Issue 5.4
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what’s your passion?
Health and wellness... Arts and culture... A favorite charity, park, or historic site... Scholarships for young people... Or the Outer Banks in general...
DANIEL PULLEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Whatever your charitable passion, we can help you plan your giving, leave a legacy, and establish a perpetual endowment to support the cause or nonprofit that inspires you most. It’s easier (and less expensive) than you think.
For more information
Lorelei Costa 252.261.8839 • www.obcf.org
Hurricane Matthew Disaster Relief Fund In this time of great need in our community, please help your neighbors across Dare County impacted by Hurricane Matthew by donating to the Disaster Relief Fund at
www.obxdisaster.org. DANIEL PULLEN PHOTOGRAPHY
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startingpoint hasn’t changed? We know what we like. And we’re enthusiastic about letting the world know what we think. Even when we’re not clear about what we’re praising.
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Take this whole concept of “Best of the Beach.” What does “best” even mean? Is it quality of product? Price? Friendly service?
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After all, some of my favorite restaurants actually serve basic fare — but provide superior company. And if I’m flat broke, the fanciest four-star experience is the worst possible option. A polite mechanic is always appreciated — but compliments don’t keep a car from backfiring. And while you may be convinced your vet’s the greatest human on the whole planet — guaranteed your pooch has a totally different opinion.
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It’s hard to say. We live in a time when quality is open to interpretation and descriptive language changes faster than you can say “stupid fresh.” In the old days, if someone’s house “rocked” you called a contractor. If life was “insane” you talked to a shrink. And “killer seafood” meant someone in the kitchen was shucking bad oysters. (Or someone in the dining room had a shellfish allergy.) Not anymore. Everywhere, what’s bad is good and what’s good? Well, it can sound downright painful: How was your weekend? “Great! I got so crippled!”
Bad sign for diners. Great news for roaches.
That refreshing retreat to a high-end health spa? “Sickest vacation ever.”
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What does “best” even mean? Quality? Price?
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And that luxury car with a top safety rating. “Literally to die for.” Sure, modern slang’s always incorporated clever wordplay. But at least the tone stayed consistent. In the ’50s, rock-n-roll was “cool.” Chinos were “neat.” A steady date was “your best girl” or a “swell fella.” And you always got home at a “decent hour.” (Otherwise, your parents would be “sore” at you.)
matters of quality to a single superlative without considering context. And that’s exactly why we took a backward approach to this issue’s “Worst of the Beach” feature.
Today, even the best girls prefer “bad boys.” And the fellas? They want a “freak.” She can even be “nasty” — provided she’s not “psycho.” Or, even worse, has a “nice personality,” which means she’s probably fat. And not “phat” — which is actually a good thing. We think?
Does that mean any of these bizarro ideas are really the absolute top (or bottom) of their particular category? Probably not. And chances are some folks out there will totally dig the same elements we despise. All we can say is we put serious thought into each and every critique. A certain negative trend may not bring about the end of the world — but they might spell doom for local culture. The tongue-in-cheek attacks may not be literally lethal — but they’re definitely laughable. And the people we profile are all horribly, terribly talented. (Or at least awfully unique.)
Clearly, somewhere in the course of modern culture, we mixed our messages. But what
And that’s the straight poop. — Matt Walker
Thank you for reading Outer Banks Milepost. We hope you enjoy it. If not — before chucking this issue in the nearest dumpster — please consider one of the following equally satisfying ways of expressing your disgust: lay it out like a red carpet then stomp it with golf cleats; rip each grammatical error and design flaw to pieces like a journalistic Joan Rivers. Or simply add it to that six-month stack of newspapers you’ve yet to recycle. (Trust us: you’ll feel better.) Then, send any and all feedback — positive, negative or just plain confused — to: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com. Or light us up on Facebook with your opinions and ideas. We promise to find some way to re-purpose them.
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Issue 5.4 Winter 2016 /17 Cover: Smash hit. Photo: Chris Bickford Reader You Brushes & Ink Carnell Boyle, John Butler, George Cheeseman, Marcia Cline, Carolina Coto, Michael J. Davis, Fay Davis Edwards, Mary Edwards, Laine Edwards, Travis Fowler, Dawn Gray, Amelia Kasten, Chris Kemp, Dave Lekens, Ben Miller, Ben Morris, Holly Nettles, Rick Nilson, Stuart Parks II, Charlotte Quinn, Meg Rubino, Shirley Ruff, Stephen Templeton, Mike Zafra Lensfolk Nate Appel, Matt Artz, Chris Bickford, Russell Blackwood, Don Bower, Aycock Brown, Mark Buckler, Jon Carter, Rich Coleman, Chris Creighton, Amy Dixon, Lori Douglas, Julie Dreelin, Tom Dugan/ESM, Roy Edlund, Bryan Elkus, Cory Godwin Chris Hannant, Bryan Harvey, Ginger Harvey, Anthony Leone, Jeff Lewis, Jared Lloyd, Matt Lusk, Ray Matthews, Brooke Mayo, Mickey McCarthy, Roger Meekins, Dick Meseroll/ESM, Ryan Moser, Rob Nelson, Crystal Polston, Daniel Pullen, Ryan Rhodes, Terry Rowell, Tom Sloate, DJ Struntz, Aimee Thibodeau, Eve Turek, Chris Updegrave, Cyrus Welch, Jay Wickens Penfolk Ashley Bahen, Amelia Boldaji, Sarah Downing, Paul Evans, Brandon Follett, Laura Gomez-Nichols, Jim Gould, Sarah Hyde, Catherine Kozak, Katrina Leuzinger, Dan Lewis, Fran Marler, Matt Pruett, Mary Ellen Riddle, Sandy Semans, Julie Southard, Shannon Sutton, Kip Tabb, Michelle Wagner, Hannah Bunn West, Clumpy White, Natalie Wolfe, Michele Young-Stone Pointing/Clicking Jesse Davis Sales Force Laurin Walker Big Mouth In Chief Matt Walker
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Blame It All On Suite P Inc. PO Box 7100 • KDH, NC 27948 252-441-6203 editor@outerbanksmilepost.com • sales@outerbanksmilepost.com Outer Banks Milepost is published quarterly (sorterly) by Suite P Inc. All contents are the property of Suite P Inc. and do not reflect the opinion of advertisers or distributors. Nor do their contents reflect that of the creative types (who would never, ever sell out). Comments, letters and submissions are usually welcome. Please include SASE for return delivery of all snail mail, however, Milepost and Suite P Inc. still aren’t responsible for any unsolicited materials. And don’t expect much else to move much faster than IST (Island Standard Time). Oh yeah: if you reprint a lick of this content you’re ripping us off. (Shame on you.) To discuss editorial ideas, find out about advertising or tell us we blew it – or just find out what the waves are doing – call 252-441-6203 or email: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com; sales@outerbanksmilepost.com. www.outerbanksmilepost.com
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I need to rent my place 03 StartingPoint Worst intro ever.
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06 UpFront Inlet moves, Manteo layovers and eight more ways to make it through winter. 16 QuestionAuthority A little history and a lot of math with Dare County Schools’ CFO. 18 B roken Records A compilation of disturbing trends, major mistakes and serious talents. 24 GraphicContent Imitation is the sincerest form of plattery.
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OBX HOMEOWNERS Screen local service vendors and list properties with lower service fees than Airbnb and VRBO.
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34 GoHike Interior trails on the edge of the earth. 36 FoodDrink Long knives for noble causes. 38 ArtisticLicense The framing of Ann Tea. 41 OutThere Jaws of life.
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“There’s so much more to living on the coast than just pretty scenery. There’s weather. There’s hurricanes. There’s destruction. In October, I was putting together a big body of artwork for the Carolina Surf Film Festival in Charleston. I’d already planned on pulling from memories of surfing the Outer Banks with storm debris in the water. And then, right at crunch time, Matthew pops up. Suddenly, people start evacuating. Gas station lines are backing up. I kind of started spinning myself. I made it off the island and I got back safe, but I still had a bunch of unfinished canvasses with a week to go — and no electricity for several days. So I went and bought some candles and a headlamp, and I put all that stress into this painting. Then I powered out six more pieces — without any power.” [laughs] — Chris Kemp
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DREDGING UP getactive THE FUTURE soundcheck
Keeping Oregon Inlet open has always been an issue. A solution just may have startingpoint floated our way.
Oregon Inlet is the Outer Banks’ original wild child. It was born during the Great Havana Hurricane of 1846, which struck the Cuban capital on October 10, then roared past the Outer Banks three days later. The massive Category 5 opened up two new inlets: one south of Cape Hatteras, the other separating Bodie Island from Pea Island. Instead of silting over and disappearing as most inlets do, Oregon Inlet got wider, deeper and even more willful. By the end of the Civil War, it was an important shipping route to the interior of North Carolina, with a reputation for being difficult to navigate — and impossible to control.
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Oregon Inlet is still considered fickle even on a good day — and deadly at its worst — as efforts to deepen and stabilize the waterway continually founder. However, a new agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers is offering fresh hope of finally taming the monster. But, like all coastal processes, that all depends on many variables — beginning with the ever-changing sand itself.
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“Inlets migrate,” says owner of Environmental Consultants, George Wood, who has worked as an environmental engineer on the Outer Banks for 20 years. “They generally move south until they get farther away from the hydraulics that blew the inlet out. And then they fill in, and they migrate south again.”
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How far south? That’s a matter of guesswork and conjecture, but estimates for Oregon Inlet put the drift between two to
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two-and-a-half miles since it formed. It’s still moving — or attempting to — and the evidence is clear. Just look at the north end of the Bonner Bridge compared to when it was built in 1962. “There’s a catwalk where people used to fish,” says Roger Bullock, Deputy Operations Chief of the Wilmington District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). “The inlet was that far north.” There are a number of forces at work, but two in particular are important to understanding how difficult it is to keep
Oregon Inlet open. First, most of the sand moves parallel to the coast in what is called littoral drift, which on the Outer Banks travels predominately north to south. And it does so at an extraordinary rate. In fact, the volume of sand that passes this waterway ranks among the greatest in the world. “According to the Corps, we get at least 1.2 million cubic yards per year,” says Harry Schiffman, who has sat on nearly every Oregon Inlet Task Force and legislative committee. “And these statistics are pretty old.” The other force at work is the water in the sounds.
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Technically, inlets are outlets — they let the interior waters flow from the lagoon. But some sand still finds its way into the inlet. “Some goes to the inside or west of the inlet and forms the shoals on the back side,” Wood explains. “So that’s how you end up, in geological terms, with the barrier island moving to the west.” With time, if there is no human intervention, the sand will fill the inlet, and the waters of the sound will seek a new outlet, usually to the north. So, over the past four decades, a range of experts and legislators have worked to fight this phenomenon. In 1970, Congress authorized the construction of two jetties to stabilize the entrance to the inlet and a 20-foot main channel. But the National Park Service — concerned about the environmental impacts — would not permit the jetties to be built on parkland. “[The NPS’s] opposition to the jetties was that it would disrupt the normal beach processes,” recalls Kitty Hawk’s Bill Harris, who was Superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore from 1975-1981, when the proposal came to the CHNS. “It was a position that was based on the recommendation of the scientific community.” Studies show hardened structures like jetties rob sand from the down-drift side, enhancing erosion downstream — in Oregon Inlet’s case, that’s Pea Island. In 2003, the Federal Government decided they would not fund a jetty. There is a shoreline stabilization structure on the south side, but it was not part of the navigation stabilizations. NCDOT built a terminal groin to protect Bonner Bridge in 1991. One problem: the groin didn’t just stabilize the north side of Pea Island — it stopped the inlet from moving. Yet, it did nothing about the sand that was flowing down the coast.
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“Nobody told the Bodie Island spit, ‘You can’t come any farther south,’” says Schiffman. “Sand wraps around and that’s what’s closing our channel.”
The volume of sand that passes this waterway ranks among the greatest in the world.
Schiffman remains a longtime proponent of stabilizing the inlet with a northern jetty. However, his vision includes a sand bypass system to move sand farther south to prevent the loss of beach — similar to Australia’s Nerang River eductor on the Gold Coast. While technically feasible, the Nerang River bypass moves 500,000 cubic meters of sand per year — roughly half the amount that passes Oregon Inlet — and would cost $106 million to build in today’s dollars. And that’s probably still not the full price tag for putting one here.
“A jetty with a bypass system?” Schiffman says. “I’d take a wild guess capital costs might be $150 to $200 million. Operation and maintenance might run somewhere between $9 and $11 million a year.” In 2013, Dare County and the state legislature created the Oregon Inlet Task Force. They looked at all the options, and recognized dredging was the most successful, but it only worked when a dredge was available. And that was not very often. “The state dredges aren’t ocean certified,” Harry explains. “When we’re talking about Oregon Inlet, we’re talking about a shallow draft hopper dredge. There are only two in the entire United States that can do it.” Both dredges are on the East Coast, and both are operated by the USACE and must cover Maine to Texas. Schiffman,
who was Vice Chair of the Task Force in 2014, wondered if there was a way to have the dredge docked here full-time. So, he decided to ask. “Everybody said I’d lost my mind,” he recalls. “I said if you don’t ask, you’ll never know. I asked that afternoon. And the Corps guy said, ‘We can make this work.’” The process was not as quick as Schiffman or the USACE thought it would be — it required both a new Memorandum of Agreement and some additional funds — but in 2015, the shallow draft hopper dredge Murden tied up in Wanchese, ready for work. As the USACE’s newest dredge, it has a huge capacity to handle spoils. “The Murden is a 500-cubic-yard dredge,” Bullock says. “That’s basically 50 dump trucks.“ The Oregon Inlet channel is supposed to be 400 feet wide and 14 feet deep. According to Schiffman, “This year we got to maybe eight or nine feet.” But he’s optimistic they’ll reach 14 feet within the year. Work in the channel is also constricted by the width of the navigable span under the Bonner Bridge. The replacement span — scheduled to open in fall of 2019 — will be much wider than the current structure, allowing for more options to keep the channel open. Add the efficiency of having the Murden close to Oregon Inlet, and there’s opportunity for more savings over time. “We’re about $7 million per year now,” Bullock said. “We might be able to reduce that to $4 million per year.” It’s been a long time getting to this point. Schiffman has been working on keeping Oregon Inlet open for more than 30 years, but for the first time he’s optimistic. “Right now, we’re trying to move forward,” he says. “Everybody’s cooperating and that’s a good thing.” — Kip Tabb
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December 17, 1903. On that cold and blustery day at Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers ushered in the age of aviation with four successful flights. They sent a telegram to their father in Dayton announcing their accomplishment and headed home for Christmas. At first, man saw powered flight as a modern miracle. But within 20 years, riding in planes would turn routine, and — once more — the Outer Banks would play a role, when Manteo became a stopover for seaplanes flying down from New York to provide international passenger and mail service between Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba. Passengers flew the “Highball Express” — as it was dubbed — to escape the Prohibitionencumbered States and party in “wet” Cuba. The hour-long flight was a major improvement over the eight-hour boat trip. Aeromarine West Indies Airways, Inc. had a fleet of six seaplanes — chiefly converted Navy aircraft that were reconditioned following World War I. As the New York Herald reported, the flying boats were “luxuriously equipped in mahogany and silver.” With 104-foot wingspans and two, 400-horsepower, Liberty engines, the flying boats could accommodate as many as twelve travelers and a crew of three.
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LOCAL milepost LAYOVER
The Outer Banks didn’t just give birth to powered flight — we helped deliver commercial aviation.
The first Key West-Havana mail flight was scheduled for November 1, 1920, but as a precursory test run, Aeromarine’s executives, their spouses, and reporters from the New York Evening Post and Times newspapers traveled from the Big Apple to Key West. The planes enjoyed a proper sendoff from the Columbia Yacht Club on October 23, before soaring out over the Hudson River. Due to its location, as well as its historical draw, Manteo was a stopover point for the Pinta and Santa Maria. The flying boats landed in the sound beside Roanoke Island on October 25, and were met by a “white-haired sun-browned fisherman” who boated the air travelers ashore. Manteo’s busy wharves attracted watercraft of all sizes, but gas motors were still rare.
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“Gasoline happened to be at a premium,” and it took the rest of the afternoon and part of the next day to fill the seaplanes. Overnight accommodations were arranged at the Tranquil House, and the sojourners’ belongings were loaded into “extraordinary little carts made by the inhabitants [of the island] with two great wheels, one on either side and drawn by oxen.” The entourage meandered to the inn, “along uneven grass grown sidewalks beneath the ancient trees…,” by means of light cast by candles and oil lamps. The following day, the planes caused such a ruckus that according to the newspaper, “Dare County Superior Court…was really obliged to give a recess so that everybody might be present to observe the departure.” Three local women were lucky enough to gain berths on the seaplanes for the next stint in the journey. Mabel Evans, Dare County Superintendent of Public Instruction, chaperoned Louise Davenport, 15, and Augusta Peele, 17, on the flight down to Southport, North Carolina. After a brief stay, the ladies took the train to Wilmington to start their trip home, hearts filled with memories and travel tales to share back on Roanoke Island. The second visit by an Aeromarine plane was in December 1920, when Balboa landed to refuel in Manteo on a flight between New York and Miami. Her stop nearly turned tragic when a careless crewmember ditched a cigarette in Shallowbag Bay, igniting waterborne fuel. “For a time, the waterfront of Manteo was threatened by the fire, and many boats lying in the harbor had to be towed to safety.” Fortunately, the Coast Guard cutter Dare was stationed at Manteo, and boatswains mate George P. Midgett, engineman first class W.B. Midgett and
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electrician E. Midgett aided in fighting the flames, saving the flying boat from complete ruin. The mishap caused the aircraft to remain on Roanoke Island for repairs.
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Ponce de Leon stopped at Manteo to take on oil during a flight from New York in mid-February, 1921. All was well until its attempted takeoff, when the seaplane clipped the rigging of a schooner anchored nearby. It was decided that flying boats should be towed to deeper water before they commenced their ascent.
Passengers flew the “Highball Express” to escape the Prohibition.
Aeromarine West Indies Airways reorganized as Aeromarine Airways in early 1921 and expanded service to the Bahamas and Bimini, with runs between New York City, Atlantic City, points on Long Island, and Lake George. But the company ceased operations in 1924 after the Postal Service froze government contracts. The sea planes’ visits to Manteo, in the days before paved roads and bridges, are interesting footnotes in aviation’s early years, and the leading edge of what’s become an air travel tradition, as modern planes continue to stop over in Manteo for southern hospitality and fine coastal fare. — Sarah Downing
Sources include: “Regular Airmail Service to Cuba Now in Operation,” Aerial Age Weekly, Dec. 6, 1920; “First Cuban Mail Planes Land at Roanoke Island,” The Independent, Oct. 29, 1920; “Is Manteo Hoodoo Port for Cuban Mail Planes,” The Independent, Feb. 25, 1921; Annual Report of the United States Coast Guard For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1921; The Man Who Made Pan Am by Max Watson; Science and Technology in 20th Century American Life by Christopher Cumo.
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upfront soundcheck getactive startingpoint roadmap A cheering, jeering gokite look at recent events and their potential milepost impacts
THAT’S ONE WAY TO HANDLE TRAFFIC Were you framed? Tell it to the mainframe. NC drivers no longer need to see a judge or D.A. to dismiss certain violations. They can just go online and make a request. The list of offenses doesn’t include anything major — sorry, Otis — but if you’ve been citied for issues involving your license, inspection or insurance, you can sit at your computer instead of sitting in court. And if you fail to plead your case? You can also pay your fines and court fees. THE BUCKS KEEP STOPPING HERE Hail to the chief — or at least to George Washington — ’cause when it comes to tourism, Dare County collected more dollars in 2015 than any other coastal county,
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generating $1.05 billion. (The second straight billion-dollar year — up 3.3 percent from 2014.) That puts us fourth in the state — behind population hubs like Mecklenburg, Wake and Guilford, making us NC’s top beach vacation for dead presidents. CLOG-UP ON AISLE 9 All summer, rumors rumbled and squeaked like a bad shopping cart over which food chains would soon drop anchor — and where they would land. (Looking at you, Mr. Kelly.) By Sept., we learned of at least one future location, right by Lowe’s. No one knows if it’s Publix, Kroger or some weird brand — what the hell’s an Aldi? — but with a prime spot on First Street, they’re sure to make a mint off Halloween candy. (And frighten off the last vestiges of KDH’s smalltown vibe.) THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY? Sportfishing — and good sportsmanship — both took hits when the Marlin Bowl trophy
went missing hours before high school football’s big game. The annual Sept. matchup pits First Flight against Manteo, with the winning team taking home a mounted fish as bragging rights. Luckily, they reeled in a replacement, but with years of rivalry tied up in the fight, they’d love to have the original back to hang in the hallway. DEEPER KNOWLEDGE? Step aside “Cone of Uncertainty” — and meet the “Underwater Drone of Real Data.” (Or at least the “Slightly Better Sense of Direction.”) During Hermine, researchers fired torpedo-shaped robots — aka “ocean gliders” — 100 miles off the coast to better gauge hurricanes’ behavior. Unlike planes, these remote-controlled submarines can stay in harm’s way for days, measuring water temps and salinity. The more seasons they study, the more they can narrow a single storm’s track. (At least down to a single coastline.)
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS Hermine was the first surprise drop of the season. What looked like a lightweight tropical system left behind hurricane-force gusts and $5 mil in damages. But Matthew straight dumped on NC. Instead of scooting offshore, the Cat 1 squatted on Buxton — pouring approximately 1.5 billion gallons of rain on Nags Head alone — and devastating Hatteras Island worse than Irene. At press time, debris remained scattered, uninsured businesses were underwater financially — and STATES THAT MATTER the total tab was $52 mil and rising. And the Which came first: the line at the gas pump — fact nobody forecast the deluge of problems or the disaster? Well, in Sept., nuisance norms will saturate future topical discussions, from reversed when an Alabama pipeline ruptured, permeable surfaces to development to stopping the supply of fuel to Eastern states emergency response. for days and prompting NC’s governor to DON’T WAKE ME WHEN IT’S OVER declare a “state of emergency.” Prices spiked. People fumed. But the crisis evaporated in just You say, “Hit it!” They say, “Quit it!” These days, even regular rain events turn Manteo’s a few days. Then, the tropics heated up and everyone remembered what a real emergency downtown roads into knee-deep canals. When cars cruise past, they create waves, looks like. ACID SWASH In Sept., Mother Nature dosed Outer Banks beaches with glowing phytoplankton called “dinoflagellates.” For two days, the itty, bitty bioluminescents swirled up from southern waters to turn our seas psychedelic. Perfectly timed with a full moon — and conveniently peaking on Sat. and Sun. night — they wowed local beachgoers, who left neon footprints in the shorebreak and trails of trippy posts across social media platforms.
flooding storefronts. So, this Oct., the town considered posting “No Wake Zone” signs, warning speed demons to drive slow or face a $250 fine. Better yet, stay off the street. (It’s a Grand Cherokee not a gondola.) SUNKEN TREASURE Forget shiny gold coins. Rusty crabpots are the cold cash this Jan., as North Carolina Coastal Federation resumes its annual Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project. Held during the “no potting” period, licensed commercial fishermen can help marine patrol remove marine debris for extra dough. Applicants must be available Jan. 18-Feb. 7 — and each vessel must hold two people — but at $400 per boat, per day, that’s still a good winter haul. Call 252-473-1607 to stake your claim on the booty. For detailed reports on many of these stories and breaking local news on a daily basis — plus page after page of local discussion — visit www.outerbanksvoice. com, www.obsentinel.com and www.islandfreepress.org.
SMART-ASS COMMENT OF THE MONTH “On the bright side, you have a perfect metaphorical example of the perils of quantitative easing. Take the time you’re not driving somewhere to educate yourself on something beyond a $400m divorce.” — Scales of Balance, “Demand, shortages elsewhere led to OBX gas problem,” Outer Banks Voice.com, September 20, 2016
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Morgan Myshin, 38 Craft Beer Dispenser Nags Head “Do what I can to get off the island! [laughs] I used to travel a lot, but now I spend the slow months running my shop, filling growlers and making sure things flow smoothly.”
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Diane Wilson, 57 gosurfBead and Jewelry Specialist Nags Head “I walk the beach with my dog and look for things that wash up on shore to use in crafts or as jewelry. The downtime is perfect to get supplies ready — and get a lot of projects out of the way.”
outthere DUCK SCARBOROUGH LANE SHOPPES COROLLA TIM BUCK II SHOPS PH 252-441-6235 WEB TARHEELTRADING.COM
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Cassandra Francis, 23 Retail Sales Kill Devil Hills “If I can afford it, I go as far away as possible — I’ve spent previous winters in South America and Australia — but winter’s also a great time to enjoy the island. So even if I’m working, it’s still not like I’m stuck — I just go out and explore at home.”
How do you get through winter?
Casual Ambiance Cutting Edge Coastal Cuisine
Maria Facci, 55 Coffee Shop Manager Kitty Hawk “I work year-round, but winter is my season to get outdoors. I spend a lot of time at Jockey’s Ridge and Nags Head Woods, as well as making trips to Ocracoke and Hatteras to walk the beaches.”
Chef’s on Call - Catering - Lunch - Dinner Laura Wayland, 39 Wine/Beer Shopowner Kill Devil Hills “The winter is when we do updates to the store. It’s a big time for tradeshows, tastings — and lots of research on what brands and vintages to bring for the coming year.”
In life, sometimes desire meets opportunity, that’s when the magic happens. Welcome to mine! - Chef Wes
Tyson Shatzer, 24 Barista Kill Devil Hills “I just surf and fish my way through the season. It’s kinda cold and unforgiving, but you can take care of that with the proper gear. And I like how empty the island gets.”
Jessie Shepherd, 32 Wedding/Event Designer Kill Devil Hills “My husband and I try to travel. When we can’t, winter offers a chance to take care of all the chores around the house — and free time for me to get creative.” Interviews and images by Tony Leone
252-261-8646 • 1197 Duck Road Duck, NC www.RedSkyCafe.com milepost 15
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GREATER THAN — milepost OR LESS THAN? Calculating the current state of Dare County Schools with CFO, Anna McGinnis
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Are schools better off than they were five years ago — or worse? Sometimes it’s hard to tell. Ask the county, they’ll say education dollars are steadfast as ever, comprising the largest budget expenditure. Ask a teacher, they’ll say that “flat funding” doesn’t match rising costs. Ask a school board member, they’ll say “no comment” for fear of sounding unappreciative, and making future budget conversations turn sour. But ask a CPA, she’ll cut you an answer faster than a fifty-cent check.
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“All school systems are going to say there’s never enough money to fund all the things they want to do,” says Anna McGinnis, Dare County Schools’ Chief Financial Officer. “My dream is to have enough money so that you could help every child find his or her passion and push that child in that direction, whether it’s medical technology or it’s social work. But that’s a question for the politicians. They’re the ones who can go to the assembly or county and apply the pressure. My job is to put together the pieces we have and make them work.”
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And she’s been doing it for a decade straight. McGinnis remembers the golden years when coffers were flush enough to build new schools. She also recalls the 2008 crash that nearly broke the bank. And she’s managed every year since, cutting corners and shuffling positions to stretch every penny. With spring budget talks on the horizon — and a new formula in place that ties local dollars to state mandates — we asked the chief number cruncher for her best possible answer on this most puzzling equation. milepost
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MILEPOST: Describe “flat funding.” Because, for the past five years, we’ve heard the schools are getting just as much money — and then you hear it’s still not enough. ANNA MCGINNIS: Well, I always go back to 2008/2009 when the rug was sort of pulled out from under all school systems. That was the year we gave money back to the state and the county. We saw our fund balance — which is basically a savings account — go down to $177,000. When you’re looking at a $50 million budget — and 11 schools — that scares you. Because if a hurricane comes through, $177,000 is not going to go that far. For the past five years, funding was mostly the same. But as long as you have retirement rates and health insurance premiums increasing each year, the same dollar’s not going to go as far. But there are things you can do to make a dollar equal a dollar-fifty — if you work it the right way. And we’ve been very good at doing that. We’re very proud that when things were flat and our spending power decreased, we were able to handle everything through attrition. Now we have a funding formula that ties our county dollars into General Assembly action. So, if teachers get an increase, the county will fund that increase for locally paid teachers. If our enrollment goes up, they’ll bump up what they give us for instructional supplies or printing costs. That’s been in place for two years and it’s been very successful. It helps the county know how much money we’ll need and helps us on the revenue we’ll get. We’re also getting maintenance money again — which was down to zero. What we haven’t done is take it to the next step, which is how do we start a new program? Because if you want to do that, you’ll have to do it with local dollars, or you’ll have to give up another program. Have we lost teachers or programs already? What about class-size? “Lost” may not be the best way to put it. I think we’ve streamlined more. I used to have five people in my finance department. I now have three-and-a-half, partially because someone retired. One program we
had to cut was Spanish in the elementary schools. I think everyone would like to see that come back. But we transferred most of those positions to teach English as a Second Language. This year, our class size at the elementary level is smaller than it’s been in five years. The state did cut teacher assistant funding. We still have a staffing ratio of one to one — teacher assistants to teachers — in kindergarten and first grade. In second, it’s now one to two. But we’ve expanded pre-K. And I’m very pleased we did, because we had a waiting list, and that program gets the most bang for its buck. Still, it’s hard to hear we cut Spanish and lost TAs and not feel like schools have gone backward. I think a lot of what’s changed is the introduction of technology. What we’re offering at a secondary level is much greater than what we taught five years ago. There are many more choices for middle and high school. My youngest graduated in 2012. She couldn’t go to COA in high school and graduate with an associate’s degree. Now we’re pushing the curriculum down so middle school kids can start taking high school classes. Those parents won’t have to pay for two years of college. We have online classes and Chromebooks. And we would love to move the Chromebooks down to fifth grade — move them all they way down. Because in college, everything is technology-driven. You’re definitely submitting everything online. And even your auto mechanic plugs your car into a computer. These are good points. My junior high barely had a computer lab. But then you hear about teachers buying their own supplies, too. I have to take issue when teachers say they have to buy their own instructional supplies, because we allocate a pretty significant amount of money [for supplies]. And principals know if there’s a need in a classroom — not a want, but a need — we’ll figure out how to make it work. So to hear “we don’t have textbooks or sheet music”? Well, why didn’t someone tell me? If we don’t know there’s a problem, we cant’ fix it.
Do you think it’s because the culture is engrained with years of “we don’t have the money?” Maybe teachers are gunshy. They ask parents for sanitizer so they’ll look less greedy when they need a textbook.
third grade and AP teachers. So, for every student that passes the AP exam, the teacher gets a bonus. Or for third grade, teachers get a bonus based on reading scores. But kids don’t just learn to read in the third grade — the kindergarten, first It could be. But those lists — the Kleenex, and second grade the hand sanitizer — have been going teachers surely home to parents since my kids were in had something kindergarten. Now, we do want to increase to do with that; teacher supplements. Beginning teachers and it wasn’t just here get a 10 percent supplement. So, the AP teacher they’re making $35,000 and they’re getting that made that a $3500 supplement. I believe that is still in student so the top ten for the state. But $38,500 still successful. So, it isn’t a great salary for a four-year degree. So was a good start I would never say that teachers are overpaid. by the general Even if you break it down over 10 months, assembly. But it needs to be broader. it’s not enough. Especially considering how Because if you reward people for doing much it costs to live here. a good job, they’re going to want to do a good job. And that’s the county giving that money? That’s interesting. Because, the county It is. And they do it to get good teachers. gets the most heat, locally. But it sounds And to keep them. We even bumped up the like citizens should apply pressure on supplement for our veteran teachers since the state, too. So what can we do? they were left out by the state salary hike. Provide support, saying, “Yes, we want to I guess — for parents — it just feels like we’re constantly squeezing. Was there ever a time when we were flush? There was definitely more money during the boom — for everybody. One thing Dr. [Superintendent Sue] Burgess and I felt worked well back then was schools got a bonus from the state when they exceeded expectations. We did that in 2006 and 2007 — and in 2008, too. We would like to see that program come back.
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it takes the whole school to make that student successful.
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see Dare County have the best schools. We want to reward teachers for the job they do.” I’ve always said we just need to put a sandbox at every school. Because whether it’s nourishment or dredging, I’ve never seen a non-unanimous vote when it comes to spending money on moving sand.
[laughs] Again, that’s politics. But to answer your big question: I do feel like we’re better off — particularly for those secondary students. I think for elementary, it would be That sounds like something even fiscal great if we could add that Spanish program hawks could get behind, because it’s back in. But I’m very pleased we expanded performance-based. pre-K. And our relationship with the county And not just for the teachers; it would be for is the best I’ve ever seen. So you won’t hear the teachers’ assistants, principals, the bus me say that we don’t get enough money. driver, the cafeteria worker. Because I do And you’re not going to hear me say we do get enough. My job is to work with the believe it takes the whole school — it takes money we get. And make sure we don’t that positive vibe — to make that student drop back down to $177,000. successful. And the state did something — Matt Walker similar this year, but they just focused on
The preceding interview was edited for space, flow and clarity. For the full conversation — including the puzzling logic problem of paying positions from two money pots and other brain-melting funding matters — go to www.outerbanksmilepost.com. milepost 17
BROKEN
RECORDS Introducing Milepost ’s “Worst of the Beach” Awards. A diverse mix of awful ideas, questionable decisions — and bad-ass people.
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Killer hermit crabs.
Rebel flag boardshorts sparking Civil War T story RSevery “WO reenactments. Lots and lots of DUI jokes. You’d almost say the OBX Report is a website where ACHfor” BEfamous is ripped from the headlines. If the headlines were first written by another fake THEthat’s OFwebsite bringing tears to humor fans’ eyes.
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NC “We’re definitely inspired by The Onion,” says “Goatman,” mythical co-founder of wordpress.obxreport. 2016 STEREO com. “Although some of our posts read more like The Enquirer. But we try to write jokes that could be AWFUL IDEAS real, and point out some irony or hypocrisy or truth that everyone can appreciate.1.That’s always theCISgoal IONS 2. QUESTIONABLE DE of good satire.” BAD-ASS PEOPLE
3.
Worst Source for Serious News:
The OBX Report
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Who is this Goatman? Can’t tell you. In order to do this story we had to agree not to reveal his identity. (Fun fact: every phone call from this unknown digital comic literally came up “Unknown.”) All we know is that sometime back in April, he and a pal decided to unleash a storm of funny mock articles based on a lifetime of local observations. Others took notice and began pitching their own. Today, a handful of writers post B.S. stories sharing the same “Goatman” byline. Even funnier? They’re all complete strangers. Sort of.
“Two of them definitely know each other,” says Goatman. “I wouldn’t say they sit next to each other at the bar, but they cross paths at Harris Teeter. And they’re total political opposites, which just goes to show we can all get along — at least when it comes to making fun of each other.” And they do it at a surprisingly frantic pace. As of October 31, there’s a total of 65 posts. Not bad for a fistful of amateurs. And the jokes? They run the gamut from low-hanging fruit — “Colington man sure that red light specifically targets him” — to surprisingly clever. (Naval history nerds will love the depiction of a modern battle between the Elizabeth II and a German U-Boat — with some intervention by the Crystal Dawn.) The very best stories weave perfectly the highly political with the hyper-local: “Governor calls emergency session to address Wanchese barefoot bathroom law.” And yet, for all the over-the-top ideas. (Manteo’s getting a Wings.) The obviously made-up names. (Nags Head town manager, Cliff Oddturn.) The straight-up transparency. (Their motto proudly proclaims: “Trolling the Outer Banks for news.”) The reaction to stories can be very, very real. And those often provide the funniest moments of all, as comments light up over some of the most unbelievable topics. One report about NC implementing “catch limits” on surfers’ wave counts almost immediately degrades into diatribes over government overreach, while the killer hermit crab fallout is filled with folks decrying animal cruelty. A second one on solving our coyote problem with ACME products got so overheated, the OBX Locals Facebook page booted them for life. “Sometimes I think stories blow up just because people want to believe it,” says Goatman. “Like the one about Jim Cantore getting attacked by a horse. And usually it’s out-of-towners who get tricked, because they sign-up for every Outer Banks newsfeed and can’t tell us apart. But residents get fired up, too. The best is when people start fighting over who’s more local — that’s when you know you’ve done your job.” Ironically, the most supportive entities have been local press. Serious outlets, like the Outer Banks Voice, will contribute advice and shares, helping push the OBX Report’s online audience to that of a legitimate news source. And yet, for all the popularity, nobody’s ready to go legit. “No ads,” Goatman insists. “I can’t really say they would compromise the integrity — because we have none [laughs] — but if we tried making money off it, that would kill all the fun.”
“When people start fighting over who’s more local, you know you’ve done your job.”
Instead, they’ll keep the tone light. Try to encourage more strangers to pitch ideas. And pray they can trick a few more people before someone finally outs their real identities. (“It’s the Outer Banks — nothing stays secret for long.”) It’s all part of a Rubik’s Cube of satire and inside jokes, where any gag could be the headline and nobody’s ever really sure what — or who — is the punch line.
“We just want people to laugh at themselves and each other and not take things so seriously,” says Goatman. “Sure, we’re trolls — but we’re not mean trolls. And in this day and age when everyone overreacts over every little thing that everybody says, it’s fun to just put something fake out there — and see who bites.” — C. White
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Worst chance at a dull shave:
the manteo barber
Go ahead, lean back.
Get lost in the steam of hot towels on your face. Feel the swirling cyclone of bristles lathering cheeks and chin, melting you deep into the headrest. Breathe. Relax. Then try not to laugh as Ben Reynolds tilts the tip of your nose back to expose your neck, whips out a gleaming blade, and grins: “First time with a straight razor? Yeah, me too.”
Outer Banks Dining Casual
Located In Historic Lifesaving Station #6
It’s the same old joke Ben’s told for years. The same one his dad, C.L., has employed since he came to Manteo to cut hair in 1958, making Reynolds Barber Shop — aka “the Manteo Barber” — a downtown focal point for half a century. Since 1978, they’ve operated out of the same white storefront, tucked away on Old Tom Street. Ben took his spot behind the chair in 1999, but otherwise, not much has changed. Same striped pole out front. Same bench. Same vintage vibe.
“One time, a man came in with a head full of gray and asked if we dyed hair,” says Ben, who notes C.L. still works every Tuesday. “My dad said, ‘Looks like it’s already dead.’ [laughs] We don’t do hair color. But we do have a good time.”
“We don’t do hair color. But we do have a good time.”
Which explains why 90 percent of his customers are repeats. Might be old-timers in for their two-week “regulars.” A mom hoping to fix her five-year-old’s hatchet job. Or a college kid seeking the latest hipster trend. Bald and white, high-and-tight — they all get the same approach: a comb and some clippers. “I’ll use scissors for texturing,” he explains, “but it’s kind of like your lawn: why use one of those oldschool machines when you can use a power mower?” Ben keeps a complete quiver of electric trimmers within arm’s reach. And he pulls whatever option he needs without looking, like a barkeep grabs bottles. He’ll mow the dome, edge the ears — even rake the eyebrows. But it’s the room that makes the most buzz, as regulars tell stories, trade news and dissect timeless topics — jobs, loves, life changes — with frank familiarity and an easy cadence that invites total strangers to chime in. Or — in the case of an old-school shave — just lay back and listen to the words and laughs intermingle with the whisk-whisk-whisk of Ben’s blade. Over the course of a half-hour, you’ll learn about local fixtures you never knew. (“That dude who just left was a decorated general.”) Events you’d rather not. (“Another meth lab got busted.”) And a whole lot you never knew you cared about — until you do. Like the fact that one young man dreams of being a fitness trainer, or that his buddy beside him just became a father. “The relationships,” says Ben. “That’s why I love this job. I may not remember every person’s name, but I’ll know their daughter goes to NC State or their mom’s in the hospital. You almost become part of their families.” So much, that Ben’s been known to make house calls to homebound seniors. But his favorite spot is the shop, especially toward afternoon when he fires up the popcorn machine. The smell of hot butter always draws a crowd. Might be some sheriffs. A waitress from Ortega’z sneaking a pre-shift snack. Or any number of neighborhood kids — including his own. (He has four, ages one to 15.) At one point, Ben’s 12-year-old son sits down just as conversation circles back to “lookin’ good for the ladies.” Ben glances sideways and jabs, “When are you gonna start lookin’ good for the ladies?” His boy fires back without flinching: “Whenever Mom lets me.”
photo: John Livingston
Walk inside and it’s like stepping back in time. Black and white tiles checker the floor. A Lion’s Club gumball machine guards the door. An American flag enjoys a place of honor, along with ’50s-era model cars and vintage razors. Even the combs stand cryogenically frozen in a bath of blue liquid. It’s the kind of place you can still purchase a pocket brush, but don’t dare ask for the latest Redken product — or even just Grecian formula.
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The whole room busts open. Makes you wonder: with cuts like that, might there be a third generation of Manteo barbers? “People ask me that all the time,” he says. “My go-to line is, ‘I hope not — I hope they do something that pays.’ [laughs] But the truth is I wouldn’t mind a bit. Like my dad always says, ‘You won’t make a killing — but you’ll make a living.’” — Matt Walker
InteractIve trIvIa
3848 Virginia Dare Trail MP 4 on the Beach Road in Kitty Hawk 252-261-3171 blackpelican.com milepost 21
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Forget IDEAS 1. AWFULAudubon.
Or Defenders of Wildlife. Even theDE dreaded CISIONS LE AB ON TI ES QU 2. Southern Environmental Law Center. When it PEOPLEpushes the comes to beach D-ASS nobody 3. BAaccess, limits of “keep out” in coastal communities like the Pacific Legal Foundation.
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For 42 years, this Sacramento-based nonprofit’s worked to privatize public shorelines, scouring the country for lawsuits that could overturn public trust laws — then providing free legal support to seal the deal. (Or as they put it: “Rescuing Liberty From Coast to Coast.”)
“I’ve been going up against the PLF since the late 80s,” says Jamee Patterson, legal liaison for the California Coastal Commission, which defends public access in the Golden State. “And it can be a battle royale. Coastal property is so
Worst Enemy of Beach Access:
Pacific Legal Foundation
valuable and so expensive, that once people buy land, they often try to pull the drawbridge up behind them. And the PLF is always willing to help.”
In 2011, Diane and Gregory Nies, a retired couple from New Jersey, sued Emerald Isle, stating a modification of rules impacting 20 feet of shoreline violated their property rights.
Even if it means overturning a century of beachgoing tradition.
“That’s their M.O.,” says Patterson. “They always look for a sympathetic plaintiff — an elderly couple; a person in a wheelchair — to paint a more compelling case. Even though that owner knew exactly what they were getting into when they bought the land.”
In California’s Half Moon Bay, Martin’s Beach was a community playground for generations. When Silicon Valley billionaire, Vinod Khosla, purchased the surrounding land and closed the road, the PLF supported the property owner — despite the fact that California officials told Khosla he would have to maintain public access. That battle’s ongoing. But it’s not just California. The PLF’s worked similar cases in Texas, Florida — and now, North Carolina.
Worst Party Crasher:
Last November, an appellate court unanimously ruled in favor of the town, stating: “Plaintiffs retain all the rights they had when they purchased the Property [in 2001]…” Still, the PLF appealed again, saying the town was the victim of government power gone rogue. In August, the NC Supreme Court agreed to hear the Nies’ appeal. If they rule differently, it could
unravel the fabric of our coastal existence, by redrawing the definitions of public and private along North Carolina’s coast. “That’s one thing people don’t get,” says Ben Gallop, attorney for Nags Head, who filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Northeastern coastal governments and the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association. “This case isn’t about access from the highway to the beach — it’s about the ability to move along the shoreline.” And while the PLF’s principal attorney, J. David Breemer, pens op-eds promising it will only impact one homeowner, the organization’s history and mission clearly suggest otherwise. “Their reasonableness is a good advocacy position for their client,” Gallop continues. “But it’s somewhat disingenuous. Because if the
WORST POSER MOVE:
hurricane Matthew
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This award isn’t about death or destruction. (Though Matthew’d surely win those, as well.) But allow us to selfishly list the less important brutalities of this late-season party crasher, as it leveled October’s biggest weekend for fall festivities, leaving organizers battered — and would-be crowds bummed. Among the casualties? Three music festivals. (Mustang, Duck Jazz and Hatterasity.) One statewide art show. (The Watercolor Society of NC’s 71st Exhibition.) And two angling comps — including the 66th Annual Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament. Even Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree waved the white flag two weeks early. Total it up, the amount of dollars — and just plain fun — that Matthew wiped off the map is so huge we literally can’t recall another lost weekend like it. Then again, Matthew’s path was a lumbering stumble of erratic moves that blindsided the most savvy experts, flooding homes and businesses all over NC — and killing at least 20 people in the US and thousands in the Caribbean. And, to be honest, those are the only impacts that really matter.
The Pauli exclusion principle isn’t just some beer drinker’s anti-pilsner policy. It’s the physical law that says no two things can occupy the same space at the same time. You wouldn’t know this from driving the bypass, where countless vehicles sport catchy phrases claiming Outer Banks street cred on tags clearly from other states. So which one is it? Are you a KDH KID who wishes he still lived here? Or a second-home owner, who can’t commit to switching full-time — but wants the world to know he’s got a place at the beach? (We thinks the latter.) So while parading around Virginia with “OBXLIFE” on your Land Rover may impress the neighbors back in the North End, down here, it comes off as an ignorant boast — even an insult — especially to every 60-hour work slave who struggles each day to make this place his primary residence. (And still won’t use the phrase, “I’m a local.”) Of course, there’s an easy way to get a tag that says OBX: just move here full-time; the DMV will basically force one upon you. Problem solved.
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law changes, the door will open for people to challenge different aspects. And the PLF wouldn’t represent a single person for free if it didn’t have the potential to affect precedent.”
Resources, and Environmental Quality. Even the NCBBA and SELC are on the same side. So why is the Supreme Court even taking the case? Some pundits worry the court’s more conservative judges will strike a blow against access, but it’s also possible that they can reinforce existing law and stabilize NC’s 200 years of public beach tradition for the future.
Or as Patterson puts it: “They always say it’s about only one property — but what they mean is ‘one property at a time.’” She’s not kidding. In Oct. news broke that the Nies sold their house. Yet, the PLF is still suing. Should the court rule in favor of the Nies, any number of homeowners could file similar suits. One “private property” sign might block miles of open sand. The ripple effects could impact every inch of coastline — and billions in tourism revenue — which explains why there’s been opposition from every coastal county, as well as the NC Departments of Commerce, Natural
Let’s hope they rule the right way. Because as coastal populations and property values increase — and people migrate from less access-friendly states — every potential lawsuit is another chance for the PLF to change beach access forever. And to those who say that could never happen? “It already has,” warns Patterson. “Just look at Malibu.” — Matt Walker
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To the PLF, this beach looks like paradise. Photo: Daniel Pullen
Worst McMansion:
Pine Island lodge This one was a toughy. Rental homes have grown monstrous in so many ways. Gaudy color schemes that glow non-stop. Goofball names that make no sense. Fake plants. Real palms. Roman columns. Bronze cupolas. Drive the right stretch of Beach Road, you can’t tell if you’re visiting Pompano Beach, Florida or the friggin’ Parthenon. But in terms of pushing the limits of sheer size and building codes, Pine Island Lodge breaks the scale at 28 bedrooms and a combined total of 35,000+ square feet — and a peak season, per week rate of nearly $35,000. That’s no single-family dwelling — even in Utah. So let’s call it what it is: a hotel — only without the fire exits and other safety features. Which explains why Currituck is finally looking for ways to crack down on structures over 5,000 square feet. But it could be worse; the exterior could be hot pink with a neon sign screaming, “Miami Heat.” So while this high-end rental machine may exude excessive, at least the owners had enough good taste to use cedar shakes. milepost 23
OFF THE CHARTS Fake albums with a local spin
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Listener Advisory: none of these ideas are all that explicit. Or even that explicitly good. After all, if we were really serious about rocking Outer Banks culture, we’d soundtrack real life with real music. We’d re-do DUI-inspired country ditties depicting clashes with the law. (“Whiskey River”>“I Walk the Line.”) Score satirical sendups of single life. (“All Out of Love” > “I Touch Myself.”) Maybe even record whole rap albums depicting beach communities’ constant struggle against straight-laced, city oppressors. (Straight Outta Buxton? Fear of a Tan Planet?) At the very least, we’d pick more challenging album covers to rip off. (We were this close to staging a shoot for Chilli Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band.) But in true music industry fashion, we simply looked for the easiest ideas to copy — then pressed out poor imitations in record time.
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Worst Secret to Keep Hidden:
Domestic Violence It’s time to bring these issues out of the shadows. Photo: Lenore Walters
B For survivors, the experience is — at best — a painful past. At worst, it’s a day-to-day
reality. And, like a slimy night crawler, the last thing you want to do is lift the rock and relive the memory. But the only way any community can eradicate domestic violence and sexual abuse is if we work together to expose them to the light — and then destroy them. “A lot of times it’s really uncomfortable for people to talk about these subjects,” says Karen Sawin, Operations Director for Hotline Crisis Intervention and Prevention Center. “The victim blaming is huge. So we put on a positive spin and say, ‘Let’s help the people who are abused to stand up for themselves and each other.” Founded in 1980, Hotline’s come a long way from their days as the area’s first 24-hour crisis hotline. Today, they don’t just take phone calls, they run a safe house for women escaping abusive situations, then help them with everything from clothes to the first and last month’s rent on new accommodations. They also provide training for law enforcement, first responders, teachers and other professionals. And that’s just the direct outreach. Day-to-day, Hotline operates thrift stores in Manteo, Nags Head and Kitty Hawk — and organizes the annual Festival of Trees holiday benefit — to fund operations. But stopping domestic violence takes more than volunteers and dollars working behind the scenes; it takes a shared commitment on the frontlines. “We’re looking at a different approach to how we reach out to the community,” says Sawin. “Before, we were making people aware of what was happening. Now, we just want it to stop.” The first step? Changing the way people frame the discussion. Instead of holding “domestic violence awareness meetings,” they hold “empowerment meetings.” That opens up the conversation to not just survivors, but also their families and anyone else who might benefit, giving victims the support of a social network. For women who are in terrible situations, self-empowerment can mean the difference between staying and leaving. For the support group, it can also reveal unhealthy behaviors in their own relationships.
“I never realized that I was in an abusive marriage,” says one attendee. “I just thought all couples fight, and name-calling and threats were just words. After attending a workshop, I made it my mission to change our relationship. After hard work and both of us making changes, my marriage is strong and finally healthy.” The next step? Preventing it from happening to the next generation. Enter the new PEACE (People Empowering And Caring Everyday) Warriors initiative, where volunteers go into schools with “zero tolerance for mean people.” Instead of just saying, “don’t bully kids,” they encourage students to stand up for vulnerable peers. The goal? To educate young people that violent behavior is bad, years before a domestic situation can ever develop. And, for those who might be living in such a situation already, to understand that what they see at home is not healthy — or acceptable. “It’s easier to plant that seed in a child than it is in an adult,” says Hotline’s Executive Director, Michael Lewis. “So this is really the key to preventing domestic violence, and stopping it before it starts.” PEACE Warriors is also responsible for Hotline’s newest thrift store in Nags Head, Karma Blue, which sells gently used, trendy clothing. Kids and teens don’t just help run the operation, they get a say in where the funds go, including providing a safe space for their fellow youths. It’s this type of day-to-day interaction that helps keep the topic of domestic abuse out in the open — without making it normal. It shows victims there’s hope, while reminding the community that they can help stomp out the problem.
selfempowerment can mean the difference between staying and leaving.
“When you’re broken down, whether it’s an abusive relationship with your husband, or you’re getting bullied at school every single day, it’s hard to stand up for yourself,” says Sawin. “But when people surround you, lift you up and say, ‘No. Absolutely not,’ That’s where change happens.” — Katrina Mae Leuzinger milepost 27
E KEN R CORDS RO
“ WORST H” OF THE BEAC
WINTER 2016-17
NC 252 STEREO
1. AWFUL IDEAS ISIONS 2. QUESTIONABLE DEC 3. BAD-ASS PEOPLE
Worst time to be a coastal scientist:
right now
N RECO R D S OKE BR Think this year was a scorcher?
at Western University. “But I don’t think it’s just North Carolina — it’s a trend nationally.”
Think: Rock – scientist – hard place.
Last spring, the Department of Environmental Quality posted — then pulled — a study on its own website that showed their supposed “solar And the state’s reputation? It’s gone from leader bees” solution wasn’t keeping Jordan Lake any to laughing stock. cleaner. When the chairman of the Environmental Water Quality Committee questioned why the In 2012, when legislators objected to a CRC study disappeared, he was removed from his Science Panel report predicting up to 39 inches post. Other state DEQ staff — even the state of sea level rise over 100 years — then passed a epidemiologist — quit, citing a lack of support in “I think North Carolina was pioneering in creating law that prevented communities from considering policy, funding and staffing. its policies, benefitting not just the coast, but the data — comedian Stephen Colbert skewered the entire state,” Young says. “That just wouldn’t North Carolina for essentially outlawing climate Most telling, Stan Riggs, a veteran coastal happen today.” change. geologist with East Carolina University and a
It’s nothing compared to the hot seat coastal scientists occupy daily. Weather forecasters get yelled at for hyping storms — or underestimating impacts. Coastal engineers get blamed for discouraging development — or enabling destruction. And biologists are either too tough about protecting natural resources — or too quick to bend to the almighty dollar.
Or more accurately: politics – scientist – reality. “I guess it’s more challenging to be a coastal scientist now,” says Rob Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines
As a professor at Western for 21 years — and program director for 10 — Young used to be “incredibly proud” of the state’s coastal policies. In the 1980s and ’90s, North Carolina was once lauded among the science community for being forward-thinking and innovative. The state banned erosion-causing jetties and seawalls, established science-based standards for beach nourishment sand, and developed shoreline setbacks for buildings.
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If anything, we’ve gone backwards. In the past six years, state legislators passed laws that encouraged more jetties and terminal groins, undid or loosened environmental regulations, and favored petroleum over renewable power. The Cleanwater Management Trust Fund — credited with protecting large swaths of coastal wetlands — has had its funding cut to the bone.
The report was rewritten in 2015 to predict levels up to only 30 years, but the response marked a new trend in which inconvenient data gets ignored or tweaked — or even goes missing. And scientists are starting to follow suit.
WORST GRAMMAR:
Old Squaw Drive
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Sure, “FLICKER” looks bad at a glance. And we can do a whole immature monologue on the woes of “Wingina.” But when it comes to problematic street names, Duck’s Old Squaw wins on multiple levels. Start with racial insensitivity. Though rooted in the Algonquin word for “woman,” settlers quickly stole it and made it a blanket term for any Native American female, loading it down with bad connotations. (Even Webster’s says “squaw” is “considered offensive.”) Now, add the totally false — yet terribly widespread — myth that “squaw” doesn’t refer to the whole woman, but just her naughtiest bits, throw ‘Old’ on it, and ask yourself: how many grimacing summer visitors drive past thinking, “Gross.” The good news? “Old Squaw” is actually just a type of sea duck, which today goes by the much nicer, “long-tail.” Meaning the town could swap out signs without compromising its tradition of naming streets after waterfowl. But we don’t really care what you change it to: Donald Ave., Daffy Dr. or L’Orange Blvd. Just pick something — anything — that passing motorists won’t see as a racial slur. (Or misinterpret as the Old World’s “p” word.)
They may be essential evils, but nobody likes using them. The septic stench alone will draw a thousand flies on a southwest wind. The sanitizer fumes can kill a million mosquitoes. But, just peek inside, because if you think the smell’s bad, the vinyl walls spew enough foul, visual graffiti to make any prude parent gasp — and cause the grammar police to puke outright. (“Need anynomous sex now!” “Me, to!!” “Meat me tommorrow!”) Usually with multiple scratched- out comments and nasty retorts that only get increasingly vile — and less legible. (Possibly a byproduct of writing lefthanded while standing up.) So, here’s a little PSA for all you port-a-potty perverts: 1. It’s “i” before “e” except after “c.” (So you like to “receive” not “recieve.”); 2. Know the difference between “you’re” and “your.” (i.e. “You’re so naughty. Is yours big?”); 3. “It’s” is a contraction of “it is” — or “it has” — while “its” is possessive. (“It’s huge. Its name is Thor.”) Because whether it’s Tinder, PlentyofFish.com or Match.com you only get one chance to make that first romantic impression. And how can we seriously believe you’ll be there waiting from 9-11pm — when you can’t even spell “Wendsday nite?”
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co-founder of the Science Panel, quit this July, calling it an “ineffective body.” In his scathing resignation, Riggs also questioned the “removal of many thousands of coastal lowland buildings” from formerly designated flood zones, or their placement in less hazardous zones. It was a surprisingly prescient critique. When Hurricane Matthew tore through this October, water pooled on roads and under houses that had never flooded before. Yet, the state’s proposed update of Dare County’s flood maps, which were last revised in 2006, is even more risky. In fact, according to Dare County Planning Director Donna Creef, some structures that were inundated by Matthew — including some oceanfront in Hatteras and canal-front property
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Furthermore, Creef says modeling for the new NC Emergency Management floodplain maps did not include data from Hurricane Irene, which caused extensive flooding.
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Creef is quick to point out these facts, stating, “Just because you’re not in a flood zone doesn’t mean you’re not going to experience flooding.” Unfortunately, many homeowners won’t hear the warnings. They’ll only see an opportunity to save big bucks on insurance. And when their house is standing in a few feet of water — and a supposedly scientific document says it’s not in a flood zone — guess who’ll get the blame once again? — Catherine Kozak
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“Did I ever tell you about the man who taught his butthole to talk?” That’s a sanitized version of Naked Lunch’s most famous vignette, where legendary author/junky William S. Burroughs turns the tale of a burgeoning heroin user into an allegory: the ventriloquist act starts as a novelty to show off at parties. Soon, his rectum starts screaming non-stop. Ultimately, it swallows the man whole. In 1959, that metaphor was nearly impossible for mainstream America to grasp. Today, it’s painfully familiar, thanks to an opioid epidemic that has gripped every commumity and changed the face of drug policy altogether. On the Outer Banks, cops are now armed with Narcan, reviving nearly a dozen OD victims in the past year. EMS has saved countless others. And they’re the lucky ones; nationally, 30,000 deaths involved heroin or prescription opiates. Many users probably figured they’d try it for laughs. One pill. One line. One shot. But to paraphrase Burroughs’ half-century of personal experience: “Nobody wakes up one morning and decides to be an addict…but whether you snort it, shoot it, or shove it… the result is the same: addiction.”
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Worst kid to challenge to a game of putt-putt: 30
Katherine Schuster
Katherine Schuster will never forget the first adult she beat at golf. It was her dad. She was 10. The course was Duck Woods. And there was even a wager to make the win extra sweet. “We bet an ice cream,” she recalls. “It was hole number ten, a par four — pretty straight with a little water. I beat him by a stroke. We went to Sweet Frog and it tasted like victory.” Three years later, Schuster’s not just the top local golfer in her age group, she’s one of the best in the country, finishing third overall — and placing first in putting — at the National Drive Chip and Putt Championship in Augusta, Georgia. She’s good enough to have been invited to play with “the Currituckers” — arguably the best men’s golfers on the beach. And it all began at the famous St. Andrew’s Links in Scotland, where she was caddying around a bag bigger than she was. “I was picking out all the wrong clubs, but it was a fun daddy-daughter day,” she says. “He was practicing on the range and there was a moment where he did a trick shot and I thought, ‘When can I learn to do that?’ So I asked him. And he told me that first came the fundamentals.”
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So Schuster put her mind to learning “the basics” — by hitting 500 balls at a time. “I kept hitting and hitting,” she continues. “I wanted to be on tour. I wanted to be number one.” Clearly, Katherine Schuster is not your typical teenager. Most eighth graders wouldn’t know a slice from a hook, much less be able to quote Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. And they’d certainly be more excited about socializing on a Saturday than hitting the links with a bunch of grown-ups. “I don’t really go to parties and functions like dances,” Schuster says. “I can’t really explain it. Golf is just what I want to do.” So that’s what she does. A lot. All year, she travels up and down the coast to tackle the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and the Peggy Kirk Bell Junior Tour, competing in as many as 25 tournaments a year. And her practice schedule is equally relentless. With her dad, David, as her power coach — and The Pointe Golf Course’s Cory Schneider as her swing coach — she’ll practice between four and eight hours a day, depending on school and other extenuating circumstances. “Katherine has a rare genetic disorder called Multiple Hereditary Exostoses,” explains her mom, Rikki. “She grows painful, benign bone tumors near her joints and has had two surgeries to remove the tumors from her knees.”
“We bet an ice cream... it tasted like victory.”
Her most recent surgery was this fall. Each time, it takes a few weeks to return to the course. But she always comes back, consistently staying in the top 25 against the state field of mostly 16- and 17-year-olds. But perhaps the accomplishment she’s most proud of is being the first girl to break the First Flight Middle School record of 48 for nine holes — crushing it with a score of 36. She also earned Most Valuable Player on the school team and remains the regional conference champ.
U S E D G E A R S A L E
HUGE SAVINGS ON K AYA K S • S U R F BO A R D S PA D D L E BO A R D S B I K E S • ACC E S S O R I E S
“Katherine likes to win,” says Rikki. But the young Schuster follows up her mom’s statement with this: “I know you don’t learn by winning, but she’s right. I don’t like the feeling of losing.” More than anything, she just wants to play. To feel the rush of a solid drive or a perfect putt. Or to put together a winning game against the best girls in the country. In fact, at press time, she was already swimming laps and chipping shots to get healthy for December’s big invitational, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s National Girls Championship in Orlando. Doctors are hopeful that Katherine’s latest surgery will be the final one. But whether it’s coming back from an operation or a bad playing streak, Schuster likes to remind herself of one of Bobby Jones’ favorite quotes:
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“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots — but you have to play the ball where it lies.” — Michelle Wagner milepost 31
E C R O N RDS E K O R B
“ WORST H” C A E B E H T F O
NC 252 STEREO
WINTER 2016-17
1. AWFUL IDEAS ISIONS 2. QUESTIONABLE DEC 3. BAD-ASS PEOPLE
N RECO R D S OKE BR
radio hatteras
BR
Worst Station For Pop hits:
Carlos Babilonia, Shelley Tidd, Susanna Couch, Carol Busbey, Bill Smith & Hugh George. Photo: chris bickford
milepost
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Sorry, pop fans.
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You won’t find Justin Bieber on Radio Hatteras. Nor will you get Beyoncé, Luke Bryan or Chris Brown. (And that’s just the “B’s.”) Truth is, you could listen to the island’s community station for days and not score a single Top 40 hit — unless it topped the charts a few decades back. So, who will you hear? That’s a much harder catalog to list. “I remember one afternoon they played John Prine, Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley back-to-back,” says Buxton retiree-turned-volunteer, Bill Smith. “That’s when I knew I needed to be involved.” Today, Smith is one of four programmers — along with Carol Busbey, Hugh George and Shelley Tidd — who pour precious free time and creativity into the island’s listening pleasure. It’s not all manual. Lord, no. You can’t cram 350 songs into 24 hours without a little digital help. But unlike the big stations that use computers to narrow a world of music into pre-fab formats, like “classic rock” or “easy listening,” Radio Hatteras employs the same technology to open the floodgates — then gives every second a human touch. “Each day we start with a ‘master shell,’” says George. “We go through and delete what doesn’t work, then add stuff we like. There’s so much the radio never plays, so we try to play it all.” Not just rock and pop, but doo-wop, Celtic, and Zydeco. The result is like Pandora in reverse: instead of knowing the next song’s cut in a certain style, listeners get any genre in any tempo at any time. Might be Buddy Holly — or the B-52s. Bela Fleck or Barry White. Some are the bomb — like a secret demo of Prince’s “Little Red Corvette.” And then others — say, Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” — might make your head want to explode. “That’s okay,” laughs Smith. “The price of playing such different music is that nobody will like every song. But you’ll still find plenty you really enjoy. And we do try to cater to every listener.” It all speaks to the station’s community roots. The whole idea sprang from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative’s desire to keep residents informed in case of an emergency. A few years back, a generous benefactor donated the necessary gear. On March 15, 2014, Radio Hatteras hit the airwaves on two simulcast bands: 99.9 reaches roughly from Salvo to Whalebone Junction; 105.1 covers Salvo to Hatteras. (You can also stream ’em live on www.radiohatteras.org.) And to this day, it’s locals who keep the tunes flowing. From sponsors who underwrite costs, to the residents who send in donations, to the managers who push paper and punch buttons.
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“Every single thing is done by volunteers,” says station manager and vice-president, Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy. “Lucky for us, Hatteras Island has some very talented people.” Goodloe-Murphy doesn’t manage operations — she compiles the news reports. Pam Donahue reads them. Island Free Press’ Irene Nolan tackles issues with her Sunday interview series, “On the Point.” Engineers Lou Browning, Richard Marlin and Mike Hennessy keep the signal blaring no matter what. And at anytime, the studio’s red “bat phone” might ring, which means someone must break in to report an emergency. (During Hurricane Matthew, Donahue and GoodloeMurphy camped out in the studio for two nights to do updates.) But with the exception of weather, PSAs, historical bits, and the occasional live broadcast, don’t expect much talking. The jocks like to limit chatter to make room for music. And that’s where the personalities shine strongest as every weeknight features specialty programs like Busbey’s “Electric Beach Party” or Carlos Babilonia’s “Babylon by Bus.” Come Saturday, you might score Susanna Couch’s “Alternative Gold Mine” or Tidd’s “Breakfast with the Beatles.” In-between, you’ll get blues to bluegrass to bagpipes. Even the most seemingly random days are surprisingly personal if you pay attention.
“There’s so much the radio never plays, so we try to play it all.”
“One day, I decided to follow US 1 down the coast,” says George. “I started in Maine by playing Slaide Cleaves and finished with Jimmy Buffett in Key West. Another time, every song had a locomotive theme.” Think Duke Ellington’s “Take the A-Train” into Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.” It’s all part of an “anything goes” approach to keep every single set of ears entertained. Within reason. “If you do hear Justin Bieber, call 911,” deadpans George. “Because that means somebody hijacked the station.” — LEO GIBSON
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How one hidden trail connects Buxton and Frisco — and opens local eyes to the world beyond. From space, the Outer Banks looks virtually landless. Just a skinny necktie of sand splitting one big body of water. But from the ground, this same narrow spit holds surprising secrets — and a hike filled with wonders, called the Open Ponds Trail. Located in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, this 4.5-mile circular path connects the villages of Buxton and Frisco, allowing hikers to traverse sandy hills, marsh and woods — plus a number of historical sites. Part lover’s lane. Part picnic area. Part playground. It’s the perfect escape for cooler months, inspiring love, health and imagination. “Open Ponds Trail has changed quite a bit,” says Marcia Lyons, a retired naturalist who’s spent 32 years studying the seashore. “Before the 1930s, the entrance to the Open Ponds Trail resembled more of a grassland than forest.” milepost
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When Franklin Roosevelt formed the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, they created artificial dunes that stopped the salt spray and saltwater wash. The grass disappeared and woody plants emerged, creating a natural arbor. For years, lighthouse keepers used the tunnel-like pathway to find firewood. In the 1970s they gave it a name: Open Ponds Trail. You’ll find the trail’s opening in the shadow of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Take a moment to use the facilities and refill your reusable water bottle. (They’re the final bathrooms and water fountains before you reach Frisco Campground.) Look up at the towering symbol of Outer Banks resilience. Then follow the Lighthouse Road into the maritime forest. A half-mile in, a dirt offshoot veers right toward the next noteworthy piece of history: the WWII British Sailor Cemetery. During the “Battle of the Atlantic,” German
Sniff out your next adventure down south. Photo: Daniel Pullen
“
U-Boats patrolled the shipping lanes near Cape Hatteras, torpedoing 400 vessels. This piece of manicured lawn, surrounded by a white picket fence, marks the graves of two British sailors who washed ashore after the San Delfino sank in 1941. (A sister graveyard in Ocracoke holds the remains of four who died on the U.S.S. Bedfordshire.) Stopping here is a somber reminder of military sacrifice, especially in May, when public ceremonies at both sites honor the 63
Part lover’s lane. Part picnic area. Part playground. It’s the perfect escape for cooler months.
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foreign service members who lost their lives off the Outer Banks. “Last year, we had 200 people attend,â€? says the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum’s Clara Scarborough, who notes this year’s Buxton ceremony is May 11. (Ocracoke’s is May 12.) “We recount the history of the vessel and read names of those who passed away. There are speakers from the various branches of the service. It’s very poignant, very moving.â€? Keep walking and the scenery takes center stage. Trees and ponds border the path. The tall forest blocks the wind and offers shade. Locals find this stretch can be an especially welcome respite during howling winter weather. Parents let kids run wild here, and hefty strollers easily navigate along the flat path. Couples can find a quiet spot by the tranquil pond, and lay back on a blanket with a box of vino. Kids can play hide-and-seek. And adults can forage for natural surprises. “I’ll walk the beginning of the trail to look for bay leaves to use in lentil soup,â€? says Hatteras Island local Scott Hesse. “But even if I come home empty, it’s still worth the effort because it’s such a beautiful piece of nature.â€? Prefer to see the trail’s coastal side? Start at the Park Service’s Frisco Campground entrance. Park your vehicle at the entrance and walk inside. The grounds close for the season at the end of November, making it a prime spot for quiet strolls. From sunset through dusk, the park feels almost ghostly — especially if it’s completely empty. But on good-weather days, it takes on the feel of a city park in springtime. Fitness buffs shed calories as they walk up and down the campground hills and select one of 117 picnic tables from which to enjoy a sunset view of the ocean. Parents feel safe letting their children roam free on the carless hills — or cruise on wheels. “I used to take my daughter and her friends to Frisco Campground to rollerblade and ride bicycles,â€? says Avon resident Rita Dwight. “It’s still a peaceful and lovely area for the kids to enjoy.â€?Â
But the Open Ponds Trail isn’t all easy bike rides and picnics. In fact, the middle section, which runs for roughly two miles, can be downright brutal. On hot summer days, the sun beats down relentlessly. In harsh winters, winds whip unabated. Sandy hills quickly tire kids’ legs. The shrubs and cactus provide more prickly pears than picturesque beauty. But for serious hikers, this challenging slog isn’t just important, it’s essential, as crossing this stretch completes a long journey that started three decades back and across the whole state. In 1982, 75.8 miles of trail along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore became the first segment of North Carolina’s Mountain-to-Sea Trail, which begins in the Smoky Mountains at an elevation of 6,644 feet and ends at sea level right here in Frisco. The athletes who finish the 1,150-mile journey on the Outer Banks are legends of the hiking world. In fact, according to Kate Dixon, Executive Director for Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, “Just 13 rugged individuals completed the trail in 2015.�
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In 2016, retired Army sergeant Michael Boncek hiked the trail twice to generate awareness about suicide rates among veterans. If you’re lucky, you might take an afterschool stroll and end up crossing paths with just such courageous individuals. Much like pro surfers and kiters can inspire local kids to push their personal limits, meeting a hiking hero in a piece of nearby forest can inspire young minds to explore the world using their own two legs. They might begin to imagine experiencing the different cultures of Europe by taking on the Camino de Santiago. Or learning about the Cold War by hiking The Revolutionary Trail in Cuba — or walk the same path as the ancient Incas on their way to Machu Picchu. In one visit to the Open Ponds Trail, anyone can take the first step toward a lifetime of adventure. After all, every dream has to start somewhere — why not in your own backyard? — Brandon Follett milepost 35
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Before there was Chopped. Or Cutthroat Kitchen. Or Iron Chef. Before there was even The Food Network, there were culinary competitions. After all, chili cook-offs and hotdog eating contests are basically national pastimes. And locally, March’s Taste of the Beach boasts a three-decade tradition of restaurants trading blows. But there’s a big difference between fighting for bragging rights and promoting good deeds. This winter, two events bring together battling chefs to help local causes — from helping babies to fighting hunger.
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“We have so many great restaurants on the Outer Banks,” says Beach Food Pantry Executive Director, Theresa Armendarez. “Showcasing that talent makes our Holiday Chef’s Challenge a natural fit.”
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Held each December at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk, this annual showdown gives chefs and attendees a real taste of what the food pantry offers. Instead of arming competitors with the finest ingredients, they go to work using donated items. Tuna. Coffee. Pancake batter. Campbell’s soup. That same list of requests you get at grocery stores, they morph into four-star recipes. The only rules? Cooks must use one canned good — and they only get 60 minutes to make magic.
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Afterward, a panel of judges, along with the public, decide who most transformed the powdered mixes and potted meats. Meanwhile, chefs enjoy the pressure of conquering an unfamiliar pantry — and coaxing out the delicate flavors of difficult components.
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LocALLy owNeD & operAteD Full Service Oil change & lube • Full brake Service Tire SaleS & repairS • STereO & SaTelliTe radiO inSTallaTiOnS AND much more! MP 6 on the ByPass - KDh • 252-449-4095 • CoastalFastlube.Com milepost
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“I definitely get a rush from competing,” shares Grant Tate of Simply Southern Kitchen. “But I also I love the simplicity of using just a few ingredients.
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“Simple” may not be the best description. Tate took the 2015 Judge’s Choice award with a tea-smoked Cornish game hen served over savory succotash with a cranberry-pecan sauce. Coastal Provisions’ Hoisin Spam steamed buns with a chili-lime mayo carried the People’s Choice. And Blue Water Grill claimed the bronze with a Manhattan-style clam chowder made with canned tomato soup.
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Too risky for your tastes? Each restaurant also cooks a trademark crowd-pleaser for more squeamish palates. Meanwhile, festive giveaways and raffles fuel the party — and raise funds. This year, they’re adding a chef’s auction, featuring everything from champagne brunches to clambakes on the beach. And every dollar ensures local families stay fed through the winter. “Last year we raised over $20,000,” Armendarez shares happily. “And all of the proceeds go directly back into the Food Pantry.”
Cooks must use one canned good — and they only get 60 minutes to make magic.
Looking for something a little more highbrow — but equally heartwarming? Come out for February’s March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction. This nationwide event encourages cities to host exclusive, culinary fundraisers to fight birth defects and premature births — the number-one cause of infant mortality in the U.S. This year marks the event’s 15th anniversary on the Outer Banks, making the party a late-winter favorite for fine-dining fanatics, and a real eye-opener to the organization’s cause. “My goal is to create awareness,” says March of Dimes Development Specialist, Stephanie Baker. “You can’t just sit on the mission; you have to get out there and educate people.”
The location: Duck Woods Country Club. The vibe: an intimate gathering of roughly 100 guests. The premise: local chefs get 90 minutes to wow guests and judges, who vote on their favorite dish. But while the public casually mills from station to station, the competitors participate in a veritable pressure cooker of food preparation. And like any busy kitchen, the energy is infectious. “The best time is when we are all setting up our tables and booths,” laughs Randolph Sprinkle, of The Salt Box Cafe, whose past entries include seared white perch, as well as red curry with local shrimp and a poele of monkfish. “There is so much trash talking between the chefs, it’s great!” Restaurants don’t just donate the night’s dishes, they offer up a range of dining packages for people to bid on during the evening’s live auction. With ideas from meticulously planned wine dinners to daytime deck parties, to weeklong stays on Ocracoke with a private chef, the bidding is fierce. But the real highlight of the night occurs between the bites and bids, when March of Dimes Ambassador Families stand up to offer accounts of handling premature births — and how the event helps local people firsthand. “This is the time where folks see how their dollars actually make a difference,” notes Baker. “It’s also the time when we get to show what our research can do.” And will do. Last year, attendees and chefs raised $60,000 in a single night — with 76 cents of every dollar going to research. Baker predicts that this coming year will be bigger and better. So will the number of chef-fueled showdowns. History shows that whether it’s Chili Cookoffs to help Chicamacomico Firefighters, or shrimp showdowns to save dolphins, getting locals together for food always feels as good as it tastes — and nothing adds flavor like a little philanthropy. — Fran Marler
Fine Jewelry & Gifts Home Decor • Glittering Trees Candy Shoppe/General Store Collegiate & Pro Sports - NHL-MLB-NFL Ornaments & Giftwear Thousands of Unique Ornaments One of America’s 1st Year-Round Halloween Shops On the way to the NC Aquarium, Festival Park & Lost Colony
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Ed. Note: For details on Dec. 1’s 3rd Annual Beach Food Pantry Holiday Chef’s Challenge, go to www. beachfoodpantry.org. To learn more about the 15th Annual March of Dimes Celebrity Chef’s Auction, on Feb. 26, visit www.hrsigchef.com/outer-banks. milepost 37
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ART FRAMES ALL
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For Chrissy Teachout, creative expression isn’t just a product of everyday life — it’s the structure.
Awarded 2015 NC Wine Grower of the Year
startingpoint and poetry. And every new piece was
“I was starting to resculpt my life.” That’s how Chrissy Teachout describes the period of time — not so long ago — when she rededicated herself to art.
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“It became a fight,” she says, “and that fight became really well articulated on canvas. But not all art is beautiful. Sometimes the most powerful pieces confront us with uncomfortable emotions.”
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another step forward.
“It was the perfect storm of a lot of things,” she recalls. “I was sort of shipwrecked, and creating art gave me an illusion of control, a way to calm my anxiety until everything eventually fell into place.”
A 38-year-old North Carolina native, Chrissy moved to New York for several years before settling on the Outer Banks — roughly a decade ago — when her partner found work in the area. Then that relationship ended. Shortly after, she lost her father and found herself slightly unmoored.
With long, dark hair, a petite build, and striking features, Chrissy looks as though she could have stepped out of a modern-day Frida Kahlo painting — fitting, since Kahlo, Alan Watts and Carl Jung, or the figures she calls “artist philosophers,” are favorite muses. In fact, one of the first paintings Chrissy submitted to the annual Frank Stick Show in 2008 was a tribute to Kahlo, titled, “Fumbling in the Footsteps of Greatness.”
Art became her structure, as she turned to making works in multiple mediums, from painting and photography, to woodwork
“Kahlo’s work helped me find the courage to face my own wounds and dive deep into some serious self-reflection,” Chrissy
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says. “The portrait is a complex mix of her self-portrait work, and the murals of her husband, Diego Rivera, which spill open from her womb.” For Chrissy, these ideas are strongly tied to the theories that Jung and Watts famously championed, in terms of identifying, accepting and integrating seemingly conflicting parts of ourselves in a quest for wholeness — concepts that eventually led Chrissy to “birth” her own alter-ego: Ann Tea, or what she refers to as “the sacred center of me.” “It’s just me trying to confront who I am,” Chrissy says. “We all have so much inside that we try to suppress, and I’m a woman; I need my emotional self. It’s truly a powerful tool.” Though it is a pseudonym, Ann Tea (which, when read aloud quickly, sounds like
“ANTI”) is not meant to hide her identity. For one, the moniker’s origin is no secret to those who know her. (Ann Tea is taken from the center of Teachout’s full name.) And Chrissy’s true nature shines through no matter what you call her. “The first time I met Chrissy, I felt as though I’d known her all my life,” says painter and printmaker, Glenn Eure, who co-owns the Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head with his wife, Pat. “She has a unique approach to art. It’s very fresh — I guess ‘pure’ is the best way to put it. Even though she’s very detailed, she doesn’t do a lot of unnecessary things. Her work is sensitive — you can’t always look at it directly, sometimes you can only fully see it in glances.” Chrissy credits the local art legend as one of the most influential people in her creative life. She even studied collagraphy with Eure, learning much more in the process. “He reminded me that it was important to do what makes me happy,” she says. “To just chip away at things a little bit each day, until suddenly you find yourself surrounded by the work itself.” Almost a decade later, Chrissy’s home is a testament to chipping away. Strolling around her Currituck abode, the rooms overflow with mediums of all types, both old and new: oil paints, photos, sculptures and tables. Perhaps her largest body of examples includes her digital compositions. Faced with a shortage of funds for materials, she started to experiment with computer images. She still does, taking photos and loading them onto her computer, then transforming them into abstract pieces — often kaleidoscope-like reflections — which she prints onto canvases and sometimes paints over again. Many she’ll work over hundreds of times before she’s satisfied. Others are tangible objects that could only come out a single way, such as “The Misfortune of Manteo.” She fashioned this startling wooden sculpture after lightning struck down the branch of an old tree in her mother-in-law’s yard in Manteo. “The moment I saw the branch, it looked like
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“Not all art is beautiful. Sometimes the most powerful pieces confront us with uncomfortable emotions.” it was in pain and in need of caring hands,” Chrissy says. “I spent months carving out the face, and when I finished, even I was a little scared of it. It wasn’t just pain, but it was anger.” But her latest pieces are closer to comfort than chaos, as she’s been staining wooden tabletops with delicate, hand-drawn images. Much like oil painting, Chrissy draws every detail, but the colors and designs are always simple: maps and shells, mermaids and pirates. (Her own kitchen table depicts two Datura stramonium, or jimson weed flowers.) And while she admits it’s a more commercial outlet, that doesn’t mean that she’s less invested in the outcome. “Much of what I create isn’t exactly what people want to hang in their homes,” Chrissy explains. “It’s too much of a conversation piece. So, I’m currently working on tables and other pieces of functional art, because art has become a luxury many cannot afford.” For Chrissy, it’s one she cannot afford to lose. That’s why you’ll often find her early in the morning — or late at night — sketching away at that same kitchen table, literally layering one act of expression upon the other. It doesn’t matter if she sells every idea. Bringing art to life — and bringing that art into other people’s lives — is all that’s matters. “It’s far more valuable to me to see someone respond to my work than to have someone want to buy it,” Chrissy says. “I’ve given away more pieces than I’ve ever sold, but I can’t stop creating. Someone told me that’s what makes you an artist: You can’t stop.” — Amelia Boldaji
The First Funeral Home on the Beach & The First and ONLY Memorial Chapel in Currituck. All Families all Faiths • Funerals • Memorial Services Visitations • Military Honors • 24/day Assistance • Pre Planning
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Art For Every Taste & Classes Too! Original jewelry, wall art, decor, pottery, metal work, fine craft of all kinds. Classes in creativity for adults and kids. Budding Artists Workshop ages 5-10 Teens and tweens Creativity Studio ages 11-14 Parallel Play (kids’ classes designed for adults) MP 8.5 on the bypass - KDH, NC • 252-441-9888 www.kdhcooperative.com Open Year Round Mon - Sat 10:00-6:00
Creating a positive personalized experience for EVERY client. 252-261-2809 P.O. Box 482, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 www.sykesobx.com • sykes482@centurylink.net
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Mondays - Locals discounts up to 50% off (excludes holidays) • Tuesdays - $1 Wine All Day Wednesdays - All You Can Eat Fish Fry $14.95 - includes fish, clam strips, popcorn shrimp and sides • Thursdays - Italian Tapas Night • Friday - 10oz Prime Rib $11.95
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gosurf outthere gohunt THE ORIGINAL
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Since the 60’s
I keep seeing ghosts. Vintage pictures that feel oddly familiar People long dead that look like local fixtures
Rentals • Lessons Boards • Wetsuits Surfwear • Sunglasses Sunblock • Sandals T-Shirts
Even close friends Same hair. Same looks. Same loves. The old man cleaning fish The young buck heaving lumber
Old Nags Head Cottage Row MP 13.5 Beach Rd. Nags Head 252-441-7349
The coy lady, cracking jokes, cig dangling loose from her lips Playing Praying Smiling from one decade to the next Like family portraits that share the exact same dog species across generations Or The Shining, where the bartender changes frames year after year after year.
You May Know Bob, But You Don’t Know Dick
Makes you wonder: what if we’re not individuals after all? What if we’re all archetypes? Cut outs Like shark’s teeth One dies another rises forward to take its spot Working together to serve some larger purpose
Fresh Local Seafood Steamers • Burgers • Pasta & Daily Specials
Feeding the machine Chewing through life.
Wednesday Night Sushi in the off season!
MP 11 on the Beach Road, Nags Head 252-441-RAWW • tortugaslie.com Words by Matthew Hooper Illustration by Travis Fowler
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endnotes Ready to seize the day? Then dance into the night? On Nov. 19, Gentle Expert Memorycare will host CARPE DM at Kelly’s. From 11am-9pm this old-school dance marathon invites folks to bust a move — or just play wallflower — to raise funds and support families dealing with dementia. Follow The GEM Center on Facebook for updates. • A picture’s a memory that never fades. That’s why Outer Banks Help-Portrait assembles the area’s best photogs and stylists to make holiday magic on Nov. 19. Walk into Nags Head Elementary with your family from 9am-3pm; and walk out with a flash drive of festivity. For more, find ’em on Facebook. • Now, you just need to make the home picture-perfect. Add a touch of holiday crimson when Elizabethan Gardens hosts Poinsettia Week, Nov. 2126. And on Nov. 22, a Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop helps you create the perfect conversation diversion for when red and blue family members start mixing politics. Times, tix and details at www.elizabethangardens.org. • Holiday visits make you wanna run screaming? Luckily, there’s a host of Thanksgiving races to get you out of the house. Start in Duck where the 21st Annual Advice 5k Turkey Trot packs the streets with dashing families and cheering fans. More at www.advice5.com. • Or hustle up to Corolla’s Whalehead for the Wild Turkey Thanksgiving Day 5k, where entry includes a free trot up the Currituck Lighthouse steps. (Good from Nov. 25-30.) Open to runners, walkers, wheelchairs, and stroller/jogger participants — but no pets. (Except service dogs.) Bring a nonperishable item to nourish the food bank. Full details and registration at www. theobxrunningcompany.com. • Or, shake your tail feathers down to Hatteras Village’s Surfin’ Turkey 5k and Puppy Drum Fun Run, where proceeds support the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund. Top three males, females and kids receive a special art piece by Kinnakeet Clay, and everyone scores a goody bag, t-shirt and a post race pancake party. (21+ get beer by Carolina Brewery.) More at www.hatterasyouth.com. • Finished racing? Do a few laps ’round Cape Hatteras Secondary School — and get your shopping done — when Hatteras Island Holiday Arts & Craft Show fills the grounds with locally made gifts, Nov. 25-26, 10am-4pm. Find more colorful details on Facebook. • Or bolt up to Pangea Tavern’s Santa Meet & Greet, Nov. 25, where kids take photos with the North Pole’s most famous visitor, while parents knock back frosty ones with random bearded locals. More at www.pangeatavern.com. • Bask in Hatteras’ generous gifts to human culture on Nov. 26, 5-9pm, with Daniel Pullen Photography’s opening exhibit for “The Hatteras Fisherman Project” and “The Cape.” Both projects will turn into books in 2017. Meanwhile, the new gallery will host workshops and bimonthly shows with all types of visual artists. Deets and biz hours at www.danielpullenphotography.com. • Meanwhile in Manteo, Island Farm flashes back on food heritage, Nov. 25-26, with Garden to Hearth. From
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Huzzah! Ye most festive of holiday traditions, the Manteo Christmas Parade, floats through downtown, Dec. 3. Photo: Duane Cochran
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Cultural Series
10am-4pm, live actors interpret 1850s fall food traditions, hearth cooking, preservation, candle making, and ox-drawn wagon rides. Bring a nonperishable item for Roanoke Island Food Pantry and receive $1 off the $8 admission. (Children 5 and under free.) More info at www. theislandfarm.org. • For a modern holiday wonder, blaze over to Elizabethan Gardens, Nov. 25, where the WinterLights Grand Illumination kicks off 22 ever-glowing days of electric displays. Enjoy holiday warmth and charm inside the Embellished Hall and around the cozy fire pits on the Great Lawn — plus plenty of Santa sightings. Remember: the spectacle continues Nov. 26 thru Jan. 1, 6-9pm. (Tues.Sat. in Dec. and Fri.-Sat. in Jan; last tix sold at 8:15pm.) Get the full sched. and pricing at www.elizabethangardens.org. • See the fat man fly — or at least squeeze next to a hang glider — when Hangin’ With Santa comes to Nags Head’s Kitty Hawk Kites. Share Christmas wishes and photo ops, Fri., Nov. 25, 10am–2pm and Sat., Nov. 26, 1-4pm. Then come out Nov. 26, 3-6pm, as Kites With Lights illuminates Jockey’s Ridge with a soaring, seasonal display — plus a 5pm lighting of the solar Christmas tree. And all KHK locations will be gathering canned and nonperishable food items for the Beach Food Pantry, Nov. 27-Dec. 31. Get complete deets at www.kittyhawk.com. • And for a bountiful time full of briny bivalves, be at Jarvisburg’s Sanctuary Vineyards on Nov. 26, when The Big Curri-shuck shells out all-you-can-eat oysters, crabs and barbecue, everlasting live tunes, and overflowing souvenir wineglasses. 12-5pm. $40. Warning: everything’s while supplies last — including tix — so get yours at www.sanctuaryvineyards. com. • Enjoy an “all you can shop” experience, Nov. 26, when the 4th Annual Outer Banks Entrepreneurs OBE Holiday Bazaar fills the Nags Head Ramada with the area’s favorite female artists, crafters and direct salespersons. From 9am-5pm, score gifts, food and door prizes — plus your favorite holiday music courtesy of DJ Cowboy. Get the latest on their Facebook page. • Between beats, boogie over to Baum Center for more buying fun at the Outer Banks Woman’s Club Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair. From 9:30am-4pm, peruse 40+ vendors, plus enjoy bake sales and raffles. $1 entry benefits scholarships and community programs. 12 and under: free. Learn more at www.gfwc-obwc.com. • Spend five weeks hoarding homegrown, handmade items when the Dare County Arts Council’s Holiday Small Works Show runs Nov. 23-Dec. 30 at Manteo’s DCAC Gallery — with a special Collectors’ Reception, Sat., Nov. 26, from 12-4pm. Score original works of art, including cards, calendars, books, ornaments, and music — plus meet participating artists. More at www.darearts.org. • Or make the wee ones do their part — and please the grandparents — when the Li’l Elves Workshop returns to KDH Co-Operative Gallery. Classes feature projects in clay and craft materials, and every kid leaves with presents wrapped and ready for multiple family members. Ages 5-10. 3-5pm. Two classes available: Tues., Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13. Or Wed. classes run Nov. 30, Dec. 7, & 14. $95. Learn more or sign up by calling 252-441-9888. • On Dec. 1, enjoy culinary creativity — and fight food insecurity — when the Beach Food Pantry’s 3rd Annual Holiday Chefs Challenge fundraiser fills the Kitty Hawk Hilton with battling chefs, who push the delicious limits of nonperishable items. $50. 6-8:30pm. More at www.beachfoodpantry.org. • Want to fight domestic abuse — and still have a fun time? On Dec. 1-3, the 28th Annual Festival of Trees turns the Outer Banks Brew Station into a three-day party, including: a Holiday Bazaar full of fine thrift store finds; a Jingle Jam featuring reggae rhythms by Nature’s Child and unlimited champagne; and, of course, the Holiday Gala and Benefit Auction, where area bizzes decorate pine trees with high-dollar donations from lots of high bidders. Get times, tix prices and other deets at www.obxfestivaloftrees.org. • On Dec. 2, Manteo’s Downtown Waterfront becomes a veritable fujiwara of festivities, when First Friday mixes with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, turning the evening streets into a swirling celebration of carols, coffee, cocoa, and community camaraderie. • Then, Dec. 3 sees the whole town line back up Sat. morning for the Annual Christmas Parade, where school bands, saucy actors and serious floats — plus Santa himself — promenade along the waterfront, flinging sweets. More at www.townofmanteo.com. • Take your turn to march around town — and snoop inside its most festive abodes — when Manteo Preservation
presents
Coming in 2017
Ciompi Quartet
Sunday January 29, 2017 at 4pm All Saint’s Episcopal Church Southern Shores, NC Tickets: $15
Barry Ambrose and Rachel Bragson:
A Four Handed Piano Recital Sunday February 25, 2017 at 4pm All Saints Episcopal Church Southern Shores, NC
David Holt with Josh Goforth
Sunday April 23, 2017 at 4pm All Saint’s Episcopal Church Southern Shores, NC Tickets: $15
New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players:
HMS Pinafore
Sunday May 7, 2017 at 7:30pm First Flight High School Kill Devil Hills, NC Tickets: $20
Tickets and more information at BryanCulturalSeries.org Our endowment managed by the
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endnotes Trust hosts its 12th Annual Holiday Tour of Homes, Dec. 3, 1-6pm. Start by skipping over to Outer Banks Distillery for some light refreshments and a rum tour. Grab your map and brochure, then make your way from house to house. Too tuckered to walk? Manteo Cyclery is donating bikes to borrow on a first come, first served basis. Plus, there’s a raffle for an original watercolor by George Cheeseman. More at www. manteopreservationtrust.com. • All that footwork make you hungry? Polish off Dec. 3 at Elizabethan Gardens’ Holiday Feast, where you can gorge your eyes on WinterLights and feed your belly with a sumptuous buffet. Dinner seatings at 6 and 7:30 pm. (Adults: $35; Ages 6-17: $23; 12 and under: $15.) More of a light fare and fancy drink fan? Come back Dec. 5 & 12 when Ladies’ Night at The Gardens mixes champagne and shopping. Full info at www.elizabethangardens.org. • Or stuff your Christmas party into two fun hours with Dec. 3’s Town of Duck Yuletide Celebration on the Duck Town Green. From 3-5pm, enjoy holiday tunes by Just Playn Dixieland, carolers from First Flight High School Choir, and Santa Claus riding a fire truck — all of it culminating with the lighting of the Town Crab Pot Tree. Visit www.townofduck.com for more sparkling details. • Drama nerds, we’ve found your Holy Grail — literally. Theatre of Dare will hold auditions for Monty Python’s Spamalot at COA, Dec. 3-5. 7-9pm. Be ready to read from the script and sing a song. All other nerds can see the hilarious results, Feb. 17, 18, 24 & 25 at 7:30pm; Feb. 19 & 26 at 2pm. $15 for adults. $10 for students. More at www.theatreofdareobx.com. (Now go away, or we will taunt you a third time.) • On Dec. 10, hang the lights and hoist your anchor for the Colington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade. A decorative string of sloops and sailboats circles the harbor, starting 5pm, while spectators sip hot chocolate, eat cookies and cheer favorites. And don’t forget,
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Colington Yacht Club members: Dec. 9 is the annual meeting and dinner at Rooster’s. More at www.colingtonyachtclub.com. • Then set a course for Trio in Kitty Hawk, as Dec. 10’s Holiday Market delivers a flotilla of the finest wines, beers and cheeses. Come back on Dec. 17 when Bubbly Fest pops the cork on a barge-load of sparkling wonders. And on Dec. 21 & Jan. 18, two Chef’s Tapas Wine & Beer Dinners will perfectly pair pints, pinots and portions for your palate. “Have at you!” 6pm. $60. More at www.obxtrio.com. • Come Dec. 9-11, the 20th Theatre of Annual Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival taps winter’s flock Dare’s Spamalot migrations for another round of intoxicating tours and programs, with will challenge brave actors to expert birders, photographers and paddlers from across NC. Learn audition at COA more and register at www.wingsoverwater.org. • Or just go bark at the on Dec. 3-5. moon with Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge’s Saturday Red Wolf Howling on Dec. 10. From 4:30-6pm, enjoy a short presentation before heading into the woods to hear captive red wolves produce haunting sounds. For more free fun, the Preschool Young Naturalist Program explores a book, an activity and a nature trail trek every Fri., 10-11am. And gratis Pea Island Bird Walks go down each Fri., 8-9:30am (except Dec. 9). Call 252-475-4180 for meeting deets. Or spend a few bucks on an Alligator River Guided Van Tour, every Tues. & Wed., 7-9am. ($30 per adult; $20 children 6-12.) Call 252-216-9464 for reservations, tour sizes and pricing. • On Dec. 10, spot the elusive St. Nicholas as he leaves his native North Pole habitat for Island Farm. Enjoy hot apple cider, ginger cookies and a warm fire — plus ox-drawn wagon rides from 1-3pm. Price: $8; children ages 5 and under are free. More at www.theislandfarm.com. • Or travel to Hatteras for Dec. 10’s 6th Annual Holiday at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. From 12-5pm, kids enjoy craft tables and puppet
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$25 off front and/or $25 off rear brake service. Valid only with purchase of brake pads or shoes when installed at Meineke. Service must include any parts or services required to restore the system to proper operating conditions. Coupon must be presented at time of estimate. Valid on most cars and light trucks at participating Meineke U.S. locations only. Offer can be combined with Meineke Credit Card rebates. Not valid with any other discounts, special order parts or warranty work. See center manager for complete details. No cash value. Void where prohibited. Limited time offer. OFFER ENDS APRIL 30, 2017.
SEE MANAGER ABOUT LOCALS DISCOUNTS! Special Financing Terms Available* Subject to credit approval. See participating center for details.
shows, adults hear local choral groups and musicians play holiday tunes — plus trees, shopping, seasonal décor, and the Winter Wonderland train display by master model builder Charlie Klein. All the entertainment’s free — and you get 5% off purchases when you bring a food bank donation. Complete deets at www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com. • Or put some twinkle in your table when another Art of the Centerpiece instructional returns to Elizabethan Gardens, Dec. 10, 10am-12pm. (Come back Dec. 13, and they’ll fix you dinner to boot.) And Dec. 17 is a double whammy of winter wonders: from 10am1pm, master craftsmen show you how to create the Perfect Holiday Wreath; from 6-9pm, Dinner with Santa promises food and WinterLights — plus one-on-one time with Mr. Wonderland. Tix at www.elizabethangardens. org. • Secure your spot on the “nice” list, by running Dec. 10’s, 2nd Annual Run, Run, Rudolph 5k and Reindeer Dash. This First Flight Middle School Student Government Association event benefits a current and/or past student and family. (Register by Nov. 26 to be secure a shirt with your spot.) Prize goes to the runner dressed with the most holiday spirit. Learn more on the FFMS Facebook page. • On Dec. 17, Santa trades his black boots for white slippers when the Hatteras Village Christmas Parade kicks off at 2pm with floats, music and a whole lotta holiday spirit. Can’t be there firsthand? Tune into Radio Hatteras for a live broadcast. More at www. hatterasonmymind.com. • Then that night, things turn ugly when Pangea Tavern and Kill Devil Rum pair up for an Ugly Sweater Party, Dec. 17. Find the nuttiest knit turtleneck or craziest cardigan for the beach’s least buttoned-up holiday bash. Get all the hideous details at www.pangeatavern.com. • Let’s not forget who put KDH on the map. On. Dec. 17, the 113th Celebration of Powered Flight at Wright Brothers National Memorial honors Orville and Wilbur — plus 100 years of U.S. Coast Guard Aviation. Ceremonies start promptly at 8:30am with the annual flyover at 10:35am. And Dec. 16’s evening reception will
salute First Flight Society members who served. For deets call 252-441-1903 or email admin@firstflight.org. • Santa meets Scuba Steve when the Roanoke Island Aquarium hosts Great White Fishmas, Dec. 17. From 2-5pm, kids get to enjoy the critters, play games and make crafts with Aquarium Elves — and share their holiday wishes with Mr. and Mrs. Claus — everything but a nautical nativity scene. Swim over to www.ncaquariums.com for full deets. • On Dec. 18, grab your favorite Jerry, George or Elaine and high-step it to Southern Shores Marketplace for the 4th Annual Outer Banks Festivus 5k/10k — plus a 1-mile Jingle Jog and Little Elf 1/4-mile. Finisher medals for all participants — plus a post-race breakfast, gift bag and photos with Santa. (Sorry, no Kramer.) Head to www.theobxrunningcompany.com for pricing and times. • Speaking of races, you’re running out of time to find gifts. Lucky for you, KDH Co-Operative Gallery’s Annual Man Sale returns Dec. 24. The staff lines up to help you score a heartwarming art piece — and go home a winner. 10am-4pm. More at www.kdhcoop.com. • Dec. 31 isn’t just the last day of the year — it’s the last chance to see the Outer Banks History Center’s “Explore Your Outer Banks Parks” exhibit, a collection of images and items celebrating a century of the National Park Service. Enjoy this free flashback, every day 9-5pm. • And a host of happy heathens stand ready to help you ring in 2017 on Dec. 31: Trio’s New Year’s Eve Party stays open ’til 1am, so you can swill extra bubbly; Outer Banks Brewing Station spices up the celebration with Zack Mexico — plus a VIP lounge with apps and private bar for just $30; and Pangea Tavern in Avon will blow the roof off with an Old Farts NYE Fest. (Or, for you health nuts, there’s always the Tortuga’s Lie 5k, where you can sweat the coming year with fitness fiends young and old.) • And what about Kelly’s? Come out for the filming of the very first Guy Fieri’s NYE Party Goodtime Grocery Ball…( Just kidding.) We have it firsthand that DJ Fresh and DJ Marshall will spin
“a million
h o l i d ay
lights of
spectacle!”
Dr. Thomas McGrady Rph
We are a full service pharmacy aimed at providing an extraordinary customer experience. Our goal is to aid in the health and wellness of every customer.
LocaL DeLivery from coroLLa to Kitty HawK!
2016-2017
With valid local ID.
we offeR: • Prescription Filling • Prescription Counseling • Compounding • Immunizations • Veterinary Medications
• Blood Pressure Checks • Healthy Visits/Med Checks • Medication Therapy • Management (MTM) • Over the Counter Products
Gardens closed the month of February!
NOVEMBER 26 thru JANUARY 21* TUES to SAT in Dec (FRI and SAT in Jan)
6pm – 9pm *Closed DEC 24, 25 & 31, JAN 1
We can transfer your prescriptions from any pharmacy or call your doctor!* *Certain restrictions apply by law. Call for details!
1187 Duck Road ∙ Duck, NC 27949 ∙ 252-715-0170
presented by
tickets:
252-473-3234
eliZaBethangaRdens.org milepost 45
endnotes Cultural Series: on Jan. 29, All Saints Episcopal Church hosts Duke University’s Ciompi you into 2017 for the 17th consecutive year. And according to our source — let’s call him, Quartet of master violinists and cellists; Feb. 17 sees Barry Ambrose’s Four Handed “MK” — “if you want to straighten out any rumor mill, we’ll also be serving dinner and Piano Recital tickle the ivories in double-time. Both start at 4pm and cost $15. More at hosting entertainment at least thru Jan.” So put a parking brake on that shopping cart. More www.bryanculturalseries.org. • And nobody’s been broadening artistic horizons longer than at www.kellysrestaurant.com. • What’s Jan. 6? Why Old Christmas, of course. This annual the Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. For 39 years, this annual exhibit’s filled Glenn Eure’s Hatteras tradition harkens back to a time when the Old World changed calendars and the New World decided to party twice as hard. Today, the natives pick the closest Sat. to gather Ghost Fleet Gallery with the best local talents to hand out bragging rights. Be there Sat., Jan. 28, 6-8pm, for an opening reception — or circle back any day ’til Feb. 25. For entry at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center for a shucking-good party and a visit deadlines and other deets, go to www.darearts.org or call 252-473-5558 (P.S. Be sure to ask by Old Buck. (But if it’s the first time you’re hearing this, you should probably stay home.) • them about the Adele Castillo’s Color Theory That’s not the only down south tradition with a date painting workshop on Feb. 18.) • Make sugar your change involved. Fans of Hatteras Anglers Club muse, Jan. 28, when Elizabethan Gardens hosts a Bingo Nights should note that from now ’til May, the DIY Chocolate Workshop. From 10am-2pm, activities go down every other Wed. (i.e. Jan. 11 & 25; learn how to assemble chocolate candies from Feb. 8 & 22.) Doors still open at 6pm; games at 7pm. scratch. And come back Feb. 4 for Savory & And all the proceeds still fund scholarships for high Sizzling, a cooking workshop to add spice to your school seniors and other local non-profits. Get the palate — and maybe your romance. (Hey now!) latest at www.capehatterasanglersclub.org. • On Jan. 12:30-2pm. For pricing and deets see www. 7, Kitty Hawk’s Unitarian Universalist Church of elizabethangardens.org. • Or just do it the oldthe Outer Banks imports some down-south musical fashioned way and load up on oysters. On Feb. 4, flavor with a concert by the legendary Mojo Collins N.C. Coastal Federation’s Hatteras Island — and an opening for a month-long exhibit of his Oyster Roast gathers round the fire at Oden’s grooviest wooden art pieces. More at www.uucob. Dock from 2-5pm, for some shucking, sucking and org. • Or find inner peace by coloring pictures any plenty of… seafood chowder and other Mon. night at the Beer Church — aka the Brewing refreshments. More information can be found at Station — when Local Color hosts Lushes With www.nccoast.org. • Feb. 11 is sure to warm your Brushes at 7pm. Tix and deets at www.localcolorobx. hearts — and punish your soles — when Love on com. • On Jan. 13, Kelly’s plays blue notes, bebop the Run 5k comes to Sanctuary Vineyards. and jazz for the very best of causes when the More at www.theobxrunningcompany.com. • And Community Clinic of Dare raises funds with its everyone gets lucky at Trio this Valentine’s Day annual Dr. Jazz concert with John Sanchez. 7-9 pm when the Aphrodisiac Tapas, Wine & Beer at Kelly’s. Tix and deets at www.dareclinic.org. • Go Dinner pairs up all sorts of seductive food easy, party animals. You’ll wanna be up early to enjoy combos, Feb. 14. More at www.obxtrio.com. • Let Jan. 14’s Saturday Tram Tour at Alligator River the galaxy light up your life when Starry Nights Wildlife Refuge. (With repeat runs Feb. 11 & Mar. comes to the Hatteras Village Civic Center, Feb. 11.) Meet at Creef Cut Trail before 9am; bring your 24-25, with a visiting astronomer on Fri. and a free camera, binoculars and bottled water, and learn all children’s program at the Hatteras Fire House about local wildlife. ($10 for ages 13+; kids are free with a portable planetarium on Sat. There’s even a with paying adult. Call 252-216-9464 to reserve Romance Under the Stars dance for couples. spots.) • Help make our coastal waters even prettier Discover the full deets at www.hatterasonmymind. when NC Coastal Federation hosts a state-wide org. • Or maybe you want to be the star? Luckily, marine debris clean-up, Jan. 14. From 9am-12pm help remove lost fishing gear from TBD sound locations. Theatre of Dare is looking for two good men Learn more at www.nccoast.org. • Or you can make — and four women — for their season’s final sure spring blooms go bonkers by joining production. Boeing Boeing is a 60s romp about a Elizabethan Gardens’ Volunteer Bulb Planting bachelor who woos three stewardesses then gets Outer Banks talents tackle matters of life and death when the 39th Annual Frank Stick Work Day. Jan. 14, 9am-12pm. BYOBPT. (Bring Your caught with his pants down. Auditions at COA, Memorial Art Show comes to Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, Jan. 28-Feb. 25, 2017. Above: 2016’s Best in Show winnner, “Felt Like Right” by Travis Fowler. Own Bulb Planting Tool.) Deets at www. Feb. 28, Mar. 1 & Mar. 2, at 7pm. More at www. elizabethangardens.org. • Love springs eternal, Jan. theatreofdareobx.com. • On Mar. 4, nourish your 14-15, when the Outer Banks’ largest public display of affection — the January Wedding community by participating in Elizabethan Gardens’ Spring Fling Clean Up Day. Dress Expo and Weekend — fills First Flight High School and Middle School with 200+ for the weather and be sure to bring boots and gloves. Dig more deets at www. photographers, caterers and DJs, promising endless options for wedding bliss. Take the leap elizabethangardens.org. • And that night, trade the boots and gloves for a mask and beads at www.obxwa.com. • The Outer Banks Forum for Performing Arts makes a commitment when Sanctuary Vineyards hosts the 2017 Outer Banks Children @ Play Museum’s to live music with a couple of shows at First Flight High School: on Jan. 21, Donald Sinta Mardi Gras Gala. This Mar. 4 fundraiser will feature music, dancing and outstanding New Quartet gets saxy with works by up-and-coming composers; on Feb. 18, award-winning a Orleans cuisine. Score le scoop at www.childrenatplayobx.org. • And, finally, it’s never too cappella quartet, Women of the World, put a contemporary twist on international folk soon to start salivating for Taste of the Beach’s smorgasbord of chef’s tastings and music. All shows at 7:30pm. $28; $15 for students. Get full deets plus info on spring shows at showdowns, Mar. 23-27. Tix go on sale as early as Dec. 1. So head over to www. www.outerbanksforum.org. • And the highbrow hit-makers keep coming courtesy of Bryan obxtasteofthebeach.com and score seats before someone swoops your reservation.
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It’s Always Sunny at Mama’s!
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Wednesday
Kwan’s
authentic
Pad thai
Serving Lunch & Dinner r! Daily All Winte
available all day!
World Famous Fish Tacos
Milepost 9.5 • Highway 158 in KDH • 252.441.7889 • MamaKwans.com
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We’re Tuning Up The Bonzer Kitchen This Winter!
The Shack is Wide Open Until Sunday, Nov. 27th We Hope To Reopen By Mid January for the 2017 Season!
Live Music
Saturday Nights!
Watch For Our Opening
Party!
Lunch Specials $9.99
Captain Grit Cake
Bonzer Breakfast Sundays
11:30 am to 3 PM
MP9 on the Beach Rd. • Kill Devil Hills • BonzerShack.com • 252.480.1010
milepost 47
festive four-pack. Portable Pints for every holiday.
EstablishEd 2001. Thanksgiving • Chanukah • ChrisTmas • kwanzaa • new Years • groundhog daY • valenTine’s daY