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The Wheel House Lounge The newest craft cocktail bar located inside of Outer Banks Distilling, specializing in Kill Devil Rum cocktails. The distillery gift shop is open from 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. and the Wheel House Lounge is open from 12:00-9:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. 6 510 Budleigh Street 252-423-3011 outerbanksdistilling.com
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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 9
12
FROM THE DESK
15
BUT FIRST... ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
16
PLAYING THE PART Performing with the Theatre of Dare FOOD & BEVERAGE
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FOUR IF BY SEA History with a side of hushpuppies
20
SNACK ATTACK Soft-shells aren't just for sandwiches NATURE
23
OUT TO SEE Deepsea birdwatching by the Gulf Stream
26
A LITTLE BATTY Making a home for bats
28
SUNLIGHT AND A DASH OF PROTEIN The carnivorous plants of Eastern North Carolina REAL ESTATE
VOLUME 139 ABOUT THE COVER: A Bermuda petrel skims over the open ocean. Photo courtesy of Kate Sutherland. THIS PAGE: Ocean Pursuit photo by Trevor Lawson (May 2021) Around four years ago, Trevor Lawson began to get serious about astrophotography – but he’d been dabbling with night time images long beforehand. Based near the Blue Ridge in Virginia, Trevor packed up his lenses and headed out with a few friends after hearing about the Ocean Pursuit. On that and several subsequent visits, Trevor tried to avoid light pollution by timing his trips around new moons, and this image in particular was taken when the Milky Way is most visible in this latitude (typically from May through September). “You really can’t beat the Outer Banks for dark skies,” he explains.
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HOME SPOTLIGHT The Orange Crush in Southern Shores
34
FIVE FACTS The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
36
TOWN REPORT
38
BUSINESS BRIEFS
40
UP FOR THE COUNT Putting the number of visitors in perspective
42
DESIGN SNAPSHOT Just what the doctor ordered
44
FENG SHUI THE COASTAL WAY Designing for the elements
46
SUN SALUTATIONS FEATURE
50
THE SANDS OF TIME Capturing the short life of the Ocean Pursuit shipwreck THE LOCAL LIFE
58
SCOTT LAWLOR Yogi/produce purveyor
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F R O M T H E DE S K
staff staff PUBLISHERS Adam & Cathy Baldwin PUBLISHERS AdamEDITOR & Cathy Baldwin Photo courtesy of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
The space between seasons is a gift. SPRING ON THE OUTER BANKS CAN APPEAR VERY DIFFERENT COMPARED TO OTHER
It isn’t often particularly gentle, for one, and it tends to seem more like a brief period of transition than a season with distinct characteristics – blink, and you might miss it. But that’s okay. Given all the ways we’ve had to think and talk about change over the past few years, there’s something rather refreshing about the idea that one thing can become something else without too much fanfare – that life can simply be that seamless at times, or at least feel that way. The thing is that we can get so caught up in the glaringly big things. That record-breaking storm, or the sweeping epic with its multitude of grand gestures. It’s understandable, really; these are the types of situations that announce themselves, that demand the most notice by stomping in and making the most noise. But this also means that there will always be a number of quieter things, smaller instances of turning points and transformations that live in the space between other more attention-grabbing events. These smaller things are also what often make up each issue of the Sun. Like any other creative endeavor, a quarterly magazine is a genre that has certain allowances as well as certain limitations. We’ll never be in the position of being the first to cover breaking news, for example, but we can take the time to listen to an oral history or pause to pinpoint the moment where several narratives overlap. And we won’t ever be a source for local traffic and weather, but we will always be a place that considers multiple perspectives – and a place where we can be thoughtful about the stories we want to tell and why. The seasonal space we have between issues is our largest gift. It allows us time to feel our way around our stories, and even (sometimes) gives us breathing room to delve into an idea without knowing beforehand what the story is exactly – to let finally finding it come as an unexpected surprise. A journey is only considered heroic once it’s complete, after all. So whether this spring on the Outer Banks arrives like a lion or a lamb – or something entirely less memorable – this issue contains some of the stories we most hope will be remembered. Not because they make the biggest or flashiest headlines, but because they illustrate the many ways – both large and small – that this community exists well beyond the sum of its parts. As always, we hope you enjoy it. PLACES.
Amelia Boldaji EDITOR Amelia Boldaji ART DIRECTOR
Dave Rollins ART DIRECTOR Dave Rollins WRITERS
Cathy Baldwin • Amelia Boldaji CONTRIBUTORS Steve Hanf • Catherine Kozak Cathy Baldwin Katrina Mae Leuzinger Amelia Boldaji Amanda McDanel • Maggie McNinch Jonathan Clark Arabella Saunders • Corinne Saunders Catherine Kozak Katrina Mae Leuzinger PHOTOGRAPHERS Maggie McNinch Jonathan Clark Elizabeth Neal Cory Godwin • Sara Ladley Arabella Saunders Trevor Lawson • Terry Karlson Corinne SaundersNeal Ryan Navazio • Elizabeth Kati Wilkins Ryan Noble • Arianna Stewart Kate Sutherland • Kati Wilkins GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dylan Bush GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dylan Bush SALES MANAGER Furr SALESHelen MANAGER
Helen Furr ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FaithEXECUTIVE Turek ACCOUNT Faith Turek DISTRIBUTOR Donna Roark DISTRIBUTOR Donna Roark
The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by Access Media Group. All works contained herein are The North Beach Sun published quarterly the property ofisthe North Beach Sun.by Access Media Group. All works contained herein are The views expressed in the articles contained the property of the North Beach Sun. herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, The views expressed the articles herein editor or AccessinMedia Group.contained The published do not necessarily reflect the views of the material, advertisements, editorials andpublisher, all other editor or is Access Media The Access published content published inGroup. good faith. Media material, advertisements, editorials and all other and Group and North Beach Sun cannot guarantee content is published in good faith. Access Media accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any Group and North Beach Sun cannotorguarantee and of kind caused by errors, omissions the accuracy accepts no liability anyby loss or damage of any claimsfor made advertisers. kind caused by errors, omissions or the accuracy of claims made by advertisers.
NORTH BEACH SUN 115 WestBEACH Meadowlark St. NORTH SUN
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Editor
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editor@northbeachsun.com 252.449.4444 editor@northbeachsun.com
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Native grapevines have long flourished on the Outer Banks, but Roanoke Island’s Mother Vine continues to wear the crown. Believed to be more than 400 years old, the Mother Vine is widely considered the oldest cultivated grapevine in North America – even while its origins remain a mystery. Said to have been planted by English settlers in 1587 or possibly the result of careful cultivation by earlier wine-making Native American tribes, the Mother Vine was unquestionably tended for decades by Jack and Estelle Wilson after they built their family home beside the vine in the 1950s. While it is still located on the Wilsons’ private property off Mother Vineyard Road, the vine remains accessible according to the family’s wishes, and a small side parking area is available for those who wish to view this historical landmark. (Photo by Kati Wilkins.)
! s r e e h C THOUGH CALIFORNIA HAS LONG LED THE PACK with the most craft breweries by state, North Carolina has consistently ranked in the top 10 states country-wide with the most microbreweries – producing approximately 1,300,000 barrels of beer per year as of 2020.
In 2020 there were nearly 8,800 craft breweries in the United States, which had grown exponentially from about 1,800 just a decade ago in 2010 – and North Carolina continues to have the largest number of craft breweries in the American South, with upwards of 370 breweries and brewpubs at last count. Asheville is North Carolina’s top beer-loving hotspot with around 30 breweries inside its city limits, but the Outer Banks is no slouch in that department if you take size into account. There are currently six craft breweries located from Corolla and mainland Currituck to Ocracoke Island – including a couple that have made brewing history. Now located on the Currituck mainland in Grandy, the Weeping Radish Brewery, Butchery & Pub was North Carolina’s first microbrewery when it opened its doors in 1986 on Roanoke Island – an especially impressive feat considering the fact that it was illegal for North Carolina breweries to sell beer directly to consumers only one year earlier in 1985. Established in 2001, Kill Devil Hills’ Outer Banks Brewing Station became the nation’s first wind-powered brewpub when it erected a 10-kilowatt wind turbine on Earth Day in 2008 – and the establishment continues to use 100% of the power that the turbine generates to this day.
Just a Cuppa have attempted to explain the basis for calling coffee a “cup of Joe,” but the story of North Carolina-native Josephus Daniels is an enduring fan favorite. Born in Beaufort County and raised in Wilson, N.C., Daniels was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. With Franklin Roosevelt as his assistant secretary, Daniels was largely responsible for crafting United States Navy policy decisions – and his most infamous reform was General Order 99, which banned alcohol from naval ships as of June 1, 1914.
A NUMBER OF THEORIES
Coming as it did just before the onset of World War I, Daniels’ order reportedly wasn’t very well received by the Navy’s servicemen, and legend has it that they took to calling coffee (the newly strongest drink available to them) a “cup of Joseph” – which was later shortened, and almost certainly wasn’t meant as a compliment either way. N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 15
A RT S & E N T E RTA I N M E N T
Part PLAYING THE
The joys of performing in the Theatre of Dare continue long after the curtain falls. By Steve Hanf
16 | S PR I N G 2022
It’s all about community in this theater (from top to bottom): Daniel Ziegler, Katelyn Rea and Tim Hass (left to right) perform a scene from BoeingBoeing; Damon Horak, Kelsey Thompson and Evan Tillett (front row, from left to right) strut their stuff as part of the larger cast in a musical production of Mame; Tim Hass and Beth Egbert take center stage in The Diaries of Adam and Eve. Photos courtesy of Eden Saunders.
IT’S AN HOUR BEFORE SHOWTIME, and the second floor of the Dare County Arts Council building in Manteo is buzzing. Literally – a last-minute fix to part of the set for Five Women Wearing the Same Dress requires a noisy power tool. But also, figuratively – this is community theater, after all. Above the din, Evan Tillett, the evening’s director, enthusiastically greets patrons in an outfit that’s even louder than the power tool, a violently pink jacket and black leather pants perfectly paired with a feathered boa and a bedazzled pink mask. “I decided to match the set and the girls’ outfits,” he explains with a laugh, “so I’m doing different pink outfits each night.” Actors appear and disappear behind the simple bedroom set in the small space. Music begins to play from a speaker in the back of the room. As the seats start to fill, wine appears, and the guests settle in with self-pours from complimentary boxes next to a donation urn. Two hours later, they’re showering the actors with a standing ovation. Welcome to another spectacular show with the fun-loving Theatre of Dare. “Community theater is extremely important,” says Stuart Parks II, president of the theater group’s board of directors. “You get to see local people up on stage really putting it out there, and there’s just something about live theater you don’t get from a movie. It entertains and gives the community something to do, especially [here] in the off season when it’s dark and cold and you don’t want to do anything. “Honestly,” he continues with amusement, “it’s kept me sane. My first winter here, I was about to go nuts. That second winter, I joined Theatre of Dare…and here I am, 13 years later.” The volunteer assortment of actors, directors and behind-thescenes crew members have experienced just about everything during the group’s 31-year run. They’ve performed well-known productions from Little Shop of Horrors to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Monty Python’s Spamalot. They’ve worked with kids in family-friendly musicals such as Oliver! and delivered more adult-themed scripts in plays that include this past January’s Five Women. And yes, they’ve even overcome a global pandemic that darkened Broadway and many other venues both large and small. What keeps them coming back year after year and show after show? The reasons are varied – yet also perhaps surprisingly similar – for everyone associated with Theatre of Dare. “Anybody can come out and be a part of it. Even if you don’t want to be on stage, there’s set design, running lights and music,” Stuart explains. “It’s like a church group, a family thing where everyone’s welcome.” Evan chimes in with one contradiction. It’s not entirely like a church group. “I love a good party, and the group here does as well, so we’ve had some good times off the stage, too,” he exclaims. “I feel like I’ve made lifelong friends through Theatre of Dare and theater in general.” As one might expect, early acting experience is a common theme for many who join the group – although it’s certainly not a requirement. Before graduating from Manteo High School, Evan graced stages for both high school productions and the local children’s Dockside Theatre group, while Stuart also remembers being able to do a spot-on impersonation of the plant in Little Shop as a high school student. In fact, Stuart loved theater so much he went to college for it – until getting a rude awakening from directors at his first audition. “I immediately switched majors to history,” says Stuart, who also works fulltime as an archivist at the Outer Banks History Center. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s done.’” And it was…until one of his wife’s friends encouraged him to audition for a role with Theatre of Dare in 2009. Among January’s Five Women cast, Kim Plyler, Missy Eppard and Chelsea Jenkins all found their way back to the stage thanks to Theatre of Dare as well, having originally performed in high school before taking long breaks.
Then there’s Emmi Frankum, who was seemingly born to the stage. This year’s Five Women marked her Theatre of Dare debut, but she got her start doing community theater as a child in Savannah, Georgia, performed throughout high school, went to college for theater and even worked as a professional actress prior to the pandemic. After spending two summers on the Outer Banks with roles in The Lost Colony, she decided to move here permanently in 2020. She first learned about Theatre of Dare through Evan, but she’d never even been to a show before auditioning for Five Women. “Community theater is where I started,” Emmi explains. “Those were my first acting classes. Those were my first friends. It’s something that’s the same everywhere, even though it’s also going to be very different.” James Ulrich can attest to the power of that. Although he’d never acted before, he somehow found himself cast in A World War II Radio Christmas in December 2019. “My mother-in-law and the director were having wine one night when [the director] said she was lacking male actors who were willing to dance,” James recalls. “Unbeknownst to me, my mother-in-law signed me up, and at first I couldn’t believe it – then I ended up doing it, and it was awesome.” “I was crossing things Alexis Narron agrees. The 1998 Manteo High graduate didn’t act in off my bucket list school, but came out for Theatre of when I turned 40. It Dare’s first 2021-2022 season show, Little Shop of Horrors. Fast-forward a would have been much mere two months later, and her starring role in Five Women included one of better to have gotten the biggest laughs of the night when involved earlier, but her character – a constantly eating, say-anything lesbian named Mindy they’re not getting rid – pulls off her bridesmaid’s hat AND a prim-and-proper Southern belle-style of me now!” wig to reveal a shock of short pink hair. “I was crossing things off my bucket -Alexis Narron list when I turned 40,” Alexis says of Theatre of Dare actress her entry into the group. “It would have been much better to have gotten involved earlier, but they’re not getting rid of me now!” Acting in front of people again after a run of virtual shows during the 2020-2021 season has been particularly thrilling for everyone involved – although keeping Theatre of Dare alive during the height of the pandemic with virtual offerings proved to be an important undertaking as well. “We needed it for us, to keep us sane and happy,” remarks Kim Plyler, who was in 2020’s virtual Mercury Radio Theatre’s Dracula just in time for Halloween. “I think it did a lot for the community, too, by keeping people entertained during such a trying time.” When it comes right down to it, that’s largely why most everyone involved with Theatre of Dare endures the long hours and the unexpected twists and turns that come with live theater – even when that includes uncertainty about where exactly their next show will take place. For years, the old stage at Roanoke Island’s College of the Albemarle was the group’s unofficial location – but when that building was demolished in 2017, the group effectively became homeless. The Arts Council building, the Waterside Theatre’s soundstage, Festival Park and even The Elizabethan Gardens gave the group a place to perform during that interim, however, until the group signed a three-year lease on a new home this past February. Starting this spring, the Theatre of Dare will be able to cap off the end of its 2021-2022 season in its new location in the Kitty Hawk Plaza, just across the bypass from the Kitty Hawk Post Office. “It’s good to adapt,” Stuart notes. The shows, after all, must go on. “We’ve always got wonderful groups of people who’ll do a couple shows and hang around a lot,” Stuart says. “It builds up their confidence, so they’ll take on bigger parts or do other things, and by the end of it, they’re directing. “It’s good in that respect,” he adds with a smile. “We build people up as we do these things. It’s cheaper than therapy. And the wine’s free.”
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to my Yankee college boyfriend (and introduced him to One contains a thick brown the Southern relish condiment known as chow chow). jelly, while the other houses a medley of chopped picked Later, when I met my now-husband, we also faithfully peppers and vegetables. Identifying them and their traveled six hours to visit my hometown together for the respective uses is like an entrance exam to Southern first time and broke bread with my parents over a basket culture for anyone new to the sort of dining group where of Homeplace biscuits smeared with another Southern “Can you pass the chow chow?” is either met with a quick condiment staple, apple butter. reach or a look of bewilderment. Much of my family history is tied to The Homeplace, This table in a towering farmhouse called The and whether the owners knew as much, is irrelevant. Homeplace Restaurant always remains the same in my They saw families come and go, year after year, and in memories. Sitting picturesquely atop a hill at the end of testament to the 38 years that they ran the establishment, a long driveway flanked with fruit trees, the gravel drive I imagine that they had to have known just how much crunches under the tires of approaching cars and the a simple shared meal made such an impact on so many view of a distant pond from its expansive front porch is families’ lives. unchanged. When I learned that The Homeplace The same, too, is the inside of The closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, a Homeplace, with its creaking floor, its piece of my heart shattered. They hadn’t In a culture round wooden tables, and its indelible only been cooking up green beans and scent of fried chicken. The same mashed potatoes there, they’d been where so many weathered faces greet us every time, and nourishing a legacy. traditions are the merriment quickly commences – a In a culture where so many traditions created around family-style passing of overflowing bowls are created around food, nearly and platters, the squiggling of little bodies everyone has a similar type of memory food, nearly trying to sit properly in the chairs, and the rooted in certain meals. Whether it everyone has a infectious sound of Aunt Frieda’s laughter. was your grandma’s pralines, your For more than 35 years, The father’s clam chowder, or the similar type of Homeplace in Catawba, Virginia, was the way Mike Kelly held open memory rooted in epicenter of my family’s celebrations. the doors of his original An aunt or uncle’s birthday always Nags Head restaurant certain meals. meant a trip to The Homeplace, and to greet you with the if an impromptu family member came scent of fresh sweet into town, we headed there, too. Even potato biscuits. after a funeral, the whole family trekked the 30 minutes Here on the Outer Banks, out of town to share a meal together in that grand the restaurants are as much of old farmhouse. Its views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, an attraction as our beaches, too. the warm servings of peach cobbler and the love that Whether you grew up here and gathered around those tables were as impactful to my ate at several old-school locations childhood as any family vacation to Myrtle Beach or like A Restaurant by George, Disney World. Papagayo’s, or Seafare, or My grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary you’re a visitor who has to get celebration was held inside those four walls. My first love their annual fix of Tortuga’s joined the table during my high school years, and when I coconut-lime chicken, the went off to college, that was where I introduced my family cake-like cornbread from TWO UNASSUMING, UNLABELED CONDIMENT
JARS SIT ON THE TABLE:
18 | S PR I N G 2022
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History
Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café, or a bushel of crab slough oysters from Billy’s Seafood, the nourishment you receive at so many of these establishments can be as restorative as the ocean waves. My time on the Outer Banks is particularly intertwined with another popular local haunt. One of my first summers here, I was working at Birthday Suits in Kill Devil Hills when I heard that the Fish Market sold to two guys who used to work down the road at Quagmire’s. That summer Kwan Gray and Kevin Cherry opened the doors at Mama Kwan’s, and I found myself seated at their bar on opening night, where I danced away the wee hours along to a late-night DJ. From that day forward, they fed me lunch in the form of Garbage Plates, quenched my thirst with Bushwackers, and entertained me with stories of Japanese infomercials. When a friend came into town to visit, I inevitably took them to Mama’s for fish tacos. Want to pregame a night that ends up in a hotel hot tub? Mama’s. Looking for a place to go on a very important third date? The front corner of the bar at Mama’s…which is also where my future husband bought us one of our first dinners. And even as Mama Kwan’s celebrated its 20th anniversary this past year, there’s still nowhere else my 11-year-old daughter would rather enjoy a burger and cucumber salad while her dad and I regale her with stories of our early romance. So, to all my local restaurant friends during this busy lead up to the summer months with visitors aplenty: When the hours feel relentless and you’re dreaming of the Septembers of old, please remember the vital importance of your work. You aren’t just slinging burgers and beverages, after all – and someday, even if it’s 30 years later, someone will wax poetically about you over a second round of beers, sharing the kinds of stories that will go on to feed yet another generation of family memories.
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FOOD & B E V E R AG E
Snack Attack Soft-shells are an Outer Banks specialty
during the height of harvest time from about late April until early September. But enjoying this seasonal delicacy doesn’t have to mean reaching for the sliced bread – especially if you’ve got a line on a few live ones and the know-how to turn these coastal crustaceans into a treat that’s finger-licking good.
While you can often find frozen soft-shells year-round, any foodie will tell you that there’s nothing quite like a fresh catch…and when they’re in-season, you can be sure that just about any Outer Banks seafood market will have them. Most won’t clean them ahead of time, but will certainly be happy to do so with your purchase – and if you’re at all squeamish or unsure about the methods, your best option is to take them up on the offer. Once they’re cleaned, turning them into bite-sized snacks is a relatively easy process. Simply quarter each soft-shell into equal parts and place them in a basic egg wash before transferring the pieces to a dry breading mix of your choice. Plenty of mixes can be found ready-made in any supermarket, but you can also whip up a batch of your own with a cup of cornmeal, a cup of flour and any additional spices you might desire – which will mean a healthy teaspoon of Old Bay for all the traditionalists out there. To (deep) fry or (pan) fry, that is the question. For pan fans, you’ll want to make sure there’s at least a ½-inch of oil in your pan, and you’ll need to flip each soft-shell piece over to make sure they’re evenly crisped on both sides. If your taste runs extra-crispy, however, you’ll go the full mile and invest in a deep-fryer. Either way, temperature is key – and the sweet spot is a perfect 350 degrees. For the best results, pay attention to size; soft-shells are often broadly categorized as small (called mediums), medium (primes), large (jumbos) and extra-large (whales) – and when you’re frying, you’ll get the most bang for your buck (i.e., the overall crispiness) with primes (which are generally a little under five inches, on average) since they contain less moisture than larger sizes. Once your soft-shell bites are brown and crisp, drain them on a paper towel and start thinking about sides. For a buffalo-style spread (pictured), you can serve them with some hot sauce and a blue-cheese dip – but you may prefer to keep things simple with a creamy tartar sauce or to spice things up with a sweet chili dressing. After that, all that’s left is to dig in – just don’t forget that it’s not polite to put your elbows on the table…or to double dip. 2 0 | S PR I N G 2022
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NAT U R E
When you think of heading out to the Gulf Stream, you usually think of fishing. But going offshore is also a way to take in some legendary birdwatching. BY STEVE HANF
Out See TO
At
first glance, it might seem like just “Most people don’t know that puffins are here another charter boat heading out offshore in the wintertime,” says Kate Sutherland, of Oregon Inlet loaded with visitors who has worked closely with Brian for more than 20 eager to land that trophy fish. years. “We have this really dynamic offshore ecosystem Study the scene a bit more closely, though, because we’re so close to deep water – and you just and it’s easy to spot the differences aboard the never know what you’re going to find out there.” Stormy Petrel II. Expensive cameras, high-powered Brian’s interest in birding first developed thanks binoculars and thick field guides fill the passengers’ to an aunt and uncle who got him started around the arms as they clamber aboard, not fishing poles, age of 12. Growing up in Central Virginia, he took to tackle boxes and coolers of beer. And as the trip gets the ocean in the 1980s after running out of interesting underway, their eyes are glued to the skies rather species found on land – initially heading to Virginia than the waves, seeking out life above the water Beach and then traveling farther south. rather than below it. Because pelagic birds migrate on a path along the The Stormy Petrel II is named after a bird for a Continental Shelf, Oregon Inlet is the perfect starting reason, after all. Over the years, this Outer Banks point for bird enthusiasts since it’s only 25 to 30 miles from gem has become one of the top seabirding vessels deep water instead of 60 or more in other areas. When for bird enthusiasts the world over, and it’s part of Brian started leading tours in Hatteras in 1995, he initially Great shearwaters congregate at sea near the Outer Banks (above). A white-tailed tropicbird soars (inset). Photos courtesy an enterprise that’s all run by Captain Brian Patteson chartered boats until he was able to get his own – the of Kate Sutherland. off Hatteras Island. Stormy Petrel – in 2005. A year later, he upgraded to the “You get to a point where you’ve seen about all Stormy Petrel II: a 61-footer with room for 25 passengers, the birds you can reasonably see onshore – so eventually, the only thing left is to go a full walk-around deck, a comfortable salon space and even two real bathrooms. looking for what we call pelagic birds – open-ocean seabirds – most of which don’t nest Kate was one of Brian’s early guests who never left. Also from Virginia, Kate within even a few 100 miles of the Outer Banks,” Brian explains. “You’re basically looking became interested in birding while earning an associate’s degree in natural resources at birds from all over the Atlantic Ocean.” management when a biology professor suggested checking out an offshore seabirding Some of the species may be vaguely familiar to the average person – including trip in Hatteras. varieties of petrels and gannets and shearwaters – while others, such as the great skua, That was in February 2000. are better known only to avid bird-watchers. “I went out on a trip [with Brian] and fell in love with the whole concept,” Kate But it may surprise many to know that puffins can also be spotted off the coast of recalls. “The idea that there are all these birds that spend their entire lives at sea was the Outer Banks. Yes – those puffins, the fan-favorites at zoos and aquariums. incredibly fascinating to me.” N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 23
Some of the many birds Brian Patteson and Kate Sutherland have encountered over decades of operating pelagic tours off the coast of the Outer Banks include Fea’s petrels, brindled terns, northern gannets and even Atlantic puffins (pictured top to bottom). Photos courtesy of Kate Sutherland.
On impulse, Kate asked Brian if he ever know where to go to look for them, how we needed someone to help collect data on his need to cross paths with the birds, and how trips – and, as luck would have it, Brian had to put them in the best light for photography. just lost a crew member who previously We’re super flexible with all those things, and filled that role. After helping him add up the we’re also able to operate at a much lower thousands of birds they encountered on that cost by doing it ourselves.” trip, Kate mentioned that she’d like to come Today’s success has come thanks to back later and do it again. plenty of trial and error in Brian’s early days, Which is exactly what she did, traveling however – and he was lucky enough to be down every weekend from Virginia to learn helped along during that time by perhaps the ins and outs of Brian’s operation and the original Outer Banks seabirder, the late record the data they collected on their trips. Captain Allan “Big Al” Foreman, who founded By January 2001 she made a permanent move Roanoke Island’s Pirate’s Cove Marina in the to the Outer Banks, and although she earned 1970s. her bachelor’s degree in marine biology at the And there was plenty to learn: Figuring University of North Carolina in Wilmington out the wind and the Gulf Stream currents several years ago – where she’s also currently to maximize sightings and passenger comfort working on her master’s (seasickness can be – she still divides her time a problem for some). between Wilmington and Discovering the best Because pelagic birds the Outer Banks in order bait to toss to attract to continue collecting birds (frozen blocks of migrate on a path along the data and organizing chum and shark liver Continental Shelf, Oregon bookings with Brian. are favorites according These bookings are to Brian). And perhaps Inlet is the perfect starting year-round events and most importantly, using point for bird enthusiasts they often come from all the endless amount of over the world. While the data they’ve collected since it’s only 25 to 30 miles Stormy Petrel II spends a over the years to make lot of time doubling as a from deep water instead of 60 each trip a memorable charter boat, it’s booked one. or more in other areas. by birders multiple For Brian, the thrill weekends during the of simply seeing a new winter, spring and fall, as or rare species has faded well as full weeks during the busy season of over the years, and he enjoys the scientific May, June and July. Some guests come back aspect more than anything now. “The year after year. Others take multiple trips in distribution of birds is fascinating, especially the same week. Just about all of them share the seabirds, because we see birds that are their sightings and photos in online birding many thousands of miles from their nesting communities, which helps new guests find areas out in the open ocean,” Brian says. their way to Hatteras. “Being able to spend a lot of time out there They come from the other side of the in that habitat, you really get to know those state and other side of the country as well, species pretty well.” including lots of folks from California. There Brian cites birds such as the black-capped are also visitors from Canada, the United petrel from Haiti and the Dominican Republic Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, or the Bermuda petrel, which was thought to Finland and South Africa. Sometimes there have gone extinct before being rediscovered are celebrities aboard, such as British TV in 1951. Others include the Wilson’s storm wildlife host Nigel Marven. Other times there petrel, which nests on Antarctic islands and are scientists, including renowned Israeli circumnavigates the ocean each year despite ornithologist Hadoram Shirihai, who wrote being as tiny as a purple martin, and the The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. wedge-tailed shearwater, a common Pacific They’ve helped tag birds for scientific species that was sighted on a Hatteras trip research and even monitored beaked whale last year. numbers – while not the main event, whales, “It doesn’t matter how many times I see dolphins or even sea turtles can often be them or how fleeting a glimpse it is – it’s sighted on each trip. always kind of humbling,” Kate adds. “When “Being able to run our own vessel looking I started, I never imagined I’d still be doing for seabirds has kind of made us the best this more than 20 years later, but now there’s in the world at what we do,” Kate says. “We absolutely nowhere else I’d rather be.”
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NAT U R E
Build Your Own Bat House! These plans are for a simple two-chamber house, but you can modify yours to include three or more chambers if you’d like to attract a larger colony of bats.
A Little Bit
Batty BY AMELIA BOLDAJI
Bats are unfairly maligned for being dangerous pests, but supplying homes for these tiny mammals can actually provide a lasting benefit for your area.
A BACKYARD BAT FAMILY MIGHT NOT BE YOUR FIRST
but there are still plenty of reasons to consider installing a bat house on your property this spring. Setting any preconceptions aside for starters, bats are much more afraid of humans than the other way around, and for good reason, too – though these nocturnal creatures are vastly important to global ecosystems, their populations have decreased at an alarming rate in recent years due to factors such as habitat destruction. But even if conservation isn’t enough incentive, these unique flying mammals are also excellent nighttime pollinators (much like their daytime counterparts, bees) and are a perhaps surprisingly effective natural pest control resource as well. The overwhelming majority of bats prey on insects such as gnats, beetles, roaches and mosquitos – an invaluable service on sticky hot southern evenings. Depending on its size, in fact, a single bat can eat nearly 70% of its body weight in insects, ultimately consuming anywhere from 1,000 to 7,000 mosquitos in one night. And while there are more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide, there are several kinds that regularly call the Outer Banks home after they emerge from their winter hibernation in the spring – which, incidentally, is the best time to install a bat house since it gives bats a safe place to raise their young during their prime local roosting season from early May into July. A bit of patience should be kept in mind, however – while bats routinely return to the same roosts annually and stay here from spring through summer, it can take a year or two for them to find and occupy a new bat house. Creating the ideal conditions for a bat house can help speed things up though, which is a good point to note that not all bat houses are equal, and size does matter. A quick internet search will inevitably produce a number of bat houses for sale, including ones that resemble small birdhouses – but if hosting bats is really what you’re after, you’ll keep scrolling. According to the nonprofit Bat Conservation International, the optimum size for a successful bat house is approximately two feet wide and at least three feet tall. And yes, bigger is better. That’s not to say that you can’t purchase a perfectly respectable bat house from a number of outlets, but it also isn’t terribly hard to build your own if you’re at all handy. Whichever route you take, there are a few other installation tips that can make a considerable difference, including placing your bat house in an area with ample sunlight (warmer temps are favorable for mothers and their pups) and making sure that it’s at least 10 to 15 feet off the ground in order to provide protection against predators. If possible, it’s also not a bad idea to mount your bat house on a freestanding metal or wooden post. In addition to their preference for roosting at a certain height, bats are wary of houses mounted on trees because of their vulnerability to predators. Bats also tend to prefer homes with a nearby water source – but even the best host can’t always provide everything, and that’s okay! Just remember the most important thing: If you build it, they will come.
2 6 | S PR I N G 2022
THOUGHT FOR WELCOMING SEASONAL VISITORS,
Use exterior-grade plywood that’s at least 18” x 24” for the first two panels, with an additional back panel that’s about 4-6” taller. Create a horizontal vent by separating the front panel a few inches from the bottom. Cut shallow horizontal grooves approximately .5” apart along all the interior surfaces to provide grip for the bats. Bats like to avoid light, so apply a dark stain to all the interior surfaces as well (don’t use regular paint if possible since it can fill the grooves).
Cut spacing blocks for the top and the sides (angling the top pieces to allow for the roof). Bats are small, so the blocks only need to keep the panels about .75” apart. Separate the blocks along the back panel to allow for another set of vertical vents a few inches from the bottom of the house. Remember that the bottom should be left open to offer the bats a convenient exit/ entryway.
Attach the panels and spacing blocks, then caulk all the joints to protect against drafts and help lock in the heat. During the height of summer in our area, the interior should regularly reach temperatures of at least 80°-100°. Attach the roof (making sure that it’s large enough to slightly hang over the front and sides), and then attach the side panels. Cut notches in the side panels that align with the vertical vents.
Don’t forget to stain and seal the exterior of your bat house. For our local climate, you should avoid an exterior color that’s too light – using a darker stain similar to the interior will help keep the house appropriately toasty. Finally, mount the house as high as possible in an area that gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
make
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istock.com/nahhan
NAT U R E
Sunlight AND A DASH OF PROTEIN
The humble (and hungry) common bladderwort.
Insects beware! Eastern North Carolina is part of a narrow region that’s home to a multitude of carnivorous plants. BY CORINNE SAUNDERS
THE PLANT’S RED, JAW-LIKE LEAVES SIT OPEN, WAITING. An insect bumps into one tiny, hairlike protrusion inside the leaf, keeps crawling and touches another. That second contact seals its fate; it triggers the plant to close its trap and signals its digestive enzymes to begin working on its prey. This isn’t the premise of a sci-fi novel though – it’s simply how the official state carnivorous plant of North Carolina supplements photosynthesis with enough nutrients to survive. The Venus flytrap – also known as the meadow clam, or, scientifically, Dionaea muscipula – has long fascinated everyone from Thomas Jefferson to Charles Darwin, but many would likely still be surprised to learn that this plant only grows naturally within a 75-mile radius around Wilmington, North Carolina. Scientists aren’t sure exactly why the Venus flytrap is endemic to this particular area (which extends slightly into South Carolina), but they hypothesize that geology might be a factor. This zone is also known as the Cape Fear Arch, and in the past 60 million years it has experienced periods of geologic uplift, often raising it above sea level at times when most of the Coastal Plain was underwater, according to Michael Schafale, an ecologist with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, and Brenda Wichmann, a state botanist with the same program. “This area has more extensively sandy soils than the areas to the north and south, so the landscape configuration may have been more favorable to the regular fires that Venus flytraps need,” Schafale notes, referencing the fact that these small plants rely on an open understory in order to receive enough sunlight to prosper. Wild Venus flytraps also used to be more abundant in this area than they are today, Wichmann adds, but development impacts, changes in hydrology, fire suppression and poaching have begun to threaten the species. Popularity has its pitfalls, after all. Consumer demand for these plants rarely lags, but because they need such specific environments in order to thrive, cultivating
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them isn’t easy – a conundrum that’s driven many to poaching as an easy alternative. Fueling an active black market and further threatening the species’ survival, these thefts made officials take note several years ago, and in 2014 removing Venus flytraps from the wild in North Carolina changed from a misdemeanor to a Class H felony punishable by up to 25 months in prison. The first felony arrest in this state took place in January 2015, but it wasn’t the last. Several flytrap poaching arrests in North Carolina have made national, and even international, news since then, with coverage in outlets such as The Washington Post, The Guardian and The New York Post as recently as 2019. WHILE VENUS FLYTRAPS WOULD MOST ASSUREDLY WIN a carnivorous plant popularity contest, they’re not the only ones growing in this state. Broadly speaking, there are five main carnivorous plant types in the world (with some found on every continent but Antarctica): Venus flytraps, butterworts, bladderworts, sundews and pitcher plants. North Carolina is home to all five. In this state, carnivorous plants inhabit longleaf pine savannas, Southern Appalachian bogs and the coastal plain, with habitats that are typically wet with acidic or otherwise low-nutrient soil. “They’re basically making up for a lack of nutrients,” explains Rachel Veal, a conservation horticulturist with the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. “They do photosynthesize too, but they get the nutrients they need from animals.” Within the five main types of carnivorous plants, there are more than 600 species worldwide. According to The Nature Conservancy, 66 of those species are found in the United States, and an astounding 36 of those live in North Carolina – but despite this abundance, Veal notes that people often still believe carnivorous plants only grow in more exotic locales. She speculates that this widespread assumption mostly comes down to the fact that people don’t often frequent the habitats where carnivorous plants reign supreme – at least while the plants are blooming and more noticeable – such as buggy, swampy areas during the summer. “Some [like bladderworts] are small and easily overlooked, too. Even for people who notice them, it isn’t readily apparent that they’re carnivorous,” she adds. “It’s easy to assume they’re not from a temperate area – especially if you’ve lived in North Carolina your whole life and have never seen one.”
EVEN DARE COUNTY CAN CLAIM CARNIVOROUS PLANTS AS LOCAL
Of the five broad types of carnivorous plants, three of them grow here naturally: bladderworts, sundews and pitcher plants. “One that’s probably the easiest to see here is a bladderwort,” Veal says, pointing out that they’re most common on Blueberry Trail in Nags Head Woods, though they can also be found in Kitty Hawk and Buxton woods. Bladderworts are the largest genus of carnivorous plants, with more 220 species worldwide according to Wichmann – 16 of which flourish in North Carolina, and 10 of which call the Outer Banks home. They can’t grow in saltwater, however, and natural freshwater sources are somewhat limited on the Outer Banks. And even in areas with favorable interdunal ponds, bladderworts can be hard to spot. Standing only two to three inches above the water’s surface (including the tips of their tiny, yellow flowers, which bloom from late winter to early spring), the majority of its carnivorous action occurs underwater where the plant’s specialized bladder suctions up its latest snack. While bladderworts prey below the surface, sundews use sticky pads to trap insects above ground. Slightly less common than bladderworts, North Carolina boasts five species of sundews, two of which grow in Dare County: pink sundews and spoonleaf sundews. The spoonleaf sundew (also called a water sundew) can be found in Currituck, Dare and Camden counties in standing waters, pools, ditches, pocosin openings and depression pools in maritime forests, according to Wichmann. The pink sundew has been reported in Dare and Hyde counties, but tends to do well in general from southeast Virginia down to Florida and as far west as Texas. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on mainland Dare is home to yet another carnivorous species: yellow pitcher plants. They start blooming locally by May or June, and continue until they go dormant in the fall. Though Veal notes that they often look greener in color and can vary in size, they tend to grow about knee-high in low, swampy areas, and they’re named for the distinctive shape of their traps. Insects are attracted to the nectar that these Consumer demand plants produce, but once unsuspecting bugs for these plants rarely venture down inside the pitcher to begin feeding, lags, but because they downward-pointing hairs and a waxy interior need such specific prevents them from climbing back out. environments in order “They fall down and basically turn into nutrient to thrive, cultivating soup,” Wichmann explains. Veal has personally cut open old pitchers to them isn’t easy – a examine their contents – which is essentially several conundrum that’s inches of bug juice. While all manner of crawling driven many to insects can be found in that mix, pollinators such as poaching as an easy bees are rarely among them due to the shape of the alternative. pitcher plant’s flowers, which help shield pollinators from becoming unintended prey. This selective diet, consisting mostly of ants, spiders and beetles seems to be common among carnivorous plants, including Venus flytraps. And while that might seem puzzling in terms of meat-eating flora, it’s important to bear in mind that they’re ultimately guided just like any other being toward survival – and for that, they’ll always need some assistance from pollinators. RESIDENTS.
FOR MOST CASUAL OBSERVERS, the chance to see a carnivorous plant in action is a huge part of the thrill these plants inspire – and numerous visitors at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island have experienced exactly that since the spring of 2020. “If you stand there long enough, you’ll see them catch things,” Veal says about the aquarium’s small carnivorous plant garden that lies on the grounds just to the right of the building’s front entrance. This collection of about eight carnivorous plant species, including examples of North Carolina-native Venus flytraps and pitcher plants was donated by a longtime aquarium volunteer, and it’s the most recent addition to the site’s outdoor exhibits, which already featured a pollinator garden, a rain garden and an in-process maritime forest restoration area. “It’s been a good way to engage people about native plants [and their] habitats,” Veal says. “All [of the aquarium’s gardens] are open year-round, but the most ‘action’ happens from April to October.” Many guests, while excited to see the plants, don’t arrive understanding just how local the carnivorous species are, however. “If you ask,” she adds, “most people will say, ‘They’re tropical,’ every time.”
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Cr A new flat top-inspired cottage in Southern Shores is filled with pops of color and light. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JONATHAN CLARK STORY BY ARABELLA SAUNDERS
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rushing It B efore Gray Berryman and his wife, Alison, moved to the Outer Banks in 2002, they lived in Colorado, where they worked as wilderness therapy counselors and lived out of their trucks with camper shells. “It was a very nomadic life,” Gray says. “So the idea of actually having a house seemed like a lot of work.” Enter: the humble flat top. When a local real estate agent showed the Berrymans a 1960s era, aqua-blue flat top near Avalon Pier, the young couple didn’t even bother touring other houses. Come fall, they were all settled in, and come winter, they were spending extra time in the grocery store just to avoid returning to their heatless home. But nearly 20 years later, Gray considered the flat top once again while building “Orange Crush,” a three-bedroom, threebathroom home in Southern Shores that takes inspiration from both the original Frank Stick-created flat top as well as another Outer Banks icon, the beach box.
HOME SPOTLIGHT
Construction began in July 2020 and the home was finished the following June. The two-story house features a pool and outdoor lounge area, a small covered deck with ocean views, and a bright interior decorated with subtle details that are collectively reminiscent of the era when flat tops reigned supreme. “There’s a lot of romance to the flat tops – but the reality of a 1950s or 1960s flat top is very different,” Gray explains. “They’re not necessarily all in the same condition, and they’re not shiny. They’re very earthy. This house is a little bit more – the finishes are smoother and slicker, and it has a more modern touch to it.” While the mid-century modern atmosphere feels natural in the house now, it wasn’t necessarily an easy vibe to capture. With ongoing supply chain issues due to the pandemic, Gray had to order certain décor items – like the home’s retro Big Chill fridge – months in advance. Another challenge: convincing the tile guys to use black grout.
The Orange Crush in Kitty Hawk flaunts its signature color in its roof eaves (top left). Subtle orange accent pieces and plenty of windows give the house a welcoming, spacious feel in its bedrooms, top-level living room and its bright modern kitchen (bottom, left to right).
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Slightly retro décor reminiscent of the 1950s when Frank Stick-designed flat tops dominated the Southern Shores landscape takes center stage in The Orange Crush – but the house also boasts more modern touches such as a six-foot-deep private pool.
“It was a bit scary when they were like, ‘We don’t use this for a reason,’” Gray laughs, noting that a darker grout tends to accentuate tiles that are even slightly crooked. “But they did a great job. At first, when everything else wasn’t in, I thought, ‘Oh god, they were right. We messed up.’ But after the lights and everything else was in place, it was perfect.” In testament to the house’s name, the overall theme is also simple: the color orange. It provides a vibrant pop of warmth to the front door, the house’s nameplate (which looks as though it came straight out of a 1950s diner) and the roof eaves, which contrast starkly with the otherwise bright white exterior paint. If it had been up to Gray alone, the color would have dominated the inside of the house as well – think orange floors, orange countertops and a completely orange kitchen island. “Thankfully, that was vetoed,” Gray says cheerfully. With the help of interior designer Amy Crisler of Urban Cottage, the orange theme instead became a subtle addition inside the house. While white is the 32 | S PR I N G 2022
dominant color throughout the interior, orange accessories such as throw pillows, oven mitts, blown glass artwork and barstools continue to act as a visual surprise. There’s even a bottle of citrus orange soap by the kitchen sink. But color isn’t the only motif. As a passionate outdoorsman, it was important for Gray to create a home that’s as sustainable as it is stylish. “Tearing houses down after [a couple decades] is ridiculous,” Gray says. “If you can put more thought into a plan and really get the details right, then hopefully it’ll last a long time.” For Orange Crush, some of those details include wider eaves to help with energy efficiency, a fully covered deck to minimize long-term maintenance, and adding extra front steps to proactively mitigate any potential flood damage. And as for the story behind the eye-catching color scheme? There really isn’t much of one. It’s simply always been Gray’s favorite color, and it always will be – ideally for as long as the house is still standing. “Orange is the new black,” Gray quips. “That was my saying long before the TV show took it over.”
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F I V E FACT S
Visitors to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse take in the view from atop the tallest brick lighthouse in the country. Photo courtesy of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
THOUGH THE TERM WASN’T POPULARIZED UNTIL THE 1950S,
the waters off the coast of the Outer Banks have long earned their “Graveyard of the Atlantic” moniker. Strong currents and shifting sands have conspired to bring a watery end to an estimated 2,000 ships here since the 1700s – but our local lighthouses have undoubtedly helped keep more vessels from joining that grim roster. Chief among these towering sentinels is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which boasts a first-order Fresnel lens and an impressive 269 stairs within its nearly 200-foot-tall frame – making it not only the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States, but also a functional navigational aid that continues to shine its guiding light more than 200 years since its inception.
1
Try and Try Again
It can be hard to transport goods to your brand-new nation when your ships keep sinking, so Congress ordered the construction of the first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1794. It was completed and lit in 1803, and the complaints began almost immediately. At just 90 feet tall, the tower was too short for ships to see its whaleoil-powered signal, and its sandstone exterior had a tendency to blend into its surroundings. Even after adding another 60 feet to its height and painting it red and white, there were still structural issues galore, so the newly established Lighthouse Board finally ordered an entirely new tower. The lighthouse we’re familiar with today (with its distinctive black and white spiral stripes) was lit in 1870 – and the 1803 light was unceremoniously demolished about a year later.
2 Cape Hatteras
Lighthouse by katrina mae leuzinger
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Home Sweet Home
During the height of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal gave birth to government projects like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided groups of young, unmarried men with work improving public lands – and on the Outer Banks, one such need was building up protective sand dunes around the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse to mitigate erosion. The double keepers’ cottage and principal keeper’s cottage served as a barracks for part of local CCC Company 436, who spent their days planting 1,500 acres of beach grass and constructing 63,000 feet of fencing. They were paid $30 a month, $25 of which was sent directly home to their families, and when they weren’t working, they attended classes in typing, radio and forestry – and cut loose during Monday night socials called “smokers.”
3
Like a Rolling Stone
Early on, the lighthouse was a comfortable 1,400 feet from the shoreline, but it wasn’t long before the structure began to be plagued by erosion issues – a problem the CCC workers had been well acquainted with – which even caused the light to be decommissioned and replaced by a skeleton steel tower from 1935 to 1950. With varying degrees of success and setbacks over the next few decades, the lighthouse was only 50 feet from the shoreline by 1980, and the difficult decision was finally made to move it – a historic event which took place in 1999. The 4,830-ton structure was painstakingly lifted with hydraulic jacks and effectively rolled 2,900 feet inland over the course of 23 days, allowing it to resume its navigational duties a mere five months later.
4
Deep Run Roots
The lighthouse was set atop a new foundation during its move, but it was decided that the cracked remnants of the old base were a fitting memorial to the other foundation of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: the generations of servicemen who had once kept the station’s lantern lit. With generous financial help from the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society, the names of all 83 principal and assistant lighthouse keepers at Cape Hatteras were engraved onto those granite blocks. Unfortunately, the memorial was also in danger of succumbing to erosion not long thereafter. Though they’d been covered in sand and shifted around by storms, the stones were unearthed, polished and relocated to the new Cape Hatteras Lighthouse grounds, where they continue to serve as seats for a small Keepers of the Light Amphitheater.
5
Expecting the Unexpected
Like any historical building, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse isn’t immune to needs for periodic restoration – and the most ambitious restoration effort to date on this 151-year-old landmark began in 2021. Though currently ongoing and expected to take several years to complete, workers reached a milestone this past summer when they stripped roughly seven layers of paint and other substances from the inside of the lighthouse in full hazmat suits. Once the bare red bricks were visible, more issues became clear as well – including a six-story crack from an 1890 lightning strike and missing mortar between some bricks. The top-notch team of experts involved in this project always expected to encounter the unexpected, however, and are using this opportunity to study and plan for the lighthouse’s preservation well into the future.
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town report R E A L E STAT E
What’s happening in your town? Here’s a report from all over the Outer Banks.
COM PIL ED BY C ATH ERI N E KOZ A K
Currituck County The Currituck County Board of Commissioners approved special-use permits for two separate proposed developments in Moyock this past January: Flora Farms’ proposed phased construction of 277 residential units, and the proposed Fost development of 178 dwelling units, also in phases. The board had previously tabled both requests after heated discussions at a prolonged meeting on December 20, 2021 that raised concerns over school and sewage capacities, but on January 3, the permits were approved with five of seven board members present. Both applicants also agreed to push back the dates of their construction phases. In other news, long-time county attorney Donald “Ike” McRee has been chosen as the new county manager, succeeding former Dare County Manager Ben Stikeleather. McRee, whose new role was announced by the board of commissioners at its February 7 meeting, first served as county attorney in 1989, and returned to the position again in 2008, according to a statement by the county. McRee had been serving as Dare’s interim manager when he expressed a desire to take on the role fulltime, and a search is currently being conducted to fill the county attorney position.
Duck In February, Barrier Island Station was granted approval by the Duck Town Council to fill an area of its property that exceeds the three-foot limit allowed by the town. The land is located on the site of a proposed recreation center the resort wants to build, but the approved special-use permit only relates to the fill request. The town is also developing plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its incorporation on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Although details had not yet been finalized as of press time, the celebration is expected to include a concert, food vendors and an art exhibit with photos 3 6 | S PR I N G 2022
and other memorabilia gathered from residents, property owners and visitors. Potential contributors to the exhibit can submit their information through the town’s website.
Southern Shores Area garbage blight could be addressed through the town’s solid waste ordinance, according to a presentation by Planning Board Chairperson Andy Ward at a Southern Shores Town Council meeting on February 1, 2022. Ward recommended clearly labeling trash cans for regular trash or recyclables and including directional arrows facing toward the street, requiring sufficient numbers of receptacles to meet occupancy needs, asking the town’s Public Works Department to help during off-season roll-backs or mishaps, investigating roll-out service and dumpster possibilities, notifying property owners and managers of compliance expectations and penalties, enlisting police assistance in identifying repeat offenders, and including information on trash rules in tenant welcome packages. Mayor Elizabeth Morey directed staff to draft proposed amendments to the town code that could update the town’s solid waste ordinance.
Kitty Hawk Design plans for Kitty Hawk’s new police station, an emergency management services (EMS) substation and a fire station bay were approved by the town council on January 10, according to the town newsletter. The proposed joint-use facility between the town and Dare County EMS would be located on town-owned property along the U.S. 158 Bypass, and include a 7,000-square-foot police station, a 4,500-square-foot county EMS station and a 2,000-squarefoot enclosed fire truck bay. Plans include hiring a construction manager who will solicit bids and manage costs within the town and county’s total budget of $8.5 million. Construction is expected to begin in early 2023.
Kill Devil Hills Teacher housing at the Run Hill Ridge complex could be expanded after a zoning amendment was approved by the Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners on January 26 to permit multi-family housing. Officials with the Dare Education Foundation proposed plans to construct an additional eight-unit building in the vicinity of three similar existing buildings. The text amendment rezones the property from a resident low zoning district to a light industrial zone district, which updates earlier zoning changes that previously made the new building nonconforming. Construction on the proposed $2 million project is expected to start in about a year and take about 12 months to complete. Meanwhile, the long-planned and much-discussed Colington Road improvement project that stretches 4.3 miles between the U.S 158 Bypass and Island Drive began in February 2022. The $20 million contract, awarded to the Fred Smith Company of Raleigh, N.C., will include realignment and road widening with pathways along some sections, road resurfacing and raising, and the addition of extra turning lanes. The most substantial part of the work is expected to be finished by late 2023, and the project is scheduled to be complete by early 2024.
Nags Head New stormwater management rules were adopted on February 2 by the Nags Head Board of Commissioners. The intention behind amending the town’s Residential Stormwater Ordinance was to make it easier to understand and implement, while also protecting water quantity and quality, according to the town’s website. Per the new rules, fill requirements for lot developments are now more flexible and no longer require volume calculations. Detailed surveys
and elevation information must still be provided up front, however, but existing vegetation and stabilized open land may be used for stormwater management purposes.
Manteo On the heels of former Town Manager James Ayers’ retirement in December 2021, Shannon Twiddy, who currently serves a dual role as Manteo’s deputy town manager and the town’s finance director, recently announced that will she will retire on March 1, 2022. Twiddy began working for the town in 1993, and has worn many hats during her tenure there, including serving as town clerk, town planner and interim town manager. Town Planner Melissa Dickerson is currently serving as the town’s interim town manager.
Dare County A new oceanfront recreational vehicle (RV) park adjacent to Avon Pier, called Avon by the Sea RV Park, is expected to open in May 2022. After Dare County adopted revised rules for travel trailer parks in October 2020, the two-acre park was originally scheduled to open in the summer of 2021, but the project was delayed by weather and Covid-related labor and material shortages. Once open, Avon by the Sea is expected to fill a gap in short-term accommodations available in the area by offering 26 full hook-up sites, a bathhouse and a gated entrance. In other Dare County news, Noah Gillam has been promoted to county planning director, filling the position after long-time Planning Director Donna Creef retired on January 31, 2022. Gillam has worked in the planning department since 2015, and has served as the county’s assistant planning director since 2019.
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R E A L E STAT E
business briefs COMPILED BY C ATH ERI N E KOZ AK
Real Estate
Dare Looking to Make Salaries Competitive Faced with a shortfall in competitive pay compared with other local governments on the Outer Banks, the Dare County Board of Commissioners agreed in January to immediately increase staff salaries in the Public Works Department. County Manager Bobby Outten told the board that county starting salaries were $8,000 to $10,000 lower than what the towns pay, and that offering flexible schedules and hiking the county pay will help them retain employees. The board also agreed to have a salary study completed by a qualified contractor prior to the next budget year.
this past January, Linda Davenport, president of the Gardens’ board of governors, wished him well. “We accepted Carl’s resignation with a tender heart,” Davenport said. “His dedication to the Gardens has helped us grow and become a premier attraction on the Outer Banks.” The site has operated as a nonprofit project of the Garden Club of North Carolina since 1951, and Curnutte will reportedly assist the Gardens in searching for his replacement.
Upgrade for The Lost Colony Audience members at the Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island will be sitting pretty – and comfortably – while watching The Lost Colony this summer. Located in the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the outdoor theater is being outfitted with 1,600 new seats, all with cupholders. The National Park Service Outer Banks’ Group, which owns Waterside Theatre, recently awarded a $236,000 contract to Irwin Seating of Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the park service, it is the first full replacement of the seats since 1998, and the project is expected to be completed by May 1, 2022. Corolla Golf Club Under New Ownership ClubCorp, a Dallas-based lifestyle company that operates more than 200 private clubs, is now the full owner of The Currituck Club in Corolla. Although the company has already operated the northern Outer Banks golf and country club under a lease for more than 20 years, its new ownership will allow for long-term investments to enhance the site, according to a company press release. Located along the Currituck Sound, the 18-hole golf course was planned by renowned designer Rees Jones and was named one of the Top 25 Courses in North Carolina in 1999 by Golf Digest. Gardens’ Director Resigns Carl Curnutte, the executive director of The Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, has resigned from his post after his 12-year tenure in that role. While announcing Curnutte’s decision in a statement released 38 | S PR I N G 2022
New Theater for the Theatre
market snapshot As expected, real estate sales on the Outer Banks have continued to cool a bit since the end of last summer, but housing inventory only got tighter during the same time period, according to the January 2022 MLS Statistical Report from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors. Residential sales dropped by 16% in January 2022 over January 2021, and sales of lots/land were down 22% over the same period, while commercial sales stayed the same, making an average 17% decline in sales from 2021 numbers. Under contract listings for early 2022 also decreased, with a drop of 13% compared to 2021. The average number of days on the market for residential houses also dropped, however, going from 92 days in January 2021 to 41 days in January 2022. For land/lots, the average number of days spent on the market during the same period also decreased, from 184 days in 2021 to 106 days in 2022. Inventory, meanwhile, has declined a total of 29%, with residential down 36%, lots/land down 25% and commercial down 7%. Even with an increase in inventory, though, it would be hard to beat the 2021 market anytime soon. According to the Outer Banks Association of Realtors’ year-end MLS report for 2021, inventory averages were down by 34%, sales averages were up by 17%, total volume sold was up 45% and sales totaled more than $2 billion. It was the lowest inventory and the highest number of sales in MLS history on the Outer Banks.
The Theatre of Dare will soon be staging its productions from a new home in Kitty Hawk Plaza. In February, the 31-year-old nonprofit organization announced that a three-year lease was signed for the former Paparazzi OBX nightclub across from the Kitty Hawk Post Office on the U.S. 158 Bypass. The community theater group was essentially homeless after its venue at the Dare campus of the College of the Albemarle closed in 2017. New paint, lights and seats will be part of the improvements to the new space, according to the Theatre of Dare’s website. With more room to expand, the group hopes to partner with others in the community to increase their offerings, including adding musical performances and summer arts camps.
than the visitation average of the previous 10 years. It also earned the seashore a spot in the top 25 mostvisited national parks for 2021. Out of the 423 national parks across the U.S., Cape Hatteras came in at number 23, only two spots below California’s Yosemite, which ranked 21st with about 3.3 million visitors. The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were numbers one and two on the list.
Big Numbers at the Seashore
Pioneering Weeping Radish Brewery Sold
Visitation at national parks on the Outer Banks broke records in 2021, with more than four million people combined visiting the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Of the parks, Cape Hatteras enjoyed the most visitors by far, with a total of about 3.2 million people traveling to the nation’s first national seashore in 2021 – a number that was 20% higher than the year before and 35% higher
The Weeping Radish Brewery, Butchery & Pub, the first micro-brewery in North Carolina, has been purchased by Sumit Gupta with SAGA Realty & Construction as of January 1, 2022, according to published reports. In 1986, Uli Bennewitz opened the Weeping Radish in Manteo, where Oktoberfest dances were popular annual events. In 2005, the business moved to Currituck County, while expanding its brewery and adding a butchery. Gupta said he plans to refresh and expand the operation.
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R E A L E STAT E
The domestic impact of tourism in NC is dominated by food service and lodging – with food service contributing an impressive $6.9 billion annually, and lodging coming in 2nd with approximately $4.3 billion.
Up for the Count VISITORS HAVE FLOCKED TO THE OUTER BANKS since at least the 1800s when it was de rigueur for wealthy inland families to summer on the sound side of Nags Head – many of whom arrived by steamer ship with a full household in tow. While times have certainly changed, what hasn’t changed is the allure of the Outer Banks to people both near and far who cherish their time here. And the numbers don’t lie – not only is the Outer Banks (and North Carolina in general) a top vacation destination, it’s got the figures to back it all up.
Top four counties for visitor spending in 2020 Mecklenburg
North Carolina is the nation’s 5th most-visited state.
Dare County is the 4th largest tourism destination within NC.
The largest number of overnight travelers in NC were residents from a different part of the state, but the top home states for out-of-area visitors were Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia.
5%
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94% NC’s top 5 international visitors hailed from Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany and India (in order).
Charlotte
Wake
Buncombe
Asheville
Raleigh
Total visitor spending in the state in 2020 was $19.96 billion.
94% of those visitors also reported driving to their NC travel destination, with only 5% flying – and a whopping 72% of them said that the main purpose for their NC stay was leisure.
NC visitors spent an estimated $55 million per day, which generated approximately $4.9 million in visitor-related taxes each day.
Dare County State and Local Taxes Generated by Year (in millions) $106 $109
1 in every 59 North Carolina residents are directly employed by tourism.
$113
$120
$123
1 in every 3 Dare County residents are directly employed by tourism. 2016
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Dare
2017
2018
2019
2020
Visitor spending in the state in 2020 generated $1.8 billion in state and local tax revenue. Dare County contributed $123 million (total) in state and local tax revenue.
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DE S I G N S NA P S H O T
Just What the Doctor Ordered Compiled by Amelia Boldaji / Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Neal
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According to Paul, the ceiling was the centerpiece that really set the tone for this project. As one of the first design decisions they made, these rough-cut cedar planks were individually stained twice over the course of three days to achieve a hue that’s reminiscent of weathered driftwood – tying its distinctive effect directly to the dental practice’s name, and matching it with several other driftwood-inspired accents throughout the office.
With the ceiling as the main feature, it only seemed fitting that at least one design concept would evolve to put it on prime display. Starting with essentially four bare walls, Paul constructed a soffit around the entire room with recessed LED uplighting to give the space a soft glow – and to give eagle-eyed office visitors a glimpse of the soothing deep-sea blue paint behind the wooden ceiling planks.
As part of their design collaboration on this space, Dr. Doering sent Paul numerous pictures of other visually interesting dental offices, including one with a reception area that particularly appealed to him – which Paul was able to recreate in a nearly identical manner. With its dropped middle section and supporting columns, this open workspace is finished with a white quartz countertop and pairs perfectly with the old coastal cottage vibe of the shiplap wall in the background.
In keeping with the driftwood theme, it made sense to match the tone of the floor with the ceiling – while also bearing in mind the heavy foot traffic concerns of a commercial space. Fortunately, they were able to find a highly durable luxury vinyl plank flooring that both complements the other components of the office and will be able to withstand the high-humidity coastal climate for many years to come.
As the #1 Independent Real Estate Firm on the Outer Banks, our agents are dedicated to ensuring you make the most of your investment. Contact Twiddy Premier Sales today to start your Outer Banks real estate journey. $391+ MILLION IN SALES & 500+ HAPPY CLIENTS SINCE JANUARY 2021*
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Feng Shui
THE COASTAL WAY By Maggie McNinch
that can help you achieve harmony with your surroundings – whether you’re trying to update your office space or spruce up your sitting room. By combining an understanding of cardinal directions and energy forces, wildly successful entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and companies like Google and Nike have all utilized forms of feng shui to enhance productivity, so there’s no reason why those concepts can’t work in your own home. And since “feng” and “shui” literally translate to “wind” and “water,” your Outer Banks beach house is already primed to reap the benefits of these principals – especially if you’re open to adding a few details by design.
FENG SHUI IS AN ANCIENT CHINESE PRACTICE
Cultivate Coastal Colors Fire, earth, metal, water and wood. The five natural elements of feng shui can be incorporated in a variety of ways, but focusing on colors is probably the most common. These elements command the flow of positive and negative energy, so keeping them balanced is the best way to create a serene environment. To achieve this in your own beach box, consider painting a southern-facing room with red and orange accents to depict a vivid sunset. And since water is the opposite of fire, painting that room’s northern-facing counterpart with shades of gray and blue will stabilize those energies – and might even call to mind a blustery nor’easter.
Put an Accent on It Don’t get stuck thinking that feng shui only pairs with Asian-inspired art – the most positive energy is produced by using decorative pieces that are meaningful to you. For Outer Banks homeowners in particular, this could mean adding accent pieces that range from elegant arrangements of sea glass inside 4 4 | S PR I N G 2022
an antique lantern to a favorite piece of shore-found driftwood placed in prime display on a mantel. In order to incorporate other elemental principals, you might consider arranging candles in otherwise unoccupied nooks around your house (think bookshelf corners and windowsills) to represent fire – which can act as a balancing force with all the water we’re surrounded by.
Grow a Garden Plants are extremely important in feng shui, particularly since they represent the wood element of growth and kindness. No matter what sort of plants you’re most drawn to, their energetic forces will mainly thrive in the eastern, southeastern and southern areas of your home, and it’s important to remember that any plants you do decide to bring into your home should always be vibrant and healthy. For coastally specific ideas, you might consider pairing a hanging anemone shell with an air plant to create a whimsical jellyfish or fashioning a tabletop centerpiece out of native beach grasses such as purple fountain grass or naturally dried pampas grass.
Think Outside the Inside Although many people think of feng shui as an indoor concept, it can be extremely beneficial to think outside your doors as well. From a barbeque pool party to roasting marshmallows by the fire pit, many of us tend to utilize the external areas of our home year-round here on the Outer Banks. Decks, patios, porches and balconies are places that remind us to savor the fresh air, after all, so simple feng shui tactics such as aiming to keep those spaces clutter-free can do wonders. Want to go the extra mile to promote an atmosphere of maximum relaxation while invoking the element of wind? Consider investing in a comfortable hammock to rock and recline in.
Go Beyond the Line Generally speaking, curves are always better than angles – which makes sense considering the fact that feng shui strives to imitate nature as much as possible. Prioritizing flowing lines over straight ones in your house is an ideal way to achieve this, which is great to keep in mind when you’re in the market for everything from picture frames to coffee tables (both of which have plenty of options on the market with softly rounded edges). You can further accentuate this thoughtful airiness by hanging slightly translucent curtains in your main common areas and opening your windows as often as you can – not only will this allow natural light to flow more freely, but it’ll also regularly remind you just how lucky we are to call this place home.
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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 45
sun salutations Atlantic Realty Outer Banks Atlantic Realty Outer Banks Recognizes Sales Agents Myra Ladd-Bone, co-founder of Atlantic Realty Outer Banks, owned and operated the company for 36 years before selling it in 2018. Now celebrating 40 years of serving the Outer Banks, Myra remains Atlantic Realty’s general manager and broker-in-charge. She is actively involved in the daily activities of assisting buyers and sellers, and her business associates and clients always become her friends. Myra can be reached at (252) 202-5689 or myra@atlanticrealty-nc.com. Barbara Gudoski, sales coordinator and broker at the firm, joined the team in 2012 after many years in the furnishing and interior design business in Kitty Hawk. She loves anything and everything about homes, including building, staging, furnishing and decorating them, as well as assisting in the purchasing and selling of them. Barbara can be reached at (252) 207-8902 or barbara@atlanticrealty-nc.com. Broker Anna Sadler has been in real estate since the 1980s when she specialized in properties on the northern Outer Banks. She has seen the area evolve to the premier vacation destination it is today, and counts among her clients many of the investors who first saw the potential of Corolla when it was little more than windswept dunes. Anna has worked for the betterment of the Outer Banks, serving as both a Dare County and Nags Head commissioner, as well as serving on many boards throughout Dare. Anna can be reached at (252) 202-5264 or anna@sunandsea.com.
Beach Realty & Construction Beach Realty Recognizes 2021 Agent of the Year Ilona Matteson was named the Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals agent of the year for 2021 – and she also earned agent of the year honors in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2020. Her knowledge of the local market, industry trends and her superior negotiating skills combine to offer her clients a comprehensive customer-focused experience. Alongside her successful career in real estate sales, Ilona offers training and coaching to the sales team at Beach Realty & Construction. You can reach Ilona at ilonamatteson@gmail.com.
Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Names Edith Rowe Top Sales Agent of 2021 Edith Rowe finished 2021 with $59,841,630 in sales, and she has won the Top Sales Agent Award for the past five years (based on closed sales volume). Edith holds a broker’s license and has been in sales on the Outer Banks since 2000. In addition to a thorough knowledge of real estate and construction, Edith brings to the table a degree of local sales acumen and a familiarity with the area found in few agents. Contact Edith at (252) 202-6165 or edithroweobx@gmail.com. 4 6 | S PR I N G 2022
Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Welcomes Kelly Hopkins to the Sales Team Real estate agent Kelly Hopkins takes pride in helping her community, both by assisting her clients as they successfully navigate real estate transactions and by donating her time to the local animal shelter where she collects monetary donations, food and care items, and even organizes hurricane relief supplies for the animals. As a long-term resident of the Outer Banks, Kelly’s knowledge of the area, its people and the local market give her clients an advantage. Contact Kelly at (252) 564-9236 or khopkins@brindleybeach.com.
Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Names VanderMyde Group the 2021 Top Performing Team Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is pleased to announce that the VanderMyde Group is the firm’s top producing team. Heather VanderMyde, along with team members Kiirsten Farr, Will Gregg, Kasey Rabar and Trish Berruet, ranked number one in listings, sales volume and units for 2021. They also earned the prestigious Coldwell Banker International President’s Premier Team award, ranking them in the top four percent of all Coldwell Banker teams worldwide. Team leader, Heather VanderMyde, can be reached at (252) 202-2375 or hvandermyde@gmail.com. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Names Brook Sparks the 2021 Agent of the Year Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is pleased to announce that Brook Sparks is the top producing agent for the firm based on closed sales volume for 2021. Brook was also named the top listing agent, and she was awarded the Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle award, which is presented to the top three percent of all agents worldwide. Brook can be reached at (252) 619-1177 or brook@cbseaside.com. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Names the Heather Sakers Team the Top Producing Team at the Kitty Hawk Location Heather Sakers, along with team members Charles Gill, Ann Taylor Lusk and Dolly Saunders, earned the firm’s top producing team award for the Kitty Hawk location based on closed sales volume in 2021. The team has also earned the Coldwell Banker International President’s Premier award, which is presented to the top four percent of all agents worldwide. Team leader, Heather Sakers, can be reached at (252) 599-6814 or heather@cbseaside.com. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Welcomes New Agent Dustin Spain Dustin Spain has joined Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty at their Kitty Hawk location. Dustin grew up in Currituck County and worked in his family’s businesses there, which included Kevin’s Store, Cindy’s Kitchen and Currituck Sports. “My family built their businesses by creating lasting relationships,” Dustin says. “A career in real estate offers me this same opportunity.” Dustin can be reached at (252) 619-3112 or dustin@cbseaside.com.
s
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THE LATEST NUMBERS SAY IT ALL
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Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Welcomes Dawn Fitzgerald to the Kitty Hawk Location Dawn Fitzgerald recently joined the Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty sales team. A native of Pennsylvania, Dawn relocated to Corolla three years ago. “I look forward to working alongside such an amazing and kind group of people,” Dawn says. She can be reached at (252) 207-6617 or dfitzgerald@cbseaside.com.
SAGA Realty & Construction SAGA Realty & Construction Welcomes Tamarra Bowser to the Sales Team SAGA Realty & Construction is thrilled to have Tamarra Bowser join SAGA’s premier Outer Banks sales team. Originally from Jamaica, Tamarra graduated from Northern Caribbean University with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management. She believes that understanding customers’ needs lies at the center of every successful business. As a realtor, her goal is to listen and communicate with her clients, and to guide them through the entire sales process. SAGA Realty & Construction Welcomes Rick Uhl to the Sales Team Rick Uhl joins SAGA Realty & Construction as a licensed realtor both in North Carolina and Virginia. He has been helping clients find their dream homes since 2013, and prior to his career in real estate, he was a construction superintendent for seven years. Rick’s proficiency goes beyond just selling land and homes; his breadth of construction knowledge sets him apart with an expertise in the home buying, selling and building processes. SAGA Realty & Construction Welcomes Melissa Curry to the Sales Team Melissa Curry, originally from central Virginia and a graduate of Longwood University, is a veteran educator with 20 years’ worth of experience as a high school teacher and coach. Melissa’s enthusiasm, ability to think on her feet and her organizational skills offer an unparalleled experience for her clients in real estate. Whether you are buying, selling or building an investment property or your forever home, Melissa strives to provide cutting-edge customer service through marketing and her attention to detail.
Southern Shores Realty Southern Shores Realty Names Mike Ross Agent of the Year For the 12th time, Associate Broker Mike Ross earned the agent of the year award. Mike has been an integral part of real estate on the Outer Banks since 1987, and he feels that “focus, commitment and dedication are the keys to achievement.” Mike specializes in dealing with real estate needs on the Outer Banks, and he is the recipient of many sales awards, a graduate of The Realtor Institute, and an accomplished multi-milliondollar producer year after year. If you or anyone you know is interested in buying or selling a home, let Mike Ross help you. 4 8 | S PR I N G 2022
Sun Realty Names Top Agents for 2021 Sun Realty is excited to announce their end-of-year 2021 agents of the month. For October, the M&M Team of Madonna and Michael VanCuren took top sales for the company. New Sun agent Ian Lassiter was awarded Agent of the Month for November, and veteran Sun agent Michael Davenport rounded out the year as the December Agent of the Month. For 2021, the Sun Realty Agent of the Year honors went to the M&M Team of Madonna and Michael VanCuren, while Richard Hess was recognized with the Agent’s Choice Award. Congratulations to all on a successful year!
Twiddy Premier Sales Twiddy Agent Matt Preston Sets New Personal Record in 2021 Matt Preston set a new personal record in 2021 with more than $29.6 million in total volume sales and an average of 29 days on the market for his properties. So far this year, Matt has already closed over $5 million in sales. From multimillion-dollar homes to boat slips, Matt sells it all. Matt can be reached at (252) 207-6143 or mpreston@twiddy.com. Twiddy Congratulates Ray Meiggs on a Successful 2021 Twiddy Premier Sales congratulates Ray Meiggs for a stellar year of sales. Ray closed over $41 million in total volume sales since January 2021, and he was also the listing agent of the highest single-family residential transaction in Outer Banks history at $6 million. Whether buying or selling, you can count on Ray’s integrity, accountability and passion for real estate. Ray can be reached at (252) 333-5310 or rmeiggs@twiddy.com. Twiddy Agent John Myers Sets New Personal Record in 2021 Congratulations to John Myers of Twiddy Premier Sales for setting a new personal record with over $16 million in total volume closings since January 2021. John has been selling Outer Banks real estate for nearly four decades, and 25 of those years have been with Twiddy! John is meticulous, responsive and incredibly knowledgeable. John can be reached at (252) 256-2066 or jmyers@twiddy.com.
Village Realty Village Realty Announces the Top Three Agents of 2021 Once again, Caroline Basnight is the top-selling agent for Village Realty in 2021 with more than $25 million in sales. As a mother of two, local restaurateur and Outer Banks native, she has the knowledge needed to help you buy or sell. As her many clients will attest, Caroline is also diligent, responsible and she hits the ground running each day. Kathy Bowman Sawyer is the second top-selling agent for 2021. Kathy has actively brokered real estate for 37 years. She thrives on the opportunity to sell or list property in and around the Outer Banks area, and she takes pride in making happy buyers become happy homeowners and in taking sellers to their next destination. Kathy has received many sales awards over the course of her career. Cathy Turner is Village Realty’s third top-selling agent for 2021. Cathy has been selling Outer Banks real estate for 25 years, and it would be tough to find an agent with more experience in purchasing, remodeling and owning rental homes. Cathy is well-respected within the local community, not just for her real estate knowledge, but also for her volunteer spirit and charitable giving.
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F E AT U R E
TH E SANDS OF TI ME In the scope of Outer Banks history – encompassing everything from pirate lore to the birth of modern aviation – 18 months isn’t a terribly large amount of time. But that’s exactly how long the trawler known as the Ocean Pursuit spent aground near Oregon Inlet, where its hulking remains became symbolic of this area’s reputation as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and inspired scores of visitors to seek out a somewhat unlikely local attraction. Images of the shipwreck soon spread like wildfire, even as the vessel sank deeper beneath the sand and was eventually removed in the fall of 2021. Gone, but not forgotten, the Ocean Pursuit became the stuff of legends, serving as a symbol of the romantic high seas and a reminder of its impermanence – and, for some, taking its place on their bucket list as the photo opportunity of a lifetime.
BY A ME L IA BOL DA J I
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MA RC H 2 0 2 0 TE R RY KAR L SON
Terry Karlson heard about the Ocean Pursuit not long after it ran aground, and figured that the clock was ticking before it was removed. Not about to miss his chance, he took off work and headed to the Outer Banks from his home base near Raleigh where he works as a land use planner with North Carolina State University. Once there, Terry walked from his campsite to the wreck at around two a.m. and stayed in the same spot until the sun came up. “Astrophotography can be a game of patience,” he says, “and that was what nature gave me.”
Let me help you accomplish the greatest return possible when you sell your Outer Banks property. Buying or selling an Outer Banks home doesn't have to be difficult. Edith combines technology, a high degree of local sales knowledge, and familiarity with the area found in few agents. Heavily invested in the Outer Banks of North Carolina herself as an owner of both investment and primary residences, you will find Edith's knowledge an invaluable asset in your own Outer Banks home experience.
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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 51
SEPTEMBER 2020
A RI A NNA STEWA RT
“This picture is going to be a core memory of something that happened in this state,” photographer Arianna Stewart says matter-of-factly. “It’s a piece of history going into the sand.” Spurred on by a friend who caught wind of the Ocean Pursuit on social media, Arianna traveled to the Outer Banks for the first time to try her hand at capturing an image of the vessel, and even though she returned to shoot it again a year later in October 2021, this image remains her favorite out of hundreds of others. “It was a right spot, right time sort of thing,” she says happily.
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OPE N A LL Y E A R
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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 53
OCTO BE R 20 2 0 SARA LADL E Y ( R I G H T )
Pittsburgh-based small business owner Sara Ladley designs attire for horseback riding, and that niche market regularly involves setting her sights on things from behind a lens – so when she heard about the Ocean Pursuit not long before her family’s annual trek to the Outer Banks, she was instantly intrigued. After some online sleuthing to figure out the ship’s location, Sara returned to photograph the Pursuit three times over the course of about a year. “It was such a treat to hike in and see it,” she explains. “It looked different every time…but in some ways it also felt like revisiting an old friend.”
JUN E 20 21
RYAN N OBL E ( B E LOW )
This photo within a photo wasn’t exactly planned, but Hampton Roads filmmaker and photographer Ryan Noble knows a good shot when he sees it – and images that capture nature with a bit of action are of particular interest to him. Though Ryan’s regularly visited the Outer Banks since he was young, this trip with fellow photographer Wes Shinn (pictured) was largely organized around visiting the Ocean Pursuit. Luckily, they arrived to find that the late evening light was perfect, and that the Pursuit was just visible enough above the sand. “I wouldn’t have wanted to catch it at any other time,” Ryan says.
5 4 | S PR I N G 2022
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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 55
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M AY 20 21 RYAN N AVAZIO
As a fulltime cinematographer and videographer, Philadelphia native Ryan Navazio always has a camera close at hand. Though he hadn’t been to the Outer Banks since he was a kid, Ryan traveled here and immediately went in search of the Ocean Pursuit even though the day’s weather was unpromisingly dreary – which was ultimately an upside when he found himself out there alone on a pristinely windswept landscape. “The next day there were a ton of people and footprints,” he says in hindsight. “I was just lucky to get there when it was completely empty.”
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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 57
THE LOCAL LIFE
Scott Lawlor Yogi / Produce Purveyor
STORY BY AMELIA BOLDAJI / PHOTO BY CORY GODWIN
THERE’S A FLURRY OF TEXTS BEFORE SCOTT LAWLOR CAN EVEN SIT
but he seems to juggle it all with a sense of ease, carefully checking items off a stack of papers and taking the odd phone call with unhurried patience. At an hour when most people are starting their morning, Scott’s just finished teaching his first of three classes for the day at Kind Yoga (which he co-owns), and even during this relatively slower season he still has a formidable list of daily local orders to take and fill as sole proprietor of Hatties Wholesale Produce and Culinary Specialties.
DOWN WITH A CUP OF COFFEE,
He’s also an accredited teacher and founder of the Scott Lawlor Yoga Academy, a father of four ranging in age from toddler to teenager, and a self-proclaimed type-A personality turned dreamer who loves to talk about his enduring crush on the world – and who firmly believes that anything can be made better with an extra touch of kindness.
Can you talk a bit about the wholesale produce part of your work life? I moved [to the Outer Banks] in ’96, and opened a niche produce market – Hatties – in ‘98, when there wasn’t a coffee or juice shop anywhere on the beach. I was a little ahead of my time, so after a couple years I sold my building, but not the business, and was able to buy some trucks to expand the wholesale part – basically, I was debt-free with an opportunity. Within a few years, I had about 100 accounts from Corolla to Ocracoke with restaurants, farm stands and small supermarkets. I also have a 25-yearplus relationship with every local farmer from here to Raleigh, and we don’t inventory anything, so it’s all directly farm to fork or market. 58 | S PR I N G 2022
And in addition to that, you’re a fulltime yoga instructor as well? The yoga part is funny. I came and went with yoga for decades [since the ‘80s]…and I taught my first class roughly seven years ago. Ish. It’s been a blur! [Laughs] Now I teach about 10 to 14 classes a week, and I'm a Yoga Alliance-certified continuing education provider. But I didn’t want to be a teacher at first – I had a business and kids; I just wanted to practice. Then my first class had 24 people in it, and afterward the entire group clapped for like five whole minutes…[teaching] is my darling now, and I’ve done it religiously ever since. It’s the vitality of life – I stopped practicing, and started living it.
They’re two different fields, but it sounds as though a lot of it comes down to wellness and healthy living – is that particularly important to you? I absolutely feel like we should have options to traditional medicine…[which is why] I’m also training to be a yoga therapist and we’re looking forward to a big upcoming expansion of Kind as a wellness center. I wasn’t always this peaceful though! In the early 2000s my doctor wanted to put me on four prescriptions for blood pressure, but I went for a lifestyle change instead – and yoga ultimately taught me what I already knew by letting me be still enough to understand it. It can sound very hippy-dippy, but I just want people to be nice to each other. I’m a dreamer…[Hums the tune, laughs] but I’m not the only one.
But seriously, how do you balance it all? It’s morning, noon and night, and I’ll go through 100-plus texts every day when I wake up, but I have a lot of support – my kids are incredible – and I thrive on organized chaos. It can be hard here; you have to make a living all on the fly, but the resilience people have is amazing. When it comes down to it, I’ve been selling tomatoes since I was 15 years old, my yoga community is the love of my life…and [I find that] hardships show up less when you embrace them. I just get up every morning and set the intention to be the best I can be – and then go.
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