Carolina Shore, March 2015

Premiere Edition

CAROLINA shore

March 2015

EXPLORING COASTAL CAROLINA

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Publisher: Diane Tyler Editor: Amanda Dagnino, (editor@nccoast.com) Creative Director, Design/Layout: Kim LaChance Graphic Design Morgan Davis, Kyle Dixon, Amy Krysa, Roze Taitingfong Contributors Steve Brooks, Casey Futrell, Ellen LeRoy, Jan Ellen Lewis, Cathy Rose Sales Director Jamie Bailey 252.241.9485, (sales@nccoast.com) Sales Scott Hopkins, Ashly Willis Production Director: Rudy Taitague Lead Pressman: Daniel “Skip” Hicks Pressmen: Allen Henry, Anthony Stamper Commercial Pressman: Edd Moore Bindery Leader: Jason Yates Bindery Operator: Rudy Taitague Distribution Manager: Dorrie Nicholson Pre-Press: Kyle Dixon Business Manager: Georgia Lewis Commercial Print: Andrea Vangelist, Amy Krysa Carolina Shore is published twice per year and distributed at high traffic sites in Carteret, Craven, Onslow and Pender counties and is available in its entirety at nccoast.com. Entire contents, maps, advertisements and graphic design elements copyright 2015 NCCOAST. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without the publisher’s consent. Though every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all advertising and editorial copy contained herein, the publisher may not be held responsible for typographical errors. NCCOAST and its employees, agents or representatives may not be held responsible for any actions or consequences derived as a result of following advice or instructions contained herein.

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contents 12 Carolina Flare

From a Down East shed, to Jarrett Bay, Randy Ramsey

looks back on 28 years of boat building as he tackles his largest build to date.

20 Coming Home

The Carteret Community Theatre finds permanent digs in an

22 28

old Morehead City movie house – a first in its more than 65 years of performances.

22 Making an Entrance

The Emerald Isle home of Rhett and Noelle Riggs knows the best way to welcome guests is with a great view.

28 Craft on the Coast

Brewing of one of the world’s oldest beverages grows exponentially in North Carolina, including spots along the coast.

34 Death of a Drawbridge

With replacement projects in both Beaufort and Surf City, the communities are forever bound by the bittersweet loss of their historic bridges.

40 Something Fishy

One Morehead City man has turned a hobby into a useful tool for regional anglers.

44 Shrimp & Grits

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Reel Quick, Hull #55

Flare

carolina

By Amanda Dagnino

T

he Sensation is something of an icon on the Morehead City waterfront. The busy charter boat, captained by Dale Britt since 2006, can be spotted coming in and out of port daily, unloading its catch along the boardwalk to the delight of gathering tourists. Those seeing her for the first time may stop and admire her lines, the curve of her hull and the exaggerated flare of her bow that has become synonymous with Carolina boat building. To local residents, however, the floating artistry of the Sensation has a somewhat sentimental meaning as well – she is the first hull completed by Randy Ramsey and Jarrett Bay Boatworks.

“I am proud and humbled every day to be the owner and the captain of Jarrett Bay hull num-

Carolina seas. Reminiscent of traditional North Carolina boats, the design is visually striking, almost showy at times. Its wide stance and flared hull garner attention. But it’s Jarrett Bay’s focus on power that brings high-dollar sportsmen to Ramsey’s office, including Nascar drivers Terry Lebonte and Jeff Burton, both members of the Jarrett Bay family. The shape of the hull gets some of the credit, Ramsey said, but more important is the weight to horsepower ratio, which they maintain through unique carbon fiber construction methods.

When the first hull was constructed, Ramsey explains, charter boats were about 45 feet in length, tops. The 53-foot Sensation was the largest boat in the Carteret County fleet when completed in 1988. She was modeled after vessels built by mentor Omie Tillett up the Outer Banks in Wanchese. It was also one of the first to be built

That was really all I cared about growing up. A lot of kids aspire to be lawyers and doctors and I aspired to be a charter boat captain. – Randy Ramsey

Gregarious Hull #53

ber one,” said Britt. “It’s a role that brings special meaning to me because I occupy a spot that Randy Ramsey used to hold.”

Ramsey ran charters with the boat himself when it was launched in 1988. He and a small team of fishing enthusiasts built the boat in 13 months in an old shed in Williston with one thing in mind – constructing the best fishing boat possible. They had no idea what a sensation it truly would be. Nor did they imagine that it would still be fishing every day from her home on the Morehead City waterfront.

In its 28 years, Jarrett Bay Boatworks has gained global attention for its custom lightweight fishing yachts that match power and speed with high-end luxury. Attention is given to every detail, from the fighting chair to the hand laid wood in the cabin. Some sportsmen swear that the hull attracts fish like nothing else, while captains laud the design’s ability to cut through the oft choppy

exclusively with epoxy glue for the planking and construction.

“I explained what our goal was and Omie was kind enough to take me by the hand and help me figure out how to make it work,” Ramsey said.

“We were using new materials, giving the bottom a different shape. What we were doing was almost unheard of at the time.”

Ramsey never intended to be a boat builder.

He is, as he readily admits, a fisherman at heart.

Spending his formative years in Down East Carteret County, his only goal was to find a career path that allowed him unfettered access to the water, fishing pole in hand.

“That was really all I cared about growing up,” Ramsey said. “A lot of kids aspire to be lawyers and doctors and I aspired to be a charter boat captain.”

(Continued on page 14)

nccoast.com

13

(Continued from page 13)

The Sensation nears completion in a Williston shed.

Randy Ramsey & Capt. Omie Tillet.

Randy Ramsey, in yellow, is a self professed fisherman at heart.

14

His uncle ran a charter boat service down in South Carolina when he was a child and nothing seemed more perfect. He was so driven to follow in his footsteps that on his 18th birthday, the day he was eligible, he tested for his first license, maritime studies complete and sea time already under his belt.

He has come a long way since taking his first charter offshore for a day of adventure. Jarrett Bay is now in the construction process of its 62nd custom fishing vessel, its largest build to date at 90 feet. While the hull shape has changed slightly and construction methods have been tweaked along the way – materials are lighter, stronger – the mission continues to be the same, to create a fully custom, hand crafted vessel ideal for fishing. No two boats are the same, the owner said.

The buy in is steep, upwards of $10 million, he admits, and the family is a small one. The company has, however, produced a handful of 34-foot center consoles that begin in the mid $300,000 range. While not custom boats, they do open the door to ownership a little wider. Counted separately from the custom hulls the company has produced, Ramsey said they’ve been well received.

Despite his success, Randy Ramsey continues to be a neighbor, a friend and an active part of the Carteret County landscape. He’s approachable and affable, friendly and down to earth. He is, it’s safe to say, on top of his game; from a shed to a multi-million dollar company in less than three decades. But like those that work with him daily, Ramsey remembers the humble beginnings from which he rose.

“You see the address out there, don’t you?” he asks, referring to the signage for Jarrett Bay Boatworks’ 175-acre campus along the Intracoastal Waterway in Beaufort, 530 Sensation Weigh.

“There’s a reason for that. We always want to remember where we came from. The 530 represents the 53 feet of our first boat and Sensation … well, you know the story,” he adds with a wry smile.

Given the luxury of the vessels that eventually emerge, nothing about the unassuming metal building that houses the boatworks speaks to the treasures created inside. There is, however, for those who look close enough, a small placard next to a large closed bay door that simply says “Hull 62.”

The size of the bay alludes to what may emerge, but it’s hard to imagine the sheer size of the vessel until you’re standing over it. Fifteen to 20 employees work simultaneously on the hull, dwarfed by the mass of the boat. Any onlooker could tell that Ramsey likes this part – the moment when a civilian gets their first glimpse behind the curtain. He is proud of his accomplishments, and rightly so.

While the word custom brings a set of preconceived notions, it’s hard to imagine that there isn’t something that has been prefabricated, sitting on a shelf in a dark closet waiting for the next 50-foot boat to be commissioned. But that simply isn’t the case at Jarrett Bay. Nor is there machinery or conveyor belts or anything to give the semblance of a factory. What there is, however, is people; craftsmen are hands on during every step of the process, from framing the hull to sanding the trim around the galley sink.

It is a busy workplace, with two or three vessels in various stages of construction at any one point. The average build requires about 100,000 man hours.

“From beginning to end, the customer is consulted about every aspect of construction,” said Ramsey, who equates the process to building a new home. “They’re not just deciding how they want to power the boat and what electronics to include, they’re also choosing their interior, the layout of the cabin, the amenities. We (Continued on page 16)

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

We always want to remember where we came from.

Casey Futtrell photos nccoast.com

15

It all comes back to the people in your life that make the difference.

The relationship with customers and employees and teachers, but also the relationships with friends and family.

(Continued from page 15)

communicate with them a lot. Some people are surprised by that, but that’s how we do things.

Customer service, individualized customer service is an important part of being in the Jarrett Bay family.”

To aid in the build process, Jarrett Bay Marine Industrial Park is home to a family of outlying companies, all within walking distance of one another. Some businesses are under the auspices of Jarrett Bay’s umbrella, while others lease space and partner with Ramsey during the design and build process. On-site, clients have access to an interior designer, a custom tower builder, major marine engine companies, a marine electronics provider and more. In addition to new construction, the marine park services and repairs all makes and models. Its location along the Intracoastal Waterway makes the park accessible, even for larger boats.

“We also have a parts store that is open to the public,” said Ramsey. “Our goal is to be a one-stop for boaters, whether they have a small fix, or they need a complete overhaul. One of the things, I’m most proud of is the amount of

16

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

Top, from left: Mariyln B (Hull 46), Bill Collector (Hull 15), Sensation (Hull 1), Below: Marlin Fever stopping by the yard for work during the off season.

talent we’ve collected here in one location. We have boats that come back each winter for work and we have customers who just run into trouble on the Waterway and need a quick repair. There aren’t many places where a boater can come find this many services in one location.”

The craftsmen who work with him are among Ramsey’s most important relationships.

“It all comes back to the people in your life that make the difference. The relationship with customers and employees and teachers, but also the

relationships with friends and family,” Ramsey said. “Along the way we were extremely fortunate and that relates back to those relationships.

“Then some of it is just chance,” Ramsey said.

“I’m sure there are a lot of great singers in the world who haven’t had the opportunity to sing in front of the right person. I happened to be lucky enough to sing in front of a lot of the right people at the right time.”

And they liked what they heard.

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coming

HOME

By Amanda Dagnino

Casey Futrell Photography

For more than 65 years a roving band of thespians has been bringing a little touch of culture to the rural town of Morehead City. There have been many high notes through the years – from original scripts to the classic musicals – totaling more than 180 separate major productions in all.

They’re a small group. About 30 full-time active members attend the regular monthly meetings. And they come from all walks of life – educators and waiters, journalists and students. Yet they are united each time they “trod the boards” by their undying love of the theater.

It’s a story that could easily be told in small towns around the country.

Just about everywhere folks have settled, a building has been erected, a small platform has been built and those who feel the pull to the stage have shared their talents with the community. What gives this story an interesting twist, however, is that despite their love of the theater, this group of hobbyists has never had a theater to call their own. That is until now.

Nothing has been off limits since the actors began performing in 1948.

Each of the county’s high schools has welcomed the group, Beaufort Elementary School, the Marine Resources Center in Pine Knoll Shores (now the NC Aquarium), hotels, store fronts, restaurants and small outdoor locations.

While the Carteret Community Theatre was actively searching for the next location to stage a play, a small one-screen theater on the corner of 14th Street was watching visitation slowly decline. In the early 2000s, it closed its doors briefly before finding new life as the Crystal Coast Jamboree, a weekly country music variety show. A name change to the Morehead City Center for Performing Arts in 2010 saw outside acts taking to the stage as well, from the Bellamy Brothers to Lori Morgan. But in the fall of 2014, the

20

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

theater once again found its way onto the market. It was too much for the little theater troupe to ignore – the chance to have a place to call their own.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us,” said Carolyn Evans, who has been involved with the group since 1976. “I think we still have a lot of problems to overcome with it, obviously it was not meant as a performing theater, it was built to show movies, therefore we lack a backstage area, dressing room facilities and things that we may find we need. But it is something the theater has worked for the entire time that I’ve been involved. It’s going to be a big positive for us.”

There is a learning curve, she admits. When plays were performed on borrowed stages, the group generally tapped in to the sound and lighting expertise of their host. Now, the group has lights and sound equipment of their own that they must learn to master.

“We’re hoping that now that we have a permanent location it will be easier to recruit more people to get involved, even if it’s just helping behind the scenes,” Evans said.

She admits she was hooked from the first time she took to the stage. New to Carteret County, Evans, and her husband Richard, got involved to participate in the late Ruth Barbour’s production of “It Happened Here.”

“And that was really all it took for me. I had had an interest in the theater previously, had been a little active, but this was really my first full introduction to the theater,” said Evans. While Richard admits his love affair with the theater began when he saw “that beautiful brunette on the stage,” coyly referring to his wife, he has had more than a few appearances through the years as well. Men, the pair agreed, are hard to come by in the theater, although new faces of any kind are more than welcome.

To learn more, and to view the schedule of upcoming performances, visit www.carteretcommunitytheatre.com.

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Architects: John Croom & Troy Kenny, Design House of Wilmington Contractor: William U. Farrington Construction Interior Designer: Dana McQueen, McQueen’s Interiors Landscape/ Hardscape: Yardworks

22

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

Ellen LeRoy Photography

T

he Emerald Isle home of Rhett and Noelle Ricks welcomes guests in style with its arched wooded entryway ceiling and immediate view straight out to the sound. Subtle and unassuming from the street, we suspect this coastal classic in Emerald Isle will be stunning visitors for years to come.

A modest, coastal bungalow from the front elevation, this home packs a lot of square footage – 3,800 heated square feet and an additional 2,100 unheated, including a 1,500 square foot garage and porches. Few passersby would have any inclination that the home is actually that large.

“It is very deceiving,” Kenny said. “But it totally suits their personality. They’re very laid back, down to earth people, and this home matches them perfectly. Of course, you always want that element of surprise and when you open that front door you can see all the way through to the water. It’s a spectacular view.”

Some of that space is all but hidden from view with creative site planning and landscaping by Yardworks. The entrance to the ground floor garage and man cave is tucked away on the left side of the home and barely visible from the street view.

The main floor of the home, which serves as the primary living space, is actually the second floor. It houses the living room, dining room and kitchen as well as the master suite. The upstairs is just for the boys – 14-year-old twins Nelson and George. Each of them has their own room on the third floor and also share a media room when it’s time for fun and games.

“This was one of those jobs that was just a pleasure to work on. John did a great job of drawing up the plans and the Ricks were delightful to work with,” said Contractor William Farrington. “Noelle was great about getting pictures and letting us know what she likes – which helped the process tremendously and they came to the table knowing exactly what they wanted to get from the home.”

When it came time to decorate, the Ricks reached out to Dana McQueen of McQueen’s Interiors, Morehead City, who brought together a refined yet cozy space that is both functional and comfortable for the young family. A perfect balance was achieved by using a creamy palette of neutral shades accented by blues and grays. This allowed the furniture to stand out instead of being overpowered by intense color, she said.

“We wanted the pieces in the house to be unique and timeless reflecting a sense of luxury that only improves with time,” (Continued on page 24) nccoast.com

23

(Continued from page 23)

said McQueen. “I would like to think that the pieces selected best describe the Ricks family … classic, tailored with a pop of the unexpected. Knowing their love for the outdoors and their travels I suggested objects and textures that would bring those wonderful characteristics that they so enjoy outside back into their home.”

That suggestion can be seen in the hide rug in the living room from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a favorite spot of the homeowners, and the onyx stone in the master bathroom. The effect overall, said McQueen, is timeless, inviting and relaxing.

family dog, Luke, on the n mom Noelle Ricks andy Futrell photo) joi e, org Ge and t, lef n, Nelso Emerald Isle home. (Case porch of the family’s new

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Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

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nccoast.com

27

By Jan Ellen Lewis

At least 80 beer enthusiasts made their way to Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant and Pub in Beaufort one bitterly cold Friday happy hour in February to try something they’d likely never be able to otherwise– beer handcrafted by local home brewers.

Members of the Alcohol Through Fermentation (ATF) Homebrew Club based in New Bern brought nearly a dozen beers to the once-a-month Friday Night Flights beer tastings to hand out. Their presence at Friday Night Flights is a testament to the growing demand for craft beers. Illegal to sell because of state laws, so the ATF shared their bounty at no cost.

At Clawson’s, there was a steady line of takers for the free samples. Those on deck had a taste of the Inauguration Ale, a new member’s first attempt; a Kolsh-style pale ale brewed by Dennis Overby of Sea Gate; Tim’s Hard Apple Cider and Tim’s Pepper Ale, by Tim Dryden of Craven County; an American wheat and a robust porter by Bryan Conway of Beaufort; and Resurrection Rye and a Dawn American Stout by Rob Jones of Bridgeton; plus three stein beirs, which means “stone beer” in German.

“As far as the club goes, we are just a group of dedicated beer lovers that decided that it would be a lot of fun to brew our own creations to enjoy and share with others,” said Conway, president of the club.

He added that members enjoy the creative process of making beer, wine, kombucha and anything else fermentable as well as delving into the creative

28

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

sides of building and adapting everyday equipment and materials into the process.

Taylor McCune, marketing manager for Clawson’s, explained that typically for Friday Night Flights, they pick a North Carolina craft brewery – some new, some repeats – and a brewery rep will train the staff on a handful of beers on tap. They then lend a hand during the free tasting. In the off-season, there’s usually between 80 and 90 tasters, but there has been as many 130 during peak-season months.

“We’ve always looked at our Friday Night Flights tastings as chances to teach people about beer, so putting together a homebrew tasting was an obvious extension of that,” she said.

Clawson’s started offering what craft beers were available in the area about a decade ago.

“Everyone was used to drinking corn

beer and crafts picked up very slowly in popuScott Andrews, public affairs officer for Beer Army LLC in Trenton, has been working on growing larity. That started to change in the past several the relatively new brewery while balancing the brewery’s philanthropic efforts. years and interest started to gain steam,” McCune “Growing a craft brewery in North Carolina is very tough right now. When Beer Army Combat explained.

Brewery opened in April of 2013, there were about 75 active breweries at the time. By the end of 2015 Since Prohibition, state law prohibited brewing there are expected to be more than 160 operating breweries in the state. We have a lot of Beer Army beer then selling it on the same premises. Addi- supporters so that has been great and has really helped us grow the Beer Army name, mostly through tionally, beer could be no greater than 6 percent philanthropy,” he said. alcohol by volume (ABV). In 1985, German Uli Andrews explained that Dustin Canestorp, who recently retired from the US Marine Corps, started Bennewitz approached the NC Senate to make it Beer Army in 2008 as a website when he returned from his last tour in Iraq. Canestorp put on the first possible for breweries to sell their product direct- Beer Army festival, the Brew Bern Beer Festival, which eventually led to the Beer Army Outpost ly to the consumer rather than through a distribu- bottle shop and later the Beer Army Combat Brewery. tor. He opened Weeping Radish Farm Brewery in Beer Army is making its mark is through The Beer Army Foundation, a nonprofit organization that 1986. Then on Aug. 13, 2005, Gov. Mike Easley is gearing up for its sixth annual Brew Bern Beer Festival set for June 27 at the Riverfront Convention signed House Bill 392 into law, lifting the 6 per- Center in New Bern. The Beer Army Foundation also hosts festivals in Greenville and Jacksonville. cent ABV cap to a 15 percent through a two-year “These festivals have given tens of thousands of people a chance to get educated on the craft beer initiative. industry, specifically from breweries here in North Carolina. The more we are able to localize the With that change, craft beer from across the beer, the more sales for local breweries, distributors, retailers etc., the better our state is as a whole,” nation began flooding across the state line and, he added. most notably, it made brewing a real possibility Someone who has been able to watch the changing atmosphere of craft brewing in the state for more in North Carolina. than a decade is Kevin Kozak, director of brewing operations for Front Street Brewery in WilmingIn the state, there are around 100 microbrews ton.

Professionally brewing for 12 years, he started right out of college after earning a degree in political and brewpubs (establishments that brew beer served on site), with a handful in Eastern North science, which he jokes always drove him to drink. He started as a cellar man at Capitol City Brewing Carolina, including Mother Earth Brewing in Co. in Arlington, Va., and worked his way up to assistant brewer. He eventually took his first head Kinston. The eco-friendly 20-barrel brewery and brewer job at the now-defunct Thoroughbreds Grill and Brewing in Leesburg, Va. He worked at Old taproom opened in 2009. Their earth-conscious Dominion Brewing Co. in Ashburn, Va., before accepting the head brewer job at Front St. Brewery ethics is across the board and visible in nearly ev- nine years ago. ery facet form a taproom that is 100-percent solar He said the craft beer scene has changed significantly since he got to Wilmington. powered by a 3-kilowatt solar array on the roof, “We had very few places you could get a good pint of beer back then. Our bestselling beer at the walls insulated with recycled denim jeans and time was our now-retired Lumina Lager. Now our two bestselling beers are our Port City IPA, which soy-based foam and even the six-pack containers is very hop forward and our Dram Tree Scottish Ale, which is dark and malty. It’s nice to see the are made with 100-percent recycled paper.

(Continued on page 30) President Trent Mooring said the biggest change he’s seen since opening the brewery doors is the rise in tourism to the area, a move that caught him by surprise.

“When we started, we just planned to be a production facility that sold our beer off premise to restaurants and grocery stores all over the South.

But to see the people coming to the area after hearing our story who want to tour the facility is absolutely mind blowing,” he said.

The evolving interest in craft beer across the region has been equally mind blowing as well, he said.

“When we started the brewery, one of the main reasons Everyone was used to drinking corn we decided to make Endless beer and crafts picked up very slowly River was because it was a in popularity. That started to change light-drinking beer and we in the past several years and interest wanted a good session beer started to gain steam that people of Eastern North Carolina would want to drink,” he said. Now, those who used — Taylor McCune, Clawsons 1905 Endless River as their gateway beer have also started exploring with other stronger beer styles. nccoast.com

29

Mother Earth Brewing, Kinston (Continued from page 29)

landscape change,” he said. “One can drive up and down the coast and find good beer, which is a great thing. I’m willing to bet that even in the smallest towns you can find a Mother Earth Kolsch or Dunkel.

Both are beers I highly recommend to someone that’s looking to get into craft beer. They’re both fine examples of their respective style and both are extremely approachable and drinkable.”

While Kozak has direct knowledge of how this part of the state is embracing craft beer, he’s in the position to observe the changes across the state as a member of the NC Craft Brewers Guild, a nonprofit organization with goals that include promoting and advancing the interests of NC Craft Beer.

“As a group we recognize that craft beer is a real thing that brings a lot of money to the state of North Carolina, whether it’s through jobs or beer tourism,” he said.

There are a handful of issues important to the organization, including lowering the state excise tax.

“Currently North Carolina has the sixth highest excise tax on beer produced,” Kozak explained. “We believe that lowering the tax burden would promote job growth and brewery expansions due to the money being saved. We would also like to see the self-distribution limit raised or eliminated,” he said.

Aside from tackling political issues, the NC Craft Brewers Guild holds educational seminars four times a year. The purpose of these events is to provide education from experts to brewers in North Carolina.

“They have covered quality, marketing, business, etc… We feel that the more informed brewers are then the better beer they will make which is a win-win for everyone involved.”

A new Morehead City establishment, Tight Lines Pub & Brewing Co., is planning to join the micropub club. Located in the former Rap’s building on Arendell Street, Tight Lines opened in April 2014 and serves 30 craft beers on tap and soon, said Russell Lewis, co-owner. Hopes are to begin construction of the brewery this fall.

“We originally planned to begin sooner, but delays in the design process of the brewery and our

30

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

rooftop deck and bar have pushed us back. We plan to feature four, year-round beers with two seasonals. Currently we have recipes developed for two beers, a red ale and a Kolsch, which we hope to launch later this year using an offsite brewery for initial production.”

The idea to open Tight Lines began from spending time in Chapel Hill and Asheville, where love for craft beer is ubiquitous, according to Lewis.

“We saw a glimpse of what could be brought to Carteret County and founded Tight Lines with the intention of making it a hub for craft beer, boutique wine and great Southern style pub food in downtown Morehead City,” he said.

Lewis explained that his original interest in craft beer formed just by drinking it, especially while in school at UNC-Chapel Hill.

“Afterwards, we opened our first restaurant on the Beaufort waterfront, Queen Anne’s Revenge,” where the restaurant features eight craft beers on tap, as well as more than 200 bottles. “From that

exposure, we decided it only made sense to open a second location where we could make our own beer.”

From their perspective, interest in craft beer has exploded.

“When we first opened Queen Anne’s Revenge, interest was moderate and sparing at best.

Within two years, the market changed drastically and sales increased exponentially. We are happy to be part of that movement and only hope that our community continues to embrace craft beer, in following suit with the rest of the state.”

Adding the brewery isn’t the only change for Tight Lines. Lewis will be adding a monthly charity fundraiser, Pints for Purpose: Beer Garden Series on Saturdays, April through October.

Each event will feature a different North Carolina brewery and benefit a different local charity.

There are several opportunities to give back and learn more about craft beer in the year ahead.

The Beer Army hosts the Brew Bern Beer Fest on June 27. The 14th annual Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival at Battleship Park in Wilmington is planned for Oct. 24 and the Crystal Coast Hop Fest is held in November at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City and supports the Crystal Coast Hospice House.

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death OFA

drawbridge

By Jan Ellen Lewis Casey Futrell Photography

34

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

I

n Coastal Carolina, smattered with small islands, inlets, marshes and waterways, bridges are a constant

way of life for residents – from sweeping high rises with grand views of the scenery below to small 20foot spans that hop a creek or inlet. For many visitors, crossing the bridge, quite literally, is symbolic of their arrival for a family beach vacation, be it Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Beaufort or Topsail. For others, however, namely commuting residents, they can be a thorn in the side for those making a mad dash to work, crossing their fingers that they will miss traffic jams caused by open drawbridges.

At least two of these bridges, the Grayden Paul Drawbridge leading into Beaufort and the Topsail Island Swing Bridge in Surf City, almost two hours to the south, are slated for replacement in the years

ahead. Both projects have been met with mixed reviews from the communities they serve and while just about everyone holds dear the historic significance of the aging structures, not all residents are ready to see them replaced. In both communities, almost simultaneously, groups formed, websites were built, meetings were held and the pros and cons of the

projects were fiercely debated.

(Continued on page 36)

NC Dept. of Transportation

35

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

(Continued from page 35)

Driving across Radio Island into Beaufort today, it’s apparent that progress is moving forward before our eyes in the third oldest town in the state. The once divided four lanes of traffic are now down to one lane in each direction, orange cones cutting a path and directing the constant flow of cars. Heavy equipment has been moved in, stadium lights are up to illuminate the work and dredge boats are active within the waters of Gallant’s Channel.

The NC Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) website notes that Conti Enterprises Inc. of Edison, NJ was awarded the $66.4 million contract to replace the existing bascule drawbridge with a 65-foot fixed-span bridge, widening Hwy 70 to four lanes with a median through town to Olga Road, just east of Beaufort. Construction is just beginning, with completion of all but landscaping projected for July 2018.

The primary purpose for the bridge, the website continues, is to increase the traffic carrying capacity of Hwy 70 and eliminate delays to vehicular traffic due to bridge openings.

“There is definitely something charming and special about the drawbridge and sentimentally, it’ll be difficult to see that go,” said Beaufort Assistant Town Manager Lauren Hermley, recognizing the unique role that the bridge has played in Beaufort’s history. She added that the new road project will remove a highway from the middle of town, making the community more physically unified and a safe environment for bike riders, walkers and children.

Traffic will instead skirt the northern edge of town, removing traffic and noise from the quiet live oak-lined streets of the historic downtown

district and residential neighborhoods.

It is a somewhat bittersweet project for Grayden Paul, Jr., whose father is immortalized by the drawbridge that carries his name. The original Grayden Paul, who died in 1994, played a vital role in Beaufort’s history.

Now in his early 90s himself, Grayden Paul Jr., has a living room that overlooks Turners Creek.

Photos of family line shelves and dot the mantle, sharing space with the ship models he painstakingly builds. He’s even built a model of the Alphonso, a sharpie that was filled with fishing and whaling artifacts his father docked in the 1960s and 1970s at what is now Grayden Paul Park at the end of Pollock Street. The artifacts would later make up the humble beginnings of the NC Maritime Museum.

He served as mayor of Beaufort in World War II, sat on the town’s board of commissioners and served a term on the board of education. Though he eventually left politics, Grayden Paul was still a fixture in town. He was one of the founders of the Beaufort Historical Association, established in 1960, and was famous for was his tours aboard the organization’s red, double-decker bus, Paul Jr. explained.

Paul notes that there is talk of making a park where the old drawbridge comes ashore now and naming it after his father to keep the tradition alive. But for Paul and the family, those memories continue to be alive and well regardless.

As are the rich memories in Surf City of the unique swing bridge that residents and visitors delight in watching as it opens wide for passing vessels.

There, NCDOT proposes to replace the exist-

ing bridge, built in 1955, with a two lane highrise bridge that will include bike lanes and a multiuse path over the Intracoastal Waterway on Hwy 50/210.

“The swing bridge will forever remain a part of Surf City’s history and lore, and this applies for both residents and visitors,” said Mayor A.D. “Zander” Guy said. “That said, the current span has served us well for over 60 years and when one considers the environment and conditions in which the bridge has served, that’s quite a testament.”

He added that the ultimate decision for a fixed, highrise span was made by NCDOT, and the basis upon which this decision was made was that the fixed span came in at under $50 million less than the bascule.

“DOT has worked very closely with elected and appointed officials, as well as giving deep consideration to the sentiments of the public. We sincerely appreciate DOT’s willingness to work closely with us on this project,” he said. “In Surf City, our primary concern is for the safety of people and property and in emergency situations the fixed span will serve us best in the long run.”

A final environmental impact statement was released last fall for the Surf City replacement and the project now moves into the right-of-way acquisition phase.

With both projects, both vehicular and marine traffic were an active part of the decision making process, with consideration given to the environmental impact of the new bridge location. There are no current plans to replace any of the nine remaining drawbridges that dot the North Carolina coast.

Steve Brooks photo

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39

something

Fishy

By Amanda Dagnino

Scott Smith is excited about fish. You can hear it in his voice – and the way it races every time the conversation turns in that direction. While his work with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries certainly gives him plenty of opportunity to learn more about his favorite topic, it is his hobby that is garnering the young man quite a bit of attention these days.

Smith embarked on a daunting task. He wanted to catch, catalog and photograph every species of fish indigenous to Carteret County – both fresh and salt water – to help fishermen and enthusiasts better identify their catch. In the summer of 2014, the pair launched www.ncfishes.com with little fanfare from the non-fishing community.

The site, however, quickly gained the attention of educators, scientists and others, not necessarily for the nature of their extra-curricular project, but for the beautifully-detailed photographs that has resulted.

“I started collecting and photographing fish in a lab class in college,” said Smith. “Sometimes I’d do it for fun with my dad, who had become a member of an aquarium society. Then, of course, it was part of my job once I joined Fisheries.

When time allowed I would go to the dock and see what’s being caught and I would carry a point and shoot camera and take photos for myself.”

For the most part, however, the fish are lying motionless on the dock or they’re being held up by the tail. Rarely, said Smith, did conditions allow for a truly detailed shot. And ultimately, he said, these type of tools are the only things someone has to work with when they want to identify a fish – a dock photo and line drawings done for Fisheries.

“Now these are great drawings done by really talented artists – but they’re still drawings,” said Smith. “We really wanted to step up the game.”

And that’s exactly what he did.

Jesse Bissette, a co-worker at Fisheries and amateur photographer, was the missing piece of the puzzle and with Smith’s exuberance he was easily recruited for the side project. The pair talked endlessly about the best way to photograph the fish and lots of trial and error ensued, said Smith with a chuckle. But before long, the men found they could get extraordinary pictures by placing their catch in a water filled frame and lighting it with a small external strobe light. The frame is then photographed with macro gear against a black background, resulting in bright, colorfully detailed, museum quality images – allowing both backyard fishermen and researchers the opportunity to truly study the subject. There is still a lot of trial and error, Smith said. For every good shot,

Dormitator-maculatus - Fat Sleeper

40

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

there are 10 that don’t work. But they couldn’t be happier with the results.

“They were really better than anything we thought was possible. On a whim we thought maybe we should just post them online so everyone can see them. We started posting identification guides here and there and including the photos that we had taken,” said Smith. “It really took off.

“Now we’re not pretending to be writers, authors, bloggers or web designers in any way,” he added. “We’re certainly not any of those things.

Identification is the primary purpose – for the average guy who is fishing to have somewhere where he can go when he’s not sure what he’s caught. But it’s also about education. It’s about teaching people about all these amazing fish that are in their own backyard. We don’t do it for money, we don’t get paid in any way, in fact it costs money to host the website. But it’s fun and we enjoy teaching people about all these wonderful fish that live right here in our waters.”

Along the way they’ve seen their fair share of rare species, including a freshwater river goby living in a stormwater runoff pond near the Crystal Coast Visitor’s Center in Morehead City. Not only is the fish not indigenous to North Carolina, they’re rare to find in the United States.

Evorthodus-lyricus - Lyre Goby

Scott Smith lines up a shot for www.ncfishes.com

“One was found in 1996 in the Cape Fear River, so this is only the second documented case,” said Smith. “But of course, people may have come across one and just not known what it was.”

The identification was made through contact with the Natural History Museum in Raleigh and specialists who study the fish in Mexico City. The men also found a cinnamon river shrimp in the same freshwater pond, leaving them to speculate that they’ve come across an interesting habitat right here in the middle of town.

Odds are, Smith surmised, the fish made its way to Eastern North Carolina aboard a cargo

Awaous-banana - River Goby

ship and while they’re not supposed to, ships could potentially dump their ballast water allowing the fish to escape into the environment. How it got into the runoff pond, however, remains a mystery.

“This was definitely one of the most interesting situations we have come across so far, but I’m sure there are lots of other things out there to find,” said Smith.

To date, there are only two freshwater fish native to Carteret County that have eluded the men as far as they can tell – the iron color shiner and mud sunfish.

Macrobrachium-acanthurus - Cinnamon River Shrimp

Next, Smith said they hope to begin moving down toward the Wilmington area as time allows, which may be close to Carteret County, but has a very different group of fish for the men to catalog. And there’s hope of working more with saltwater fish, said Smith, which comes with a new set of challenges.

“One of the biggest problems that we have to face now is what to do when the fish aren’t small,” he said. “But we’ve been experimenting and we’ll figure it out.”

And we feel sure this pair will come up with a perfect answer.

Eleotris-amblyopsis - Spiney Cheek Sleeper

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Beaufort Grocery Shrimp & Grits

Shrimp&Grits Home Cooking Goes Uptown

Few things scream Southern cuisine as readily as a heaping bowl of creamy grits. Just the word itself elicits feelings of down home breakfasts surrounded by family.

It’s been a mainstay in the South since the first settlers arrived in the new land. Native Americans regularly dined on hominy, a mush made from softened corn, and taught the colonists how to remove the hulls from dried corn to create the dish they referred to “rockahomine.” It has been an affordable, and versatile, part of the Southern diet ever since.

Finding the origins of shrimp and grits is as challenging as tracing the roots of the shag. No one is quite sure who did it first, whether

Shrimp & Grits Ingredients:

1 cup white or yellow stone-ground grits ¾ cup grated cheddar ¼ cup parmesan 2 tbsp. unsalted butter Kosher salt 2 tbsp. canola oil 4 slices bacon, chopped led 1 lb. medium shrimp (about 30), pee

Directions:

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Carolina Shore • February 2015

Freshly ground black pepper 6 button mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, finely chopped ½ cup chicken broth 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, plus 4 lemon wedges sco ½ tsp. hot sauce, preferably Taba 4 scallions, thinly sliced

whisk in grits. Cook, whisking r to a boil. Reduce heat to low and In a 2-qt. saucepan, bring 4 cups wate cheddar, parmesan and 1 tbsp. creamy, 30-45 minutes. Whisk in frequently, until grits are tender and skillet. Add bacon and cook, and set aside. Heat oil in a 12-inch butter and season with salt; cover a paper towel and set aside. g a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to stirring occasionally, until crisp. Usin r medium-high heat, add shrimp on shrimp with salt and pepper. Ove Reserve cooking fat in skillet. Seas sfer shrimp to a plate with a bright pink, about 2 minutes. Tran to skillet and cook, turning once, until , stirring occasionally, until add mushrooms to skillet and cook slotted spoon. Lower heat to medium, chicken broth and scrape add , en, 1 minute. Raise heat to high tender. Add garlic and cook until gold rn shrimp to skillet along Retu half. n. Cook until broth reduces by spoo den woo a with et skill of m botto frequently, until sauce thickens, r and hot sauce and cook, stirring butte ining rema , juice n lemo l the with p and sauce and garnish each bow een 4 bowls. Top each with shrim about 1 minute. Divide grits betw with bacon, scallions and lemon.

The Bistro Shrimp & Grits

the Gullah slave communities or the budget conscious commercial fishing families. We do know, how-

a different way of preparing it,” said Park.

ever, that coastal families in Georgia and the Carolinas were fond of sautéing the abundant catch in

And you don’t even have to wander far from

bacon grease to toss on top of their grits for a more nourishing breakfast. Other fish was used as well,

home. Just over the high rise bridge at The Bis-

including catfish, but nothing as widely as the small, flavorful shrimp.

tro in Morehead City, Chef Tim Coynes opts for

Through the decades several restaurants have claimed to be the first to add the dish to their menus.

One thing nobody argues, however, is how the dish was thrust into the spotlight. The late Bill Neal,

more of an alfredo-style white sauce with his shrimp and grits.

a chef at Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill, gets all the credit for that. After adding the dish to his menu,

“We didn’t have it on the menu until about five

Craig Claiborne of The New York Times visited the restaurant and published his recipe in 1985, giving

years ago,” said Coynes. “We were doing a lot of

the once localized specialty national attention for the first time.

Italian at the time, which gave me the idea. We

This was not our ancestor’s shrimp and grits, but rather a dressed up version of the once sparse

had had several requests for it, so I made a batch

recipe. Neal used cheddar and parmesan cheese grits as his base, adding bacon, mushrooms, scallions

and served it for a panel one day to see if we

and a touch of hot sauce to the well-received dinner option.

should add it to the menu. Everyone loved it.”

Since the article appeared, regional chefs have found numerous ways to prepare the dish. The only

Rich, creamy and decadent, the dish is remi-

thing that truly remains constant is the shrimp and the grits themselves. From adding andouille sau-

niscent of a shrimp alfredo over grits instead of

sage or tasso ham to just about every type of seasoning and spice, recipes are as different as the chefs

pasta. And after five years, it continues to have a

that prepare them.

strong fan base.

“It really is a recipe that uses 100 percent Southern ingredients,” said Chef Charles Park of the Beaufort Grocery Co., Beaufort, who opts for plain, high quality stone-ground grits. “America has

“It’s been a popular dish since we added it,” the chef said.

a lot of regional cuisine. The Northeast has lobster and clam bakes and fish and chips with cod. In

One thing both chefs do agree on is the use of

the South, we have grits and shrimp and fried chicken and collards. These are some of the staples of

stone-ground grits in lieu of the instant variety.

Southern culture.”

They take longer to cook, about 45 minutes, but

It is also a dish that is highly customizable – perfect for culinary creativity. Park, for example,

have a richer flavor and are well worth the time.

avoids using stock to make his grits and reserves the bacon as a garnish, creating a vegetarian friendly

To reduce your cook time, try soaking your grits

option. He prefers a tomato based sauce with Cajun barbecue influences.

in water overnight in the refrigerator, a trick ev-

“I shy away from making it too spicy, I don’t think it has to be spicy or hot to have a bold flavor,”

ery Southerner knows.

he said. “But that’s one of the great things about the dish. You can ask 10 chefs and they will all have nccoast.com

45

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The Fly Trap New Laws Aim to Stop Poachers Maybe it was “Little Shop of Horrors” that brought these strange plants into the limelight, or perhaps it was the sheer fact that the plant prefers a little meat over vegetables. Either way, Venus flytraps have long captured the imagination of American culture with their football shaped spring-loaded traps just waiting for prey to tickle the cilia-like sensors inside.

Few will deny their cool factor, but what many people don’t realize is just how rare these incredible little plants are. So rare, that they only grow naturally within about a 100-mile radius of Wilmington. And that’s it … in the world. It has been safely integrated into different habitats, including spots in Florida, some successfully and some with less than positive results, however, the nitrogen and phosphorus poor boggy savannahs along North Carolina’s coastline are the only places where the plant is truly indigenous.

“There are a lot of plants that are endangered that used to be everywhere,” explained Debbie Crane, director of communications for the North Carolina chapter of The Nature Conservancy. “That is not the case with the Venus flytrap.”

The only spot where the plant has ever found the right soil, nutrients and insects is right here in Eastern North Carolina.

With new legislation that took effect on Dec. 1, 2014, North Carolina is ensuring that these natural wonders are protected and preserved for generations to come. Previously a misdemeanor, poaching Venus flytraps is now a class H felony and carries a sentence of up to 25 months in prison in addition to fines and community service. What’s more, each individual plant can now be considered a separate charge.

“Venus flytraps are an important part of the ecological integrity of these conserved lands,” said Mallory Martin, chief deputy director of the Wildlife Commission. “Removal is not only a theft of a protected resource, but intentional damage to the natural landscape.”

The Wildlife Commission estimates that there are less than 35,000 flytraps remaining in the wild. In the last two years alone, an estimated 11,000

48

Carolina Shore • MARCH 2015

have been stolen. While previous land development has attributed to the decline, poaching remains the largest cause of the dwindling numbers. That’s not to say that the Venus flytrap is extinct. Nurseries, department stores and gift shops regularly sell small plastic terrariums with the coveted plant inside. But these plants, Crane said, are grown from seeds in a greenhouse, not the natural habitat they are trying to protect.

The plants taste for flies is actually a little overstated. Thirty-three percent of the plant’s diet comes from common ants; 30 percent, spiders; 10 percent, beetles; 10 percent, grasshoppers; and less than five percent actually come from flying insects. Bugs are lured into the trap by nectar that drips from the plant’s triggers. In order for the trap to engage, two of the plant’s three trigger hairs must be tripped twice within about 20 seconds or the same hair must be brushed in rapid succession. This allows the plant to identify appropriate prey from other stimuli, like rain drops or small insects that offer limited nutrients. Once prey is realized, the lobes clamp together within a tenth of a second and the guard hairs on the outside of the trap lace together to keep it inside. The plant then secretes digestive fluids and, within five to 10 days, nutrients Mark Freeth photo are absorbed and the trap reopens.

So where can you find them in nature? We’re lucky enough to have several places that are open to the public. Carolina Beach State Park has a wonderful walking trail that introduces guests not only to the Venus flytrap, but other carnivorous plants, including sundews and bladderworts. One of the Nature Conservancy’s oldest preserves is the 18,000 acre Green Swamp, located off of Hwy 211 in Brunswick County. A prime habitat for the flytrap, Green Swamp also features sundew and pitcher plants. Other sites include Boiling Springs Lake Preserve off of Hwy 87 south of Wilmington and the Croatan National Forest in Craven and Carteret counties. Crane notes that late May, early June, when the plants are blooming, is the best time for viewing. The plants are identifiable by a long stalk and small white flower.

To learn more about sites protected by The Nature Conservancy, visit www.nature.org.

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