity to relive and sing along to all of your favorite songs from the last 20 years. • Newsboys at the Crown Complex, Oct. 18, 7 p.m.; $28-103. Newsboys are a Christian rock band founded in 1985 in Australia. They have released 17 studio albums, six of which have been certified gold. Newsboys members Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Jody Davis, along with former bandmates Peter Fuller and Phil Joel, are part of this fall tour. • The Original Harlem Globetrotters at the Crown Coliseum, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.; $27-77. A Globetrotters game is more than just basketball— it is the ultimate in family entertainment that will bring smiles and fan interaction to people of all ages. The Globetrotters show will feature a star-studded roster, including the largest female roster in team history. After virtually every game, the Harlem Globetrotters remain on the court for autographs and photographs with fans.
SE Pick
N.C. Poultry Jubilee Rose Hill Town Square
7 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday Paramount Theatre, Goldsboro • Tickets $18 adults; $15 students
Stage Struck: The Young People’s Own Theatre will present “Anything Goes,” a tale of music, dance, laughs, and the age-old Boy Meets Girl. Billed as “a hilarious shipboard romp, wrapped around one of Cole Porter’s most magical scores,” it’s sure to be a fun evening at the theatre!
FRI-SAT
Low-country spunk meets jazz, gospel, funk and R&B for this Gullah band. The word “Gullah” is a West THU African word that means “a people blessed by God.” The band’s name, Ranky Tanky, translates loosely as “Work It” or “Get Funky!” This Charleston, S.C.based quintet performs quintessential Gullah music, a culture that evolved in the southeastern United States. Their debut album, released last year, soared to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard, iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts. www.goldsboroparamount.com/ranky-tanky/
4
Paramount’s Stage Struck: ‘Anything Goes’ nov FRI-SUN
2-3
The World’s Largest Frying Pan in Rose Hill will be fired up the first weekend in November for the 2018 North Carolina Poultry Jubilee, a celebration of the poultry industry in the town. Festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday night with a wing cook-off, amusement rides all night and a performance by the Brad Bradshaw Band. Chicken fried in the World’s Largest Frying Pan will be served starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. Carnival rides will continue until 11 p.m., and there’ll also be live music by the Fantastic Shakers and Chairmen of the Board. The N.C. Poultry Jubilee Queens will also be on hand to provide entertainment for the crowd. More information can be found at: www.thenorthcarolinapoultryjubilee.com/.
oct
16-18
NOV
Ranky Tanky Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, Goldsboro • Tickets $18-22
www.goldsboroparamount.com/anything-goes
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SE Pick
nov
9-10
The King And I
FRI & SAT
7:30 p.m., Wilson Center, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington • Tickets from $37-$95
Set in 1860’s Bangkok, this classic, Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the unconventional relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher. More at cfcc.edu/capefearstage/the-king-and-i/.
N.C. Muscadine Festival
oct
22
sept
28-29
MON
FRI & SAT
Duplin County Events Center, Kenansville • Tickets $5-25
North Carolina’s favorite grape, the muscadine, will be celebrated at the Muscadine Festival in Kenansville. There will be wine tastings from more than 20 different wineries, live music, arts and crafts, food vendors and much more. Visit www.ncmuscadinefestival.com for a full schedule of events and more information.
Lindsey Buckingham
7:30 p.m., Wilson Center, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington • Tickets: $35-89
Widely considered one of the greatest living guitar players and songwriters of all time, Lindsey Buckingham is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and winner of numerous Grammys. Best known as the producer, guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter for Fleetwood Mac, he’s also a renowned solo artist in his own right. Buckingham has released 11 solo albums, seven albums with Fleetwood Mac, and five live and compilation albums. He has been a part of seven multiplatinum albums, the most famous being “Rumours” with Fleetwood Mac, which has sold more than 20 million copies. Visit cfcc.edu/capefearstage/lindsey-buckingham/ for tickets and more information.
FAll Fun & Festivals Onslow OktoberfestOct. 19-27 • Jacksonville
Activities will include a Bratwurst and Beer Garden, food vendors, the Souper Fun Run, live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, amusement rides and animal rides, and of course, lots of fun for the entire family. More at www. onslowoktoberfest.org/.
plus... Mumfest
• Oct. 12-14, downtown New Bern MumFest is a combination of family fun, entertainment, attractions, exhibitors and great food in the beautifully restored setting of historic downtown New Bern and its waterfront. www.mumfest.com.
N.C. Oyster Festival
• Oct. 20-21, Ocean Isle A two-day festival celebrating one of North Carolina’s favorite shellfish in Brunswick County. A variety of vendors will showcase artwork and crafts, live music will entertain the crowds and of course, there will plenty of oysters for the shucking — and eating!
http://ncoysterfestival.com/.
Back Door Kitchen TourOct. 20 • Wilmington
Tickets $25-30 As part of the Residents of Old Wilmington’s 13th annual fundraiser, participants can go on a curated tour of a number of unique home kitchens in the historic downtown Wilmington area. More at www. rowilmington.org.
N.C. Seafood FestivalOct. 5-7 • Morehead City
The North Carolina Seafood Festival is an annual event for Carteret County to recognize the importance of seafood to the local economy and lifestyle. Events include a Blessing of the Fleet, boat show, lots of seafood and more! Further information and a complete listing of events at ncseafoodfestival.org.
Haunting Halloween Events Ghosts of Pender’s Past • Oct. 12-13, Downtown Burgaw The Ghosts of Pender’s Past is a family-friendly Ghost Walk that explores the legends, tales and lore of Pender County. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students ages 6-17. Admission is free for children under the age of 6. www.facebook.com/ PenderCountyGhostWalk.
“Graves’ Anatomy” Ghostwalk 2018 • Oct. 25-27, Downtown New Bern Ghostwalk is a familyfriendly event that combines historic spirits, talented local volunteer actors, historic sites not normally open to the public, and a fun-filled, creative environment. This is not a haunted house! Tickets go on sale Sept. 17. newbernhistorical.org/ ghostwalk/.
Haunted Pub Crawl • Wednesdays-
Saturdays in September & October, Downtown Wilmington Have a few pints and celebrate Wilmington’s dark history on a two-and-a-half-hour adventure to the city’s most intriguing local pubs. Hear true ghostly tales of murder, mayhem, lunacy, debauchery and more. Cost is $17.50 and does not include drinks. www. hauntedwilmington.com/ haunted-pub-crawl.html.
Southport Ghost Walk • Tuesdays
through Sundays, Whittlers Bench in Southport Southport’s own master storyteller, Katy ComptonBoyd, leads a walk featuring ghost stories and historic tales of the waterfront. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children age 12 and under. www.southportghosttours. com.
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Your Hunting & Fishing Head-Quarters New Arrivals Beach & Barns T’s and accessories
• Large Selection Flags • Full Line of Milwaukee Power Tools • Lodge Cookware • Klein Tools • Oregon, Wright, Echo, Columbia & Billy Goat Outdoor Equipment • Vortex Pressure Washers • NC Wildlife Service Agent • Costa Del Mar Shades • We fill L.P. Bottles
Pit Boss Grills along with other brands
The Trading Company of Rose Hill
Open Mon-Fri 8-5 • Sat 8-12 • 910-289-3451 112 East Church St., Rose Hill Old Business District *CheCk us before you go to the big box store!*
Liberty Hall Restoration 409 S. Main Street Kenansville, NC
Call for reservations 910.296.2175
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$10.00 Admission Fri.Dec. Dec. 1st 7th& & Sat. Dec. Fri. Dec. 8th 2nd
Sessoms Jewelry JEWELRY & WATCH REPAIR
Four quarterly issues mailed to your home for the annual rate of:
19 95
$
+ tax
(With tax $2135)
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A Southeastern NC Tradition 105 Wall St., Clinton, NC • 910-592-5249
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Four County Electric Membership Corporation ®
A Touchstone Energy Cooperative
YOUR ELECTRICITY ISN’T SOMETHING WE TAKE LIGHTLY. FALL 2018 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | 53
SE / Folk
North Carolina
In the good ol’ days...
O
Story by Abby Cavenaugh
nce upon a time in Southeastern North Carolina, teens didn’t Snapchat their every thought, or play video games nonstop. Instead, those of us who lived in rural areas traveled to surrounding cities to the mecca for bored teenagers — The Mall. For my friends and me, there was no better place than Independence Mall in Wilmington. At that time, it had waterfalls in several different locations, and the sound of the constant flowing water was soothing inside the enclosed spaces. In the middle of the mall, there was a sunken place (not like the one in the movie, Get Out!) with more waterfalls and a seating area. We’d get Double Doozies from the Great American Cookie Company and talk about whoever we were crushing on at the time, or envision what would happen if Corey Haim or one of the Goonies showed up in the mall. Going to the mall was a fun and unforgettable experience, a special treat we only got to do once in a while. It makes me sad that future generations likely won’t know what that experience is like. Malls across America are closing, being demolished and replaced with open-air shopping centers like Mayfaire in Wilmington. While those are nice, I’ll never quite understand why people would rather shop there than in the mall. What if it rains? What if it’s really hot? Or really cold? I, myself, would rather be in the air-conditioned, heated and covered spaces of a good old-fashioned mall. My Independence Mall is going to be converted into an open-air shopping center with a grocery store. Because there aren’t enough of those. Much the same is happening with another mall I used to frequent, where I had my first date, in Kinston— Vernon Park Mall. According to kinston.com, it’s going to be replaced with a new 70-room hotel, and the current JC Penney space converted into a 135,000-squarefoot recreation center, complete with go-karts, mini golf, rock climbing and other activities. “Retail malls are a thing of the past,” Michael Ingalls,
54 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | FALL 2018
general manager of Vernon Park Mall Holdings Corp., was quoted as saying. “You are now fighting with internet sales.” Another sign of the times, so to speak, is the changing restaurant landscape. We also often hung out at the Wallace Pizza Hut when we were teenagers. I have so many memories of that place, things we said back then are still fresh in my mind and quoted regularly. I remember playing Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven on Earth” on the jukebox. In February, the Wallace Pizza Hut was demolished. Gone are the days of the red roofs and red brick interior. It’s been replaced by a flat-roofed more open-concept feel. Way more windows. No jukebox. It’s still a good place for teens to hang out and get a pizza. But I guess it means I’m getting old when places I hung out as a teenager are destroyed and pop songs from my high school and college years are played on the oldies radio station. I was horrified when I heard Green Day on the “classic rock” station, for example. Alas, life goes on. Progress and so forth. I’m curious to hear what places in Southeastern North Carolina some of our readers recall. Places that no longer exist, replaced with a Walmart or a Mayfaire or a condo. I’m sure there are tons of them, outside Wilmington, Wallace and Kinston. Feel free to email me at acavenaugh@ncweeklies.com, or tag us in a Facebook or Instagram post, or — really taking it old school — send me a written letter. With a stamp and everything. (P.O. Box 69; Kenansville, NC 28349) I may feature some of your stories and memories in a future issue. Let’s relive our glory days ... and never forget the simple joy of what used to be. SE
FALL 2018 | WWW.SENCMAGAZINE.WORDPRESS.COM | 55
Life insurance is more than a policy, it’s a promise. (910)296-1486 www.ncfbins.com Matt McNeill
Teddy Bostic
David Underhill
Nick Bell
LUTCF Agency Manager
Agent Kenansville
Agent Kenansville
Agent Kenansville
teddy.bostic@ncfbins.com
david.underhill@ncfbins.com
nicholas.bell@ncfbins.com
roy.mcneill@ncfbins.com
Matt McNeill
LUTCF Agent roy.mcneill@ncfbins.com An Authorized Agency for
NCLFNP41000
Lynn Mobley
Doug Pierson
Agent Agent *North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Beulaville Beulaville
*Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina,doug.pierson@ncfbins.com Inc. lynn.mobley@ncfbins.com *Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Elvis Tucker Agent Beulaville elvis.tucker@ncfbins.com
Brent Maready Agent Beulaville
brent.maready@ncfbins.com
Duplin County Farm Bureau
308 N. Main Street • Kenansville, NC 28349 151 Crossover Road • Beulaville, NC 28518 THIS ARTWORK CANNOT BE ALTERED, REVISED, RESIZED OR REBUILT BEYOND CHANGING THE AGENT PHOTO OR CONTACT INFO. CONTACT MADGENIUS WITH ANY QUESTIONS AT COOP@MADGENIUSINC.COM
(910) 296-1486 (910) 298-8400
NCLFNP41000
www.ncfbins.com *North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. *Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina, Inc.; *Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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