OUTER BANKS MILEPOST: ISSUE 6.1

Issue 6.1

Dream Big.

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Grays

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One more wave. Photo: Patrick Ruddy

THE ORIGINAL

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Since the 60’s

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As a rule, we don’t graphiccontent do obits. gosurf Not because we don’t care about who dies, but because we do. Every passing leaves behind at least one person who celebrates their life. Start picking and choosing who to remember, it starts to feel like playing favorites — this human only matters because we loved them — and that’s never, ever the case.

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But some people are born to break the rules. And it seems like the whole Outer Banks loved Mickey McCarthy.

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When the 68-year-old surfing fixture and photographer died on Dec. 23, 2016, it was like a tsunami leveled the island. Powerful images and bittersweet memories pooled up for days. Maybe because Mickey so perfectly modeled the Outer Banks ethos — not just in his photos, but in his very nature: a hearty mix of outlaw self-reliance and overwhelming generosity.

Here was a guy who just wanted to make surfboards — but ended up birthing a factory. Who picked up a camera for fun — then worked overtime to capture our spirit and share it with the masses. I don’t

want to say he was “gifted.” Not like those lucky few who grab a tool, then glide through life. Mickey labored. He struggled.

At times, he tapped out. (Cherish your New Sun customs, dear friends.) But he was better than gifted — he gave.

“

He handed most surfers their first photos — and most local pros their careers.

He donated whole days to documenting contests, beach cleanups, clinics and causes — then offered up framed prints for raffle prizes. And he was never stingy with his hard-earned resources, doling out tips and encouragement to young shapers and shooters — and welcoming all lensmen, foreign and domestic, to stand beside him on any stretch of pier or sand.

Discover your gift — then never stop giving it away.

As a result, he probably got more surf shots published than anyone — often with some

other photographer’s name on the caption.

But Mick never cared. As long as the Outer Banks got credit, he was happy.

That was the best part of his nature. That mix of pride and humility. As a mag contributor, he was the first to offer his services and the last to leave every editorial pow-wow — where he came armed with his own sixer of Corona and an endless keg of ideas. Even so, he always acted like we were doing him the favor — never once hinting that he basically epitomized the phrase “local legend.”

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It may seem odd to be saluting a Colington craftsman in an issue profiling people who split town to chase fancy dreams. But that’s what Mickey did: he chased his dream here.

Not for fame or fortune or praise. He just loved expressing his talents. In fact, I bet if you asked Mick if his goal was to become a photographer or shaper, he would have said no — that he simply wanted to shoot photos and shape boards. Maybe that’s the real secret to success: discover your gift — then never stop giving it away.

Do that, and you leave the world no choice but to remember you. — Matt Walker

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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: shred it to pieces with a Skil100; drop it in a resin barrel and light it on fire. 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. milepost 3

CULINARY MASTERY

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STATE OF THE ART PRESENTATION

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”

— Robert Browning “All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I’m fine.” — Jeff Spicoli

Issue 6.1 Spring 2017

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Cover: Sirens Portside Mixed Media: Phyllis Wells 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, Richard L. Miller, Dick Meseroll/ESM, David Molnar, 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 Blame It All On Suite P Inc. PO Box 7100 • KDH, NC 27948 Office: 252-441-6203 • Sales: 949-275-5115

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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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03 StartingPoint Mickey’s gift.

06 UpFront Placing bets, fantasy pimps — and unlimited power!

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20 GetActive Sharing is caring.

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22 QuestionAuthority What’s on our economic horizon?

We asked an NC State expert.

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25 D ream Big Sometimes living large requires a real leap of faith.

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32 GraphicContent Our sixteen is less sweet, more smart-ass.

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38 P ro Grade These high school programs are built to succeed.

44 GoPickleball The newest racket in senior sports.

47 GoShoot Armed and dexterous.

49 FoodDrink Travel by taste bud.

50 SoundCheck Man, they’re huge.

53 ArtisticLicense Valentine’s day in the sun.

54 RearView Homegrown heroes.

“Square Pairings”

By Susannah Sakal “I’ve always liked pairing photos. That’s sort of my style. I’ll match images that are alike in theme and emotion — value or whimsicality — or find a juxtaposition between a flower and metal, soft surface and hard surface. Or just tie together a pure color from two different places. I first fell in love with photography back in high school. The past few years reignited that spark because of our sailing adventures to the Caribbean. And on a 34-foot catamaran, you might have a hard time setting up an easel and paints, but your laptop and camera are right there. So, I go out, I gather raw material to put in the reservoir, then I sit down and start looking through images. And that’s when the real fun starts. Because one photo tells just a piece of a story — but when you put two together, it completes it.” — Susannah Sakal

57 OutThere Riddling ripples.

58 EndNotes A bold plan for spring.

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upfront soundcheck SHOCK THERAPY

Could microgrids be a source of unlimited power?

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When you live on the Outer Banks, you’re going to lose electricity. Power lines don’t do well in storms. Even when poles stand, wires fizzle from salt spray. Most locals know to ready the coolers or test the generator before a big blow. But what if there was a way for the whole beach to share a back-up supply? Even for just a few hours? Well, maybe there is. They’re called “microgrids.”

see them as a way to one day cut the cord to far-flung plants, and avoid the problems that come with crossing long distances.

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These independent power sources run separately from the main grid, the vast network of interconnected systems that feeds electricity from big energy plants — usually coal, nuclear or natural gas — to locations all over the country.

The microgrid can hook into the main grid with a switch when needed, or it can just run independently off a combination of distributed generators, batteries and/or “green” sources like solar and wind.

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up the first pilot microgrid in the North Carolina Electric Cooperative, a statewide network of 26 independent, private, not-for-profit power providers.

“This gives us an opportunity to get our feet wet, so to speak,” says Heidi Smith, spokesperson for Tideland Electric Membership. “It is really a learning lab.”

The demonstration project, completed in November, is a joint venture of Tideland and the NC Electric Membership Corporation.

A combination of Tesla batteries and 62 solar panels, totaling 20 kilowatts of power, the microgrid was installed on the roof of the company’s existing diesel generating plant on the island. The Tesla batteries nearby can store up to 1 mW (Mega Watt) of electricity. And 160 Ecobee “smart” thermostats can help customers lower power usage during high demand. In return, they save on their utility bills.

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“A microgrid allows communities to be more energy-independent,” says Microgrid Knowledge, an online hub of information, “and, in some cases, more environmentally friendly.”

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In some developing countries, microgrids provide electricity where there is no utility company or central power source. In the US, they often serve as a backup supply, in case an emergency situation clips power to a fire station, a hospital, a military base, or a university. But some isolated communities

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Although the microgrid will not actually serve as an alternate power supply for the island, Smith says it could be helpful

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to boost the generator when it’s having trouble getting online during peak demand.

Meanwhile, Tideland will be testing how much energy to store and distribute from the batteries.

“I would say we need a full year of data,”

Smith says. “We will be tweaking how they utilize these resources and assets.”

They’ll also monitor the impact of salt air and weather conditions on the microgrid components to understand how future equipment will handle harsh coastal

conditions — lessons any would-be coastal energy producer must learn. Sometimes the hard way.

“There have been issues with corrosion,” says Nate Frost, manager of Dominion’s new technology and renewable energies program, which operates its own microgrid demonstration project in Kitty Hawk.

Smoky Mountains National Park, sits a communications tower for remote cell phone service and emergency use. For years, Duke Energy has spent time and money, maintaining miles of power poles just to keep it alive.

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Since 2014, the research effort’s purred along at the company’s facility off Woods Road. Instead of solar panels, Dominion’s version uses four rather short 17-kilowatt wind turbines — all of different designs — two fuel cells, a 5-kilowatt solar panel array and a battery storage system.

It’s not designed to export power, though it could go off the grid if necessary — with backup from a diesel generator. The project’s primary purpose is research.

And so far, it’s become apparent that the turbines, which are below the tree line, are too short to collect much wind energy.

“We’re getting some [power],” Frost says.

“It’s just not optimal.”

Still, it easily keeps the lights on in the onsite offices. And while it may so far be the company’s only microgrid, Frost maintains the project is an effective demonstration. And Dominion’s not the only NC power player that sees its potential. In fact, right now, Duke Energy is pursuing the state’s first real-life, off-the-grid microgrid.

High atop Mt. Sterling, inside Great

It may be a single tower with a single purpose, but it’s a start.

“So we have a lot of infrastructure in place,” says Randy Wheeless, a spokesman for Duke Energy Progress, “to basically serve one customer.”

Duke plans to replace all that copper and timber with a 10-kilowatt solar generator and zinc-air battery. Operation is simple: energy collected from solar panels charges the battery, which runs the tower. The proposed project is awaiting final approvals from the state Utilities Commission and the National Park Service, Wheeless says. If all goes as expected, the microgrid should be constructed and online by year’s end.

Not only will the Park Service benefit, but Duke will no longer have to maintain power poles at the top of the mountain, ultimately saving customers money. Furthermore, the project is an important step towards further development of Duke’s green energy and grid technology. It may be a single tower with a single purpose, but it’s a start.

“There might be other remote areas and other hard-to-reach areas where it might

HERE COMES THE SAND Shining light to a brighter future? Or a black hole of wasted cash? Whatever your views on beach nourishment, it’s fixing to rain metric tons of tan gold in 2017. And while the long-term goal is a wider beach, the short-term forecast calls for extended periods of spotty access, as pipes and staging areas move down the beach beginning in May. So what’s that mean for locals and visitors this spring and summer?

“Our staging area will be the Army Corps Field Research Facility,” says Duck’s Town Manager, Christopher Layton. “So, for most people, the only disruption will be the pipe itself, which will be in front of their property for up to a week. However, it really should only be two to four days that people might see access issues in front of their homes.

Granted, this is all weather-dependent, but once the contractors start rolling, they work 24-7 to place 50-150 feet of sand per day.”

That’s good news. Because, if there’s one thing critics and fans can agree on, it’s seeing the project completed as quickly as possible. Here’s the proposed schedule as of Feb. 1.

Town of Duck Start: Mid-to-Late May 2017 End: Mid-to-Late July 2017

Town of Kitty Hawk Start: Mid-June 2017 End: Mid-Aug. 2017

Town of Kill Devil Hills Start: Early Aug. 2017 End: Early-to-Mid Sept. 2017

Duration: 60 days

Duration: 60 days

Duration: 45 days

For constant updates on the project’s progress and what to expect from town to town, keep an eye on www.morebeachtolove.com. be more economical to put a microgrid,” Wheeless says. “Especially if you’re looking at outages that take a day or two to get online.”

Who knows? After figuring out two days, maybe they can learn to last ten. Then twenty. Instead of isolated islands, they could support crowded suburbs.

They could provide emergency backup, or supplement power, or even replace the regular power supply entirely — all without being vulnerable to storms, technology glitches or even hacking. Benefits that won’t just help weather-beaten coastal towns, but any community, as the future moves toward “all of the above” energy strategies.

One day, microgrids might support energy resilience and independence, incorporating renewable energy into the power supply.

“It’s truly unique,” Frost says. “It creates a lot of challenges, but we’re learning a lot along the way.” — Catherine Kozak

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If you see this boat a-rockin’… (You know the rest.) Photo: Drew C. Wilson Courtesy of The Virginian Pilot/Outer Banks History Center

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How the Croatan went from state vessel to state of vacation

“Summer rental. Sleeps four. $300 per week...” Sound too good to be true?

That’s just for starters. Thirty years ago, this vacation rental wasn’t just a killer bargain — it was a dry-docked boat turned hospitality suite, the latest in many unique experiences for a former state fisheries vessel named Croatan.

From the beginning, Croatan was special. She was born at the New Bern’s legendary Barbour Boatworks. (Barbour was the cradle of quality workboats between the 1930s and 1970s — if a boat was Barbour-built, she was the nautical equivalent of a thoroughbred horse, Tiffany glass, Tanqueray… you get the picture.) On March 9, 1939, she was christened on a cold day at the state port docks in Morehead City. In true down-east style, Beaufort’s Catharine O’Bryan broke a bottle of clam juice across her bow, surrounded by members of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development.

From there, the 40-foot, diesel-powered Croatan joined an eight-vessel state fleet. Larger boats kept watch offshore for fisheries violations — such as net limits and fishing out of season — while smaller boats like Croatan guarded the sounds.

(In fact, Roanoke Island’s Tom Basnight, who was assistant fisheries commissioner for a quarter century, also served as captain for a number of years.)

“These boats enforce our rules and regulations, to collect taxes and licenses and to occasionally do experimental work,” reads the June 30, 1940 “Biennial Report of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development.”

In addition to enforcing law, the Manteo-based Croatan was more or less a state sponsored yacht/floating ambassador, ferrying bigwigs, eminentos, and

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newspapers who shared the virtues of the Carolina coast with their readers.

On Croatan’s maiden voyage — the press called it a “shakedown cruise” — R. Bruce Etheridge, director of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development brought photographer Bill Baker of the State News Bureau, so newspapers and state promotional literature had access to images.

In 1941, Croatan and her sister ship, Hatteras, transported officials to a meeting on Hatteras Island when North Carolina Governor J. Melville Broughton toured the sandy outpost “for the purpose of inspecting roadways… and also a visit to all the lighthouses and coast guard stations.” And when Governor W. Kerr Scott hosted Arkansas governor Sid McMath on an angling trip out of Oregon Inlet in 1952, the gubernatorial fishing party went to sea on a private boat with legendary captain Omie Tillett, while the press kept tabs from a distance aboard the Croatan.

But Arnold J. “Ducky” Stewart probably put it best in Delaware’s Wilmington Morning News, declaring, “when the Conservation Department of the State of North Carolina entertains a guest, he is well entertained.”

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she was the nautical equivalent of Tiffany glass.

Following a complimentary showing of The Lost Colony in August 1941, Stewart and Tom Basnight went fishing, bringing in 14 dolphin,16 bonito and 21 blues. “With fingers and arms aching it has been two days of swell outside salt-water fishing as a guest of a swell state.” This is the kind of early publicity that roused outsiders to visit the Outer Banks for some offshore adventure.

Croatan kept watch over area waters for 30-plus years, with an average cruising speed of 12 to 16 knots, until her retirement in the early 1970s. But once Frank Turner purchased the surplus vessel via sealed bid, he dry-docked her permanently — while preserving her hospitable history.

He parked Croatan on the oceanside, behind a Nags Head sand dune — between mileposts 15 and 16 — adding “shoreside plumbing… kitchen and hot water heater.” For

$300 a week in-season, a family of four with small children could rent the Croatan as their summer vacation home.

Croatan featured “a head with spacious shower and a double bunk in the forward cabin. Two couches in the main salon convert to single beds.” The old bridge was converted into a galley. Modern accoutrements included “a minimicrowave, toaster oven, fridge, sink and television.”

Croatan slipped off the radar in the mid-90s, most likely meeting her demise in a practice burn by the Nags Head Fire Department. While Fire Chief Kevin Zorc was unable to locate any paperwork, he checked with Pete Grana, the town’s first paid firefighter, who remembers the training blaze, but remains “fuzzy as to the exact date or details.”

“Funny,” Zorc continues, “I can see the boat in my memory, and remember feeling sad that it was gone. Guess I viewed it as a cool place to live; a victim of redevelopment.”

Add another legendary ghost ship to the Outer Banks graveyard. — Sarah Downing

Sources include: “Catharine of Carteret Christens Cabin Cruiser Croatan with Clam Juice,” Beaufort News, Mar. 23, 1939; “Hatteras Meeting Convenes,” High Point Enterprise, Aug. 25, 1941; “Hunting and Fishing,” Arnold J. “Ducky” Stewart, Wilmington Morning News, Aug. 15, 1941; “Odd Lodgings: A survey of offbeat Outer Banks beach rentals,” Lorraine Eaton, The Carolina Coast, June 25, 1991; “Letter from J. Melville Broughton to R.R. Waesche,” Aug. 27, 1941; State Archives of North Carolina; N.C. Department of Conservation and Development Biennial Report for the Year Ending June 30, 1940.

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upfront soundcheck getactive startingpoint roadmap A cheering, jeering gokite look at recent events and their potential milepost impacts

KICK IT! Bust out the Brass Monkey. In Nov., First Flight’s Nighthawks proved they’re the beastiest boys in 2A soccer by winning the state championships, beating Rutherford County’s Chase High School, 4-0. The fact that it was the team’s third trip to the finals in four years — and the school’s third state championship in any sport — only makes the performance extra special.

CAMEL WALK Be ready to hump some gear — and hike over hot sand — if you want to keep surfing S-Turns. In Jan. the DOT signed contracts to start work next year on a 2.4-mile-long “jug handle” to traverse the infamous NC 12 trouble-spot, with plans to finish by 2020. The good news? They

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nuked the idea for a 7-mile jumper from New Inlet to Rodanthe. The bad news?

We’re still losing roadside parking for potentially hundreds of cars. Let’s just hope the county adds space in town to lighten the burden on future surfaris. life’s a BEACH Well, looks like we got all worked up for nothing. After towns, tourist boards and politicians sounded the alarm over a lawsuit with dire consequences for beach access — and coastal economies — the state supreme court dismissed a NJ couple’s case to control the sand in front of their home, reaffirming what most people already loved about coastal NC: the beach is everyone’s to enjoy, no matter what you paid for your oceanfront lot.

ORV! OMG! As part of the ongoing legislative U-turn regarding Cape Hatteras beach access, on Feb. 1, the NPS opened a half-mile bypass

south of Ramp 44, allowing permitted ORV’s to bypass the narrow stretches that can succumb to high tide. Other fresh changes include opening popular spots earlier and extending spring and fall ORV routes. Plus, short-term permits now run 10 days, and annual permits remain valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. (Try to contain your excitement.)

COOL IT, GANG We ain’t seen an Outer Banks violent streak like this since the war of northern aggression. In Dec., a Manteo brawl sent three men to the hospital. Next, a KDH woman fired shots at a fleeing prowler in broad daylight. In Jan., a beloved local bartender got stabbed in the face while grabbing a to-go order, putting the victim on a long, road to recovery — and the offender in jail for assault with intent to kill.

Maybe it’s time we all drop the weapons and act civilly — before someone ends up in the cemetery.

TRIPLE VISIONARIES Add 3D technology to the list of frontiers broken by the Wright Brothers. A new app called reVistor uses GPS to breathe fresh life into historic monuments by virtually recreating groundbreaking events. Now, instead of wondering what the first manpowered flight was really like, kids can look at their cell phones and witness digital versions of Wilbur and Orville boldly going where no Pokémon has gone before.

HOSTS WITH THE MOST “Screw Disney World. I’m going to the Outer Banks!” If COA has its way, that’ll be the Super Bowl victory claim of the future, thanks to a new Hospitality and Tourism Certification program modeled on the Mouse’s strategy of emphasizing highquality customer service. The focus? Excel in every aspect of human interaction — from folding towels to fielding questions.

The goal? To make every first-time tourist a repeat — or threepeat — visitor.

A REAL OCCUPANCY PROBLEM Most folks sweat summer visitors — but what about our winter homeless? In 2009, Room in the Inn helped 17 lessfortunate men find shelter and seek work.

In 2015, the non-profit served 41 people — including 14 women. These past few months saw even more guests — while receiving fewer donations. If you’re feeling flush, consider cutting a check before Apr. 16 to RITI, PO Box 2786, KDH, NC 27948, and help a hard-working charity finish the season.

CHEERS, BREW! When Uli Bennewitz opened the Weeping Radish on Roanoke Island in 1986, it wasn’t just the Outer Banks’ first beer garden — it was the state’s first microbrewery. In Feb., the NC Beer Crafters Guild celebrated 30 years of Tarheel taphouses with “Yours Truli,” a limited-release, Bavarian wheat ale inspired by the German immigrant’s first batch — and made in secret last summer

at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Beer Camp — all to toast the pioneer whose willingness to change laws and attitudes toward craft brewing helped give birth to 187 labels state-wide. (And counting.)

PARK PLACE Kudos to Nags Head: the old Dowdy’s amusement park could’ve ended up another hotel — or at least four houses.

Instead, the town purchased the land in 2013 to build a playground for the general public. On May 13, the grand opening of Dowdy Park will reveal a collection of slides, stages, virtual dunes and open space by joining forces with Dare County Arts Council’s annual Artrageous, a full day of colorful crafts, creative cuisine and live concerts. No wonder the town has a virtual monopoly on beach charm.

For detailed reports on these stories and breaking local news on a daily basis — plus page after page of local discussion — visit www.outerbanksvoice.com, www.islandfreepress.org and www.obsentinel.com.

SMART-ASS COMMENT OF THE MONTH “The only way to ‘own’ a part of the beach is to scoop some sand into a container and take it home with you.”

— Dylandog, “State High Court Dismisses Suit Over What Is Public Beach,” OuterBanksVoice.com; Dec. 12, 2016

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upfront soundcheck

WHADDYA RECKON?

We got questions — you got answers. getactive Rasheed Bryant, 20 Furniture Retail Manteo “An NFL running back. I played in high school and college, but I kind of lost my passion for the sport. I’ve thought of becoming a pastor, too, but I’m pretty happy delivering furniture.”

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“What did you want to be when you grew up?”

Vivian Weaver, 47 Clerk/Cashier Jarvisburg “I never thought I’d be doing this.

When I was younger I always wanted to be a teacher. But I’ve volunteered with my daughter’s school, so I still get to help out kids.”

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Krystle Quidley, 27 Barista Jarvisburg “I wanted to be an artist. I never thought I’d work in a coffee shop doing latte drawings and selling books. But I applied here and really liked it. Now, I’ve been here eight years, so I train new employees and teach them foam art, too.”

Pok Choeichom, 39 Chef/Restaurateur Kill Devil Hills “I grew up in the food service industry with my family. So, I always knew this was the career for me. It’s a lot of hard work, but I enjoy it.”

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Karla Hutchins, 45 Deli Owner Nags Head “As a kid, I wanted to work with dolphins.

I even went to a camp at Marathon Key Research Center and got an environmental science degree in college. When I moved to the Outer Banks, I loved it so much, I settled down with my husband and joined the food industry.”

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Nayna Patel, 46 Convenience Store Owner Kill Devil Hills “Growing up, I wanted to be a pharmacist.

When I got married at a young age, I stopped my studies to help my husband with his business. Now we’re on our second business — and working on a third!”

Al Smith, 44 Bartender/DJ Southern Shores “I just wanted to surf and skate at my leisure, never having to punch a clock.

So, after high school, I moved to San Diego and started bartending. Then I started doing DJ gigs. I still do both.

And I surf as much as possible, so I’ve kinda achieved what I wanted to do.”

Stacey Walters, 48 Shop Owner/ Musician Kill Devil Hills “I was sure I would be America’s first female president or a rock star. I never dreamed I’d have a store selling beer and wine. I thought it would’ve been a shoe store. [laughs] But I do play violin, so I guess — in a way — I am a professional musician.”

Interviews and images by Tony Leone

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upfront soundcheck

Don’t worry: Broughton only charges for “Freebird.”

Photo: Toby Bromwich

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PAY TO PLAY?

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Why spend five grand? A taste of the fantasy life is waiting right here.

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So, you spent your life in a biz suit stockpiling dough and stifling your passion. Now you’re old, rich and wondering, “What if?” Don’t worry, there’s always “fantasy camps.” For $5,000 you can learn to twirl microphones from Roger Daltrey or play catch with Reggie Jackson. (Or at least shake hands with someone who did.) We scoured the Internet for a range of play opportunities, from killing zombies to crafting wines. Then we found Outer Banks options where anyone can invest in their dream without spending their retirement.

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Baseball Fantasy Camp Cost: $5100+

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“Pinch-hitting for Jose Canseco, it’s…” You. These days, nearly every MLB team will let aging amateurs ambush winter training for a week of playing ball and taking pictures with former legends. (The Yankees even offer weekend clinics for Future’s so bright, half the price.) Or, you can forge a he’s gotta wear blades.

Photo: Richard L. Miller lasting friendship with a future hero by opening your home to an Outer Banks Daredevil. “About 30 of our collegiate players have gone on to the majors,” says General Manager, Michael Dooley. “And even more end up in the minors. But our host families tend to have kids who want to play college ball. And they end up making lifelong relationships with really good influences.” (To host, email daredevilsobx@gmail.com by mid-Mar.; game-day volunteers are welcome all summer long.)

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Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp

Hollywood TV Star Fantasy Camp

Cost: $4999+ Some years it’s guitar gods like Joe Walsh and Slash. Others, it’s the dudes who backed up the dudes who died decades ago. Either way, you still get four days of jamming with road-tested players, then play a live show at the Whiskey a Go-Go. But why fly to LA when you can play rock star at home? Every bar has some open stage for any would-be player. (Art’s Place is Wed.; Kelly’s is Thurs.) Don’t know any chords?

Try the Coconut Club Karaoke at Sundog’s in Corolla, where Broughton Aycock’s bad company will back you up for a packed summer crowd every Mon. and Thurs. night. “After years of people making requests and singing along, we finally said, ‘Go for it,’” says Aycock. “We basically get two types: the plastered drunks and solid performers. But it’s always guaranteed entertainment.” *Yadin Nicol not included.

Photo: Jeremiah Klein

Cost: Your very soul

Hottest ticket in town.

Photo: JoBeth Hardin

Heartbroken you never went to Hollywood? Try this plastic take on Tinseltown, where a fake roll in a fake movie — topped with a fake star on your fake trailer — costs a very real $9550! Now, that you’re broke and rejected, pour that pain and suffering into a heartfelt audition for the The Lost Colony. (Submit a video to www. thelostcolony.org by Mar. 15.) Miss the cut? There’s always Theatre of Dare, where local experts willingly encourage would-be thespians. “I hadn’t acted on a stage since eighth grade,” laughs Betsy Head, who now plays Manteo’s wife in The Lost Colony. “But that’s the best thing about Theater of Dare — everyone’s so supportive, they make you feel comfortable, then inspire you to do even better.” (2017 season starts this fall; learn more at www. theatreofdareobx.com.)

Find it all in Duck.

Hurley Surfing High Performance Centre Cost: $545-$1200 AUD If the best surfer is the guy having the most fun, it’s still a pro. They rip harder. And travel farther. There’s three ways to fulfill this fantasy: book a flight to any of the World Surf League’s Championship Tour events (www.worldsurfleague.com), then paddle out with competitors between contest days. (Good luck catching a wave.) Or head to Australia’s Hurley Surfing Performance Centre where surf coaches strengthen cores, film sessions and analyze the results to take any geezer from kook to Kelly for just $545. ($1200 if you require accommodations.) Or, just stay put — and be patient — and local pro Noah Snyder will put you through your paces this summer. “We’re in the process of bringing a Hurley Surf Club here,” says the owner of Momentum Fitness. “It’s still in its infancy stages, so we can’t say how many sessions or the number of slots, but it will include all those key elements of fitness, instruction, filming, and fun.” (Find Noah at www.momentumobx.com.)

Sonoma Grape Camp Cost: $2000 per person; $3700 per couple

Drinking wine every day doesn’t make you an expert. Knowing grapes, pairing flavors and planting vines does. Spend three days — and two grand — at the Sonoma Grape Camp, you’ll learn how to make wine from the roots up. More of a hophead? Head to New York’s Black Fly Brewing Camp and buy into beer-making for just $299. But why fly to some far-flung fermenter when you can go “behind the scenes” at Taste of the Beach? This year, the Outer Banks Brewing Station’s Micro Micro Beerfest reveals a range of crafty secrets for $26.75. Or spend $53 and let Sanctuary Vineyard’s two-hour Glass In Session Winemaking Schools walk you through the process. “You won’t walk away able to make wine completely on your own,” says owner John Wright. “But we’ll give you the tools to run with that desire.” (Details and tix at www.obxtasteofthebeach.com.)

Connect with nature by strolling along the Boardwalk, walk the village area with stores, galleries and eateries, and enjoy free live events at the Town Park throughout the year.

Grab life by the grapes.

Photo: Brooke Mayo

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upfront

ODDS JOB soundcheck

We’ll wager you’ve never heard a gambling story like this one. getactive Glen Walker almost went to jail. It helped that he had a good lawyer, and, as one commentator remarked, “…the FBI made a fool of itself by pursuing a glorified conspiracy theory.” But mostly he escaped because he did nothing illegal — even as he helped Las Vegas high rollers make millions on sporting events, from college football to the Super Bowl.

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“I was the manager of a sportsbook on the strip in 1982,” says the 66-year-old former legal “bookie” turned Outer Banker. “You put a sportsbook in there, you’re going to beat most of the Hoi polloi.”

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“But the wise guys are going to beat you,” Glen continues. “Not wise guys like this.” He pushes his nose to the side. “But smart. And Michael Kent was smart.”

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Real smart. Kent was a computer geek before there were computer geeks. Living outside of Pittsburgh, his real job was helping Westinghouse build nuclear subs. His hobby was writing code to predict the outcome of sports competitions — mostly college football, at first. Once the program proved reliable, he moved to Las Vegas and started winning. But in the cash driven ’80s, a person could wager only so much at a time. And winning too much scared away bookies.

“We would get up to pay for lunch,” Glen recalls, “and these guys would come over: ‘No, no, no. Mr. Spilotro or Mr. Blitzstein will take care of that.’”

That would be Tony Spilotro (d. 1986, mob hit, Chicago) and Fat Herbie Blitzstein (d. 1997, mob hit, Las Vegas).

And they weren’t the only heavy hitters watching. The day before Super Bowl XIX, January 19, 1985, the FBI started kicking in doors. In January, 1990, the “conspirators” went to court — just under the five-year statute of limitations.

“He would ask questions like, ‘Now does that mean they’re the bettors or the book makers?’” Glen laughs. “If the penalty wasn’t so great it would have been comical.”

“

“Computers, the Internet… it was the perfect vehicle for this industry.”

In the end, the Computer Group was convicted of tax evasion and shut down. But the trial itself was a wakeup call for Las Vegas — and the entire sports betting industry — which soon went both digital and international.

“You could see it coming,” Glen says. “Computers, the Internet… it was the perfect vehicle for this industry.”

Nowadays, you can place a bet online, in any country and on just about anything, from the Preakness to the Pistons to the presidential election. Money and information flow freely. Even ESPN tailors its coverage to sweeten the action. Still, Glen says all the awareness is sort of a mixed blessing.

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“It’s more difficult to win because everyone relies on an odds service,” he explains. “They know the odds everywhere. It’s like Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s all colluded to have the same prices.”

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As a result, it’s the money that leads to the lines on betting — as opposed to any special insights on a given team’s abilities.

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Then, Kent met Ivan Mindlin, an orthopedic surgeon and gambling addict, and Billy Walters, a street hustler from Kentucky. What Mindlin and Walters understood was that they could find someone else — or lots of someone else’s — and place many bets for many people.

“They’re generating those point spreads based on what the bets are doing,” Glen explains. “If Ohio is a three-point favorite. That means 61 percent of the money is on that team.”

While Glen lost his job, he walked out of the courtroom as a recognized sports betting expert. In 1993, he took that reputation to Nags Head, where he raised two kids and started his own consulting “They’re called ‘beards,’” Glen explains, noting that business. Twenty-three years later, if you’ve got a Las Vegas bookies don’t like anonymous betters. wager to make — March Madness brackets, office “They’ll kick you if you’re caught.”

In the ‘80s, most bookies used the paper to make bets. Walker used a computer pools, handshake bets — Glen’s more than happy — and made the papers. to offer his take. (For a fee, of course.) Or you can When Mindlin, Walters and Kent formed the find his views most mornings on 98.1’s Outer Banks Sports Now, what may not be common knowledge — and what Computer Group, it was like a beard on steroids. They Report and in the Outer Banks Sentinel on Wednesdays. collected money from a network of clients, hired Walker and appears as though the FBI also didn’t know in 1985 — is And while he may be a sports fan at heart, he always bets placing a bet is not illegal in most states. Taking the bet and others to place the bets, then used the program to make with his head. making money off it, is. So, the government was attempting serious cash. Unsubstantiated but credible information puts to prosecute the Computer Group for dissemination of the number at $3 million in profits on $23 million in bets in “Football? I’m a Giants fan,” he admits. “But I’m not 12 knowledge — a legal activity — for the purpose of placing 1983. They opened a headquarters in Vegas, then a satellite anymore. I place bets based on who I think’s going to win. a bet — another legal activity. It was a case so problematic, operation in New York City. But that type of success draws And that’s why people pay me for my information.”

— Kip Tabb attention. And, this time, the wise guys were real. even the judge sometimes didn’t understand.

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Make the most of your investment.

When it comes to Outer Banks giving, no good deed goes to waste.

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With over 100 non-profits serving the Outer Banks, there’s bound to be some overlap in goods and services. But rather than waste the excess, they share their efforts. In fact, whether you give food, money, or household goods, it’s rare that any items aren’t put to good use. If one group can’t use your donation, they simply find another one that can.

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Contact us today! Our staff can design a personalized and flexible property management plan that will help you get the most out of your property’s potential.

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Faced with an overload of chocolate pudding, Beach Food Pantry might give Food for Thought a few cases to put in the boxed lunches for kids to take home on weekends. Or to Ruthie’s Community Kitchen to use as a tasty dessert with their free Tuesday dinners. Or they’ll share it with the other two food pantries. And that’s just the beginning, as groups like Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO), the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation (OBRF) regularly team up with community groups to distribute help to needy folks. (OBCF and OBRF collect financial donations and handle the accounting; ICO meets with the people applying for help, then points them toward the full range of community groups.)

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“We all intertwine and collaborate together to see where the client fits,” says Jenniffer Albanese, ICO’s Executive Director. “Sometimes people need help from all of us. One non-profit can’t do it by themselves. We all put our resources together and make things happen.”

Here’s a tiny snapshot of the shared efforts that make our local non-profit world go round: When someone loses their home to fire, ICO will point them toward Hotline or Dare Challenge thrift stores to buy new clothes and furniture, which funds their programs.

Residents enrolled in Dare Challenge’s substance recovery program mow grass at Interfaith Community Outreach’s headquarters as one of their work duties.

Dare Challenge donates their moving van once a month to help restock the Beach Food Pantry, and they also perform tear-downs for lots of different fundraising events.

Beach Food Pantry, Roanoke Island Food Pantry and Hatteras Food Pantry all share excess goodies.

Beach Food Pantry gives some of the healthy snacks they receive to Food for Thought and gives larger canned items to Ruthie’s Community Kitchen for their Tuesday meals.

Roanoke Island Food Pantry donates to the free meal that Bethany Methodist Church hosts once a month.

Hotline and Dare Challenge give all the blankets they can’t sell to the SPCA so cats and dogs have a comfy place to snooze while they wait for adoption.

When Hotline gets sleeping bags or extra toiletries, they ring up our local homeless shelter, Room in the Inn. The SPCA got all their office furnishings courtesy of Hotline’s thrift store. hen the SPCA receives pet food that’s expiring soon, they W share it with the local food banks, who’ll give it to families with pets.

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ano al Hermano doesn’t just use their community garden to grow food and camaraderie M among local Latinos, they donate extra produce to Roanoke Island Food Pantry.

I n conjunction with several different other non-profits, Dare County Arts Council runs a free program called The Power of Art to help veterans (with the Veterans Advisory Council), victims of domestic violence (with Hotline), adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (with Monarch Beach Club), and people with dementia (with GEM Adult Services). e Veteran’s Advisory Council, The American Legion, and The VFW all donated funds to Th ICO to help fund a program that runs a free shuttle service for veterans to the VA hospital in Virginia. — Katrina Mae Leuzinger

Free Tastings • Free Tours

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questionauthority upfront

What’s on the economic horizon?

The Wright Brothers might say the sky’s the limit. Photo: Cory Godwin

“Land of Beginnings.” It’s the motto that graces the top of Dare County’s meeting agendas. It’s also the guiding principle behind the Dare County 2020 Economic Development & Diversification Strategic Plan — at least according to its architects. On a sunny morning last December, experts from NC State University, the Research Triangle Institute and Economic Leadership, LLC presented the report. Throughout 2016, they surveyed nearly 900 citizens. Prodded professionals. And, of course, they got plenty of input from The Powers That Be. (Read: the major industries who tend to pull strings in these parts.)

No surprise then, some ideas we’ve heard before. (Push COA, CSI and Wanchese.) Others sound refreshingly 21st century. (Finally, telecommuting’s getting the same attention as brick-and-mortar.) What’s next? Well, that’s up to the people making the decisions.

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GLIMMERS OF HOPE NCSU’s Rex Raiford discusses the shining possibilities for economic diversity on the Outer Banks.

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MILEPOST: Can you start by telling us the study’s purpose? It’s basically asking to diversify the tourism economy, correct?

REX RAIFORD: Actually, the county commissioners gave us a two-part charge: to look at ways to expand existing industries and to look for ways to diversify. In peak season, everybody’s pretty much going as hard as they can. So the effort is to increase employment opportunities in the offseason and look for new ideas to expand on.

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about specialists, like orthopedics or cardiologists. I’m thinking about assisted living facilities. So the goal is to build a program that keeps people from going to Norfolk or Greenville. And maybe pull in people from other counties like Tyrell and Currituck.

There was also a lot of talk about the Coastal Studies Institute. Is that basically the idea of becoming more of a year-round facility?

The presentation called them “glimmers of hope.”

CSI is unusual because it’s affiliated with so many universities — UNC, ECU, NC State. That’s a good opportunity for bringing the university system to Dare County. But CSI has lots of different kinds of potential. For instance, the development of seafood opportunities. CMAST [Center for Marine Sciences and Technology] in Morehead City has worked on assisting companies by developing processed seafood. And in Southwestern Virginia, there’s a music highway that’s become a big deal. CSI has already done a lot with maritime history. So let’s look at that — can Highway 12 be a maritime history highway or something similar to bring more tourists in the shoulder season?

That’s right. So, in the Southeastern United States — and in Dare County — a lot of the population is retirement age.

And it seems when [Outer Banks seniors] get up to their 80s they think, “Maybe I need to go to Norfolk or Greenville.”

So we talked to people at Outer Banks Hospital, Sentara and others, and we feel like there’s a good opportunity to expand the health care industry. And I’m not just talking

College of the Albemarle is different. It’s all about looking at the needs of existing industries and supporting them.

But there needs to be an ongoing relationship between the college and the surrounding industries. I’ve seen cases where

gosurf I can see where certain industries would be bad for tourism. And vice versa. How do you balance that?

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There’s not going to be a balance. It’s always going to be weighted toward the tourism economy. But we are trying to find opportunities that complement tourism. And part of our strategy is building on what you have instead of trying to create something new — it’s called “assets to action.” So you look at the assets of a community and see how you can build on those to create more wealth for a community.

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It’s funny you say that because Highway 12 just became a National Scenic Byway with cultural heritage stops.

What about COA?

“The Chamber, tourism, the marine industry — they are all doing good things,” says Rex Raiford, Northeast Regional Manager for NC State’s Industry Expansion Solutions.

“What we recommend is that the county pull all the different groups together. These aren’t things that happen overnight. They take coordinated strategies.”

We asked Mr. Raiford to discuss some of the brighter ideas we might choose to pursue. — Matt Walker companies say they want training, and when the community college implements programs, they don’t send their employees. So, if you’re a boat builder or in hospitality, you need to support that training when the community college brings it to you. Because COA can’t just spend money on a program and then have it not be supported. It’s a two-way street. And that needs to be understood up front.

The sailing center was sort of a new idea.

We really like the idea of a national sailing center. Dare County certainly has the water resources. And if you really promote it, it could be a regional opportunity for growth.

It would be great to sail from Dare County to Edenton to Washington to Oriental to Bath — and do a circuit like that.

And then you can really attract more marine industry jobs, too.

At one point, the presentation mentioned that sometimes existing industries don’t want to expand the economy. Why is that? And did you hear resistance?

Well, some people might see it as increased competition for employees. But usually, that doesn’t end up being the case.

And I did not hear that as an issue for Dare County. Most people were very supportive of the idea [of diversifying].

I’d be more worried about new companies competing for existing business.

Typically, a company’s not going to move in unless they feel there’s enough business to go around. But you really want

businesses to cluster. Like Wanchese. So you have a boat builder, then you have the guy who does metal work, or the cabinet shop, or the engine shop, and keep that growing and attract more companies and more yearround jobs.

So, now I’m going to play Mr. Cynical.

Because Wanchese, CSI, COA, the hospital — these are all 600-pound gorillas here. How much influence will they have on the document compared to someone who many not be a power player?

Well, a project like this, you have to start with existing contacts. And then you ask, “Who else do you suggest we talk to?”

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to get to everybody. But we tried to find people who really were leaders and who were innovative in their thinking. And we did get nearly 900 responses to our county-wide survey.

I noticed in the survey that support for dredging the inlet was much more popular than expanding broadband.

Also, more people said invest in tech than boat building. Are we at some crossroads between traditional and future industries where we need to choose?

I don’t think you want to choose between one or the other at all. You want to have your traditional industries, but you also want to diversify. And one of the growth areas that looks good for Dare County is “work from anywhere.” How many people come on vacation and say, “I wish I could live here?”

Well, now you can. And if you can work in such a beautiful place, why wouldn’t you?

So, let’s promote that. I work from a home office now, with my laptop and cellphone and little else. I could be doing my job from Dare County. [laughs]

“

and clear is that people in Dare County want to keep the scenic beauty and clean environment.

And I don’t know how much control you can have, but I think that’s the people you’ll attract: people with a love for the area. Some people like what I refer to as a “circus beach.” I don’t think that that’ll be the type of people who want to live in Dare County.

“I work from a home office, with my laptop and cellphone.

I could be doing my job from Dare County.”

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What are the challenges, then? I saw space and affordable housing. What else?

Affordable housing is a challenge for most any tourist economy. Land availability — that’s a challenge. But we’ve found there is an interest in collaborating with Currituck County — on both sides — so there may be opportunities there. Not being close to an urban center is considered a challenge by some companies. But it can also be a draw.

It’s quality of life that is very desirable to a whole lot of people. That’s why you get 300,000 people each week in summer.

So how big of a population do we aim for? If the goal is to create and support year-round industries — and maintain these quality of life elements like open spaces — where is the tipping point where you say, “That’s enough?”

It’s a great idea. But I wince at promoting too heavily. Telecommuters are already moving here organically. What happens to local culture if you bring in people who are used to cities? Or whose vision of the beach is completely different?

Hoo! I don’t know the answer to that. I’m sure the specific industries have their ideas.

I do see your point. What we heard loud

That’s right.

I guess your job is to point out the various possibilities; then it’s up to the counties and towns to make the decisions.

The preceding interview was edited for space, flow and clarity. For the full conversation — including more about national trends and local, public input — go to www.outerbanksmilepost.com.

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Dream

big

Because good things come to those who wish.

You can’t get there from here. There was a time when that might have been true. Just 40 years ago, the Outer Banks was insular and tiny. A place where people holed up and locked down, comfortable in their quiet, rustic existence.

Born here. Lived here. Died here.The key to success was simply survival. Dreaming? That was for folks from other places, who moved here with the same vision of paradise.

But dreams have a way of changing forms. Baby booms breed restless teens. Add time, some technology, and today our simple beach can be a launching pad toward life-long passions in faraway places. How far? Could be DC — or downtown Manhattan. Brazil or Beijing. Might just be Raleigh. The following five people all started here then made it big elsewhere. The one thing they share? None went forth with a concrete plan — or a clear destination. They just kept following their hearts and let the opportunities find them, with one lasting, unifying creed to keep them on course: do what you love, and it’ll love you back...

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focus forward

Because the future is always developing.

So your Instagram feed has a few thousand followers?

Big deal. Just one David Molnar photo can make a million impressions. From the pages of People to roadside billboards to countless Pepsi and Mountain Dew cans. It’s all part of his gig as a commercial photographer, where companies like Sony and Cracker Barrel pay him to visit cool places and share his perspective. “Two weeks ago, I was in China for a week shooting for Google,” says the 34-year-old Nashville resident. “Last week, I was doing an album cover in the mountains of North Carolina. Really, my job’s been this incredible journey of going around the world to live out my dreams.” But those are yesterday’s photos. Success is a process of continual development. And every day brings another shot...

Commercial photography is a good way to explain what I do. But I would say my specialty is high-end portraiture for celebrities and advertising. And in most parts of the country, they think it’s strange to make a living doing something you love — like, “What? No factory job? No monkey suit?” But in Nashville, that’s not the case.

Most of my friends are self-employed. Some are even mini-celebrities in their own right.

I freaking love the Outer Banks. It’s where my passion started. I won the First Flight Middle School photo contest with a self-portrait. A 100-percent silhouette with an amazing Arch Street sunset in the background. But from the beginning, I knew I had to leave to pursue my dream. Because the opportunities I’ve had would never have happened if I had stayed.

My first paid photo was for my favorite band. I was 19, working for free at a Christian non-profit that was plugged into the music industry. I’d shot a few concerts and was feeling confident, so I started asking people if they had any connections to Switchfoot. And everyone was like, “You kidding?! No way!” But I’m persistent to a fault. So I kept asking.

Kept digging. Finally, a friend said, “I don’t, but my boss knows the band.”

So I met her, and she’s this beautiful woman, so I’m really nervous. But, for whatever reason, she agreed to set it up.

From the beginning, I knew I had to leave...

I drove five hours to the venue. I walked up, and I’m not on the list — like, “Frick!” But, again, I’m persistent.

And I had this woman’s number. So, I called. She said, “Here’s what you do: stay on the phone with me, walk around back, and just nonchalantly say your name as you walk in.” It totally worked. They walked me straight to the band’s dressing room. And two amazing things came from that night: one, Switchfoot used my photos for their next album and tour. More amazing, that beautiful woman became my wife and the mother of my three children.

I wonder where I would’ve ended up if that hadn’t happened. Because afterwards, I spent two years carrying sand bags and setting up lights for other photographers before any of my own images started moving commercially. And that boost gave me a level of confidence to handle the really tough times that came over the next five or six years.

A few years ago, I wrote a book. It shows anyone how to take amazing pictures using an iPhone. That started this kick of creating educational content. I’ve got a whole series of online courses — how to master your DSLR, taking manual control of your camera, editing and organizing photos in Lightroom — all in sequential order to essentially graduate anyone up the ladder of photography education.The goal is to eventually create an institute where photographers get certified. Because, as much as I love shooting, what I really want to do is help aspiring professionals.

But nobody’s good at everything. You have to have a knack for something to succeed. Otherwise, you won’t make it. And a lot of what I focus on is systems and processes — I show which buttons to push and how light works. And anyone can learn the technical side of anything. But there are certain talents, like perspective and creativity, that nobody can teach. Those instincts are God-given. So figure out what you’re naturally good at, and work on that.

Never focus on your weaknesses. Focus on your strengths.

So, I guess I’m in a limbo stage again. Some days I shoot. Others I send an email out to 46,000 people. I still enjoy taking photos that millions of people will see. But I realize the impact I can have doing infinitely scalable online content is way bigger than helping even the biggest client. And what it comes down to, is I feel so blessed to be where I am in my life right now, that I feel a duty to be able to give back and help other photographers pursue their dreams. milepost 27

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grace under pressure

Something Old... Something New...

Great dancers don’t stumble — they pivot.

When Lauren Wingenroth picked up ballet, dancing professionally was the goal. Then reality bit. “Year-round positions are super hard to find,” says the 23-year-old Colington Harbor native turned NYC resident.

“Freelancing is nearly impossible. And you can’t ‘sort of be’ a professional dancer.” Instead, she became an assistant editor at Dance — the most respected magazine in the field, boasting a 90-year history. Proof that in life, like dance, if you learn the right steps, and work hard, you’re bound to perform at a peak level — even if you don’t get the part you predicted...

Growing up, I devoured every issue of Dance. I still have mags scattered around my room at home. And I don’t think writing for them ever crossed my mind. I just wanted to be a dancer. But I do see similarities: a lot of my dance education was about the creative process — which has very literal ties to composing a piece of writing. And I’ve always been focused on the rhythm of sentences.

It’s hard to pinpoint my first dancing memory. I started when I was two. I mostly see little girls hopping around Atlantic Dance in tap shoes, dancing to jazzy stuff like Brubeck. [laughs] But looking back, I realize I was still sheltered — I didn’t get to see professional productions or visit New York until junior year. So, going to the Governor’s school in Raleigh was mind-blowing, even though it was all kids from similar backgrounds. Just hearing their ambitions, thinking about dance intellectually and the process behind making work, collaborating with other artistic disciplines — that whole marriage of my academic life and my artistic life — I was hooked. That experience definitely drove me to go to Barnard College.

That marriage of my academic and artistic lives — I was hooked...

Halfway through school, I realized a professional career was off the table.

But by then, I’d learned to flex my creative muscles by writing. I double-majored in Dance and English. I wrote dance reviews for the daily paper and edited features in Barnard’s magazine. I never took a journalism class. So there was a bit of a learning curve when I went to Dance — mostly logistical things, like grasping the production schedule; the journey that an article takes from conception to finish. But I figured it out.

The dance world’s pretty small, so there’s still that pressure to perform. I used to get so nervous about interviews. My boss would say, “Don’t worry, the person on the other end is way more nervous than you are.” And people have these preconceived notions about making magazines from The Devil Wears Prada or whatever. It’s not nearly that glamorous. The day-to-day is pretty nitty gritty: working with writers, blogging, seeing articles through, copy-editing for hours. But there are moments that are amazing. I get to go to some cool events and rub elbows with people who I really respect.

At first, I was like, “I’m gonna keep up my training.” I even kept taking classes. But there’s no way to maintain that level of skill while working full-time. And it’s hard to stand in a mirror and watch yourself get worse. Especially when you’re dancing alongside professionals. One day, Misty Copeland was in the studio.

She’s the Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre — and the first African American woman to make it to that level. She’s a brand ambassador for a bunch of companies and a huge inspiration to thousands of girls. She actually has a Barbie. I’m doing center work next to her, thinking, “Wow. I’m out of shape!” [laughs] The Outer Banks is such a tight community. I had so many amazing mentors through the dance studio and through school, and if you express interest in wanting to pursue something, people will really support you. I would tell any person who’s trying to succeed, rely on those resources, then look outward. Seek new opportunities. Go someplace different for the summer; apply for internships remotely. Do something else that expands your horizons.

photo: chris bickford

One of my favorite columns is a personal essay called “Why I Dance.” The very first iteration was by Julie Kent, who is a ballet icon. I remember reading it in 2008. It was so beautiful I ripped it out and put it on my wall. I had no idea it was the first one, it was just special to me because I admired her as a dancer. And she was such an eloquent writer. The way she expressed her love for dance resonated so much I teared up. And now it feels like things have come full circle, because I work at Dance and words are my art form.

That page is still on my wall in Colington. And I still think it’s the most beautiful piece ever. milepost 29

photo: anthony leone milepost

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capital moves

The best DC players stay pure of heart.

Everyone loves to hate lobbyists. That picture of a sharp-suited swindler, pushing corporate agendas behind closed doors, is custom-built to despise. But for every shady player roaming the capital, there’s a superhero who does what he loves — and lives what he preaches. “I’ve dedicated my life to helping working families,” says 43-year-old Don Owens, Deputy Communications Director for the non-profit, Public Citizen. “Over the years, the issue I’ve worked hardest on is early education. Mainly because of the high-quality Head Start program I had access to in Dare County.” In 2016, Elon University awarded Owens its Distinguished Alumni Award, citing 18 years of selfless effort. But the Manteo native plans to keep fighting. Not just in his job, but in day-to-day life...

I think everybody makes a difference. Even when they don’t mean to. So, as long as you’re making an impact, make sure it’s a positive one. Because if you’re not putting sweat into an issue as an adult — if you’re not providing that leadership, that volunteerism, that audible activism about something you care about personally — then you have no right to say, “What’s wrong with these kids?”

People who come into my office see a map of Roanoke Island. They say, “I’ve been to the Outer Banks, where’s that?” They don’t know Manteo. Corolla’s their whole concept of the Outer Banks. They think everybody has a 15-bedroom beach house with an elevator and a pool — because that’s all they’ve experienced.

And I say, “No. Drive around. There’s locals who do the stuff that makes your visit comfortable. Who make the beds and prepare the food. It’s overwhelmingly a working-class community. It’s a bluecollar world.” So, I go back and forth between where I grew up and this economic, populist message. Because I lived it.

Don’t worry about a job — worry about what you want to do...

I remember my mom holding my right hand, hugging me and walking me into the Dare County Head Start Program. I was three years old. So now I push for that opportunity for all families. Because in Japan, in Germany, in Spain — all our economic competitors — early education is part of their school system. But in America, young parents spend thousands per year on day care instead of investing in a house or college. We starve families for the first four years of their child’s life. And I know now from my work that one out of three kids enter kindergarten without skills to succeed. And that 48 percent of those kids are middle class or higher. I know now that 90 percent of brain capacity develops between birth and age five. But at the time, I just knew I met all these great kids of all different colors and backgrounds. And that experience taught me about sharing. It taught me to love learning for the rest of my life.

When undergraduates ask me for advice, I say, “You’ve got to find your people.” I started out at Elon in accounting because I was thinking: “I’m first generation college; I want financial security.” But it wasn’t until I switched to political science that I excelled. That’s when I found people who thought like I did, who spoke like I did. I found out about political campaigns and all the different jobs. That there’s campaign directors, volunteers, canvassers. Then, when he or she gets elected, you can be chief of staff or legislative director, legislative correspondent or staff assistant, you can be press secretary, communications director. So don’t worry about finding a job — worry about what you want to do.

I still mentor kids up in DC. And I still bring books to Head Start each time I visit. If I were rich, I’d move home and work here full-time. I’d do a summer program that teaches kids about the history of Dare County. How did we all get here and how did we all came together? How did that keeper’s house on Hatteras Island become a museum in Manteo? The Outer Banks is so rich in history, we have to remember it. Because if you don’t, it only takes one generation for a sense of who we are to get wiped out.

That Head Start building was the old Negro school here on Roanoke Island. That was the same door that my mom walked through when she was ten, 11, 12 years old. I love that. I love walking in footsteps. Because it’s a constant reminder that someone not only laid a path, but made sacrifices for me. And not just me, but everyone. Because no matter your background — whether you’re Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, Black, mixed, or whatever — somebody struggled to give you the opportunity that you’re taking for granted right now.

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1 FEELING BLESSED

FEELING BLESSED

16 WEATHERING ADVERSITY

FEELING BLESSED

8 BISCUITS

BISCUITS

9 PORN

KILLING BRAIN CELLS

5 SHUTTER PAINTINGS

CARVING DECOYS

12 CARVING DECOYS

KILLING BRAIN CELLS

4 KILLING ANIMALS

KILLING BRAIN CELLS

13 KILLING BRAIN CELLS 6 PICKIN’ PIGS

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3 WANCHESE SLIPPERS

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BITCHIN’ SUNSETS

7 THE WEATHER CHANNEL

THE WEATHER CHANNEL

10 FOX NEWS

BITCHIN’ SUNSETS

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15 COUNTING STARS

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8 $10 HOODIES

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13 DRIFTWOOD 6 AL BUNDY

ANDY GRIFFITH

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7 GRAVEYARD OF THE ATLANTIC

10 BIRTHPLACE OF AVIATION 2 WORKING DOUBLES

15 COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT

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11 ANDY GRIFFITH

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DAILY HABITS

PICKIN’ CRABS

11 PICKIN’ CRABS

14 BLACKBEARD

MA MAR RADN

POINTS OF PRIDE

WE’VE GOT PASSION. PRIDE. PRE-GAM

ANDY GRIFFITH DELBERT ANDY GRIFFITH GRAVEYARD OF THE ATLANTIC COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT

BEING A BANKER LIKE B SPORT

Sometimes we even wear uniforms. (Sh competition, we thought we’d break dow into a March Madness battle royal for ulti filling it out. That’s your job. Complete the editor@outerbanksmilepost.com. (Hell, own picks.) We’ll share our favorites on F victories. Stunning defeats. Clashes so clo it’s that daily struggle that ties us tog

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restoration road

Carving a path doesn’t always mean paving it over.

In 1973, three school-age siblings saw a bulldozer cresting Jockey’s Ridge. They raced home and told their mom. When Carolista Baum stood in the earthmover’s path, she became the face of the fight that saved a topographical treasure. The irony? Her oldest daughter would go on to work with Raleigh’s biggest developers — but with a longer-term approach. “Condos on Jockey’s Ridge would be an aberration,” says Ann-Cabell Baum, owner of Glenwood Agency Real Estate. “That’s an iconic landmark we should preserve forever. But I’ve been lucky to work with developers who want to do the same thing in the city.” Today, the state capital’s Glenwood South thrives, with trendy businesses and a historic vibe — partially because of an Outer Banker’s natural desire to cherish the past and preserve the future...

You’d think all I do is run around and preserve things, because of my DNA. But growth happens. And development happens. You just have to manage it and do the right thing for generations to come — for your kids and grandkids. That’s what Mom did for Jockey’s Ridge. For me, she was even more of an inspiration because she was such a vibrant personality. Mom never said, “No.” She said, “Go, figure it out.” You do whatever you want. Be a free spirit. That’s the beach attitude.

Of course, 40 years ago, the Outer Banks was still the end of the world. There was no cable. No New York Times delivery. Everybody knew everybody and everybody was nice to you. It was a very romantic way to grow up. But when you’re absorbed in that happy little bubble, there’s no real pressure to leave. I graduated from Manteo High in 1985 with 108 people — I think 23 of us went to college.

Even after NC State, I had that beach mentality.

Most people in business school interned in summer — not me. I worked for money. [laughs] I hustled four jobs. Catering. Nannying.

I worked at a hair salon and sold makeup at Belk’s. Finally, I took a job at a commercial real estate management company. The guy I was working for was Roland Gammon at White Oak Properties.

Roland’s still considered the pioneer of downtown Raleigh real estate.

A lot of success is good timing and good attitude...

This was 1989. We were coming out of a recession, but the economy started getting better. And the development industry was growing. Roland had a small apartment complex with 31 units. It was a rickety, old, five-story building downtown, built in 1907. Back then there was only three of us, so I did everything. I managed it.

I rented it. I took out the garbage in the common area. I literally mopped the floors.

Then in 1995, Roland acquired an old, industrial cotton-spinning mill. Apartments were going gangbusters downtown, so I was taking calls to rent them. But all the people were like, “Can we buy it? Can we buy it?” So I went to Roland and said, “Why don’t we just condo?” It sold out fast. Then came Park Deveraux, which tapped into that warehouse vibe. By 2000, living in the city was cool again. Urbanization is happening across the country. People are graduating from UNC and NC State and Duke — and they’re not leaving Raleigh. And at the same time there’s this revitalization and preservation going on to keep people living in the city. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Twelve years ago, I opened my own agency. And what’s so incredible is 75 percent of Glenwood South is the same way it was, which is amazing. There’s a vitality here. There’s an energy on the street. It’s so incredible to be a part of. But when people say, “How’d you get where you are?” I tell them: “I’m the luckiest person in the world.” And I honestly feel that way. Yeah, I work hard. But a lot of success is good timing and good luck. And a good attitude.

The Outer Banks is so different now. It’s almost a city itself. But we still have the things that make us special. We have the biggest pool — the Atlantic Ocean. And we have the biggest sandbox — Jockey’s Ridge.

And I can still drive to Nags Head and park the car at any access. I take off my shoes, walk out on the beach, sit my butt in the sand, and in 15 minutes I can be me again. And when sunset happens and I see that line of people on top of the ridge like little ants, they can understand what I grew up with, which is: you turn east and see the ocean; you turn west and see the sound. It may only be a hundred feet up, but you’re on top of the world. milepost 35

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portrait of progression

Making Our Mark

What’s the difference between a pier rat and a pro?

Persistence.

At 11, Perry Pruitt was first in his age group. At 16, he won his first pro event. In 2016, he was the best skimboarder in the world, at least for a little while. “I was ranked first right up ’til the last contest of the year,” laughs the 21-year-old Kitty Hawker. “Then, I let it slip at the very last contest. I tried a trick in the first heat and blew it.” He didn’t just blow the trick — he broke his leg. But 2017’s just getting started. And Pruitt’s driven to be more than a world champion — he wants to champion the sport he loves...

I absolutely wanted to be a pro skimboarder when I grew up. Living here, I was exposed to all the ocean sports — and I love them all — but skimboarding was something I took to most.

Something I was the best at. Something I could take to the next level. This year, I finished 3rd in the world — my best result ever. And I just got my first pro-model skimboard, which is huge. So I’m happy.

I’m excited. But I’m not satisfied.

The Outer Banks Skim Jam is actually the biggest contest on the whole East Coast. Hundreds of competitors show up. The first time I entered, I got knocked out first heat, but I was so amped on the people, the scene — the talent — I said, “I gotta win this thing.” I practiced non-stop. The very next year, I won my age division. And in 2012, I won my first pro event, right here at home. I made $2500.

Obviously, skim’s not as big as surfing.

Nobody’s making a million dollars. [laughs] Even top pros have other lives. They’re in real estate or wait tables. Or, in my case, they go to college. I always knew I wanted to go to school in California, because the epicenter of the sport is Laguna Beach. That’s where the best guys live and where the skim industry is. We have our own clothing and wetsuit companies that are owned by skimboarders.

And we have our own professional tour, with contests in Europe, Mexico, the US, South America. Luckily, I have a sponsor that pays for me to travel and compete. But we really want it to go bigger. We’re already meeting on how to do more webcasts this year.

I’m happy.

I’m excited.

But I’m not satisfied...

In Brazil, pro skimmers are rock stars. Because the country’s so much of a beach culture. I have friends with TV shows, who cash checks from Red Bull. It’s harder in the States because skim’s so overshadowed by the more established board sports. And the hardest thing for people to understand about skimboarding is it’s not just throwing your board on the sand and chasing after it; it’s cutbacks, barrels and airs. It’s talented people riding a very difficult piece of equipment and making it look easy. Plus, in surfing, there’s so much potential for different groups of people to enjoy it. You can have older guys riding longboards or beginners on soft-tops. But everyone rides the same skimboard.

And you can either do it or you can’t.

Growing up, I was scared to ask questions. So, in 2014, I started a skim camp with two friends. This past summer, we had 20 kids every day. Some mornings, I wake up and drive from Kitty Hawk to Jennette’s Pier, do a camp from 9am to noon, hold a private lesson from one to 2:30pm, and then work at the restaurant from 4pm to 10pm. They’re long days, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And the one thing we tell all our students — kids, adults, everyone — is “have as much fun as you can.” And I’d say the same thing for any passion. Because that’s what worked for me and my friends. We never wanted to be pro. We just wanted to skim.

I’m sure I’ll come back to the Outer Banks. Once my body slows down and I can’t do what I used to. But California is the place to be right now — my sponsors are here, my fellow competitors are here, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not just because I want to be the first East Coast world champion. But because we have a really solid crew of guys right now. Guys who are some of the best athletes on the planet and who want to make the competitive tour as solid as possible. Not for the money, but for people who love skimming and competing. photo: chris bickford

We may never be rich and famous. But with a little willpower, I truly think we can make something out of nothing — just like they did with surfing back in the day. And I don’t want to look back 40 years from now and go, “I missed it.” milepost 37

How a combination of high-tech equipment, hands-on training — and community involvement — is giving local students a head start on future careers.

By Amelia Boldaji Images by Ryan Moser and Daniel Pullen milepost

38

The chefs’ coats are black. The countertops stainless. So are the pans. Complete with blue grips — and gas flames — pouring from commercial appliances with names like “Vulcan” and “Pitco.” There’s no Saran or Reynolds Wrap here — just “food service film” and Sysco foil, sitting on the wire shelves along with a full range of spices and condiments all branded and bought in bulk. And while the schedule may say Culinary Arts, the experience is less like a second-period class — and more like real-life.

Bodies bustle between stations, complete with the occasional “Behind!” and goodhearted smack talk that keeps any busy kitchen upbeat. (“You call that honey mustard?!”) The only thing missing is “the weeds.” Instead of a full wire of tickets and a room full of demanding diners, the class gets time to test drive every meal. So, when a turkey taco bowl hits the plate, a hungry crew gathers ’round with forks in hand, ready to dismantle the near-perfect presentation.

“Wait for the drizzle!” yells one young man as he squiggles Sriracha from a nearby squeeze bottle. “It’s not complete without the drizzle.”

So why are kids eating in class? And how come First Flight High School boasts a professional grade kitchen?

The same reason you can learn about beehives in Hatteras or write code in Manteo.

Because making the grade these days isn’t only limited to core classes like English, Math, Science, and Social Studies, and not every student is looking ahead to the more traditional four-year college degree.

time period, the number of Dare County students who earned extra credentials or professional certificates through CTE programs more than doubled. In large part, that’s because today’s CTE courses aren’t limited to your basic shop or Home Ec. classes of old. Instead of sewing a shirt, you can learn fashion merchandising and marketing — then design your own webpage to make that first sale. Or accumulate tangible skills for a summer job, such as CPR and First Aid training, to put toward ocean rescue, or the restaurant industry’s ServSafe certifications.

“Even if a student is college bound, many of them have part-time jobs, and the skills they learn in these classes allow them to be more marketable,” Taylor says. “I think CTE classes open doors right out of high school — or out of college — and beyond.”

Cultural Series

Spring 2017 Events New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players:

H.M.S PINAFORE Sunday May 7, 2017 at 7:30pm First Flight High School Kill Devil Hills, NC Tickets: $20

DAVID HOLT

WITH JOSH GOFORTH

Sunday April 23, 2017 at 4:00pm First Flight High School Kill Devil Hills, NC Tickets: $15

Gas flames pour from commercial appliances.

“We’ve seen a growing student interest in exploring more career options, especially in the past three years,” says Jean Taylor, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Dare County Schools. “And that’s not just here in Northeastern North Carolina — but also across the state and nationally.”

During the 2013-2014 school year, 814 students were enrolled in CTE classes countywide — this year, the figure jumped to 1,179 students. In that same

And the variety of options isn’t just an administrative decision. The schools formulate ideas based on what the kids ask for. Last year, Dare County surveyed every student from eighth to twelfth grade in order to determine which types of CTE courses to add to the lineup. No surprise, Game Art Design was one of the top-ranking results.

“We’re a video game generation,” says Conner Butler, who teaches Game Design at Manteo High School. “The interest has been very high from the beginning, and it’s helping us identify kids who have design potential at a young age.”

Blackbeard’s Ghost & Queen Ann’s Revenge

A live broadcast in the style of the Golden Age of Radio

by Faculty & Students of Western Carolina University

Monday April 3, 2017 at 7:00pm First Flight High School Kill Devil Hills, NC Free Event!

Tickets available online at bryanculturalseries.org and the following locations: Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books in Duck, NC Grays Department Store in Kitty Hawk, NC

Downtown Books in Manteo, NC Sea Green Gallery in Nags Head, NC Our endowment managed by the

While offered in all three schools, the game design class is particularly popular at MHS. Right now, there are only two sections of the class available, but milepost 39

For CTE students, a little hands-on screen time can lead to careers in computers — or beekeeping.

Butler and Principal John Luciano both fully expect that to double by next year — possibly expanding to include an advanced section for students who want to continue learning more about the field.

itself, which includes everything from discussing the kinds of positions available to how students might prepare a resume and cover letter and present themselves at a job interview.

“I recently asked my students if any of them would be interested in an advanced game design class, and every single one of them raised their hands,” says Butler, who also teaches Drafting and Adobe Visual Design. “That’s the goal — to keep sparking that enthusiasm.”

“At the end of the day, it’s a CTE class,” Butler explains. “I’m definitely able to pique their interest and give them some ideas about the directions they might want

They discuss coding, 3D modeling… the ethical implications of virtual reality.

Butler recognizes the program’s most obvious draw is more computer time — but that doesn’t mean that they spend all day making (or simply playing) video games.

In fact, the course starts with an overview of gaming history that goes back almost 3,000 years, and the first big project is to design a card game — rules and all.

From there they move into the basics of coding and 3D modeling, then discuss the social and ethical implications of topics like virtual reality and game rating systems. They also talk about the industry milepost

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to go, but ultimately it’s up to them. Either way, I think CTE courses really open students’ eyes and help them expand their overall wealth of knowledge. In the long run, exposing them to something different only creates more enlightened citizens.”

Lisa Muglia, the Culinary Arts teacher at First Flight High School, agrees. While

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Advanced culinary students get courses in management tasks, like making schedules, menu and floor planning, pricing, and at least a cursory introduction to understanding profit and loss.

“Generally they have a specific recipe to follow in each class, and things don’t always go as planned,” Muglia says goodnaturedly. “Problem solving is one of the most important things I can teach — that, and encouraging them to work well together.”

Her students also regularly get to hone their talents on a practical level by creating and selling box lunches to teachers each Friday during school — which lets them practice cooking to order, as well as packaging and acting as cashiers. Beyond that, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities to take their lessons out into the wider community, which in the past has included helping to make sandwiches for the Outer Banks Marathon and partnering with the Outer Banks Restaurant Association (OBRA) during this past October’s first annual Oystoberfest.

Muglia comes with an extensive background in the local restaurant industry. She founded Rodanthe’s Lisa’s Pizzeria in the early 80s — and ran it for more than a decade. For the past 17 years, she’s been a driver behind CTE courses in Dare and Currituck counties, including helping to develop the Culinary Arts program at FFHS, which first opened its doors in 2004 to help budding restaurateurs learn the tools of the trade.

But putting food on the plate is only one facet of the curriculum. Basic skills run the gamut, from safety and sanitation to proper cleaning methods. (They’re all expected to graduate from the course with their ServSafe certification.)

“Some of them had never even eaten an oyster before that day,” Lisa says. “But they all learned so much about oyster farming, how to shuck oysters, and the different ways to prepare them. It was a great experience.”

More recently, the students performed prep and presentation work for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs

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Auction and made desserts for the Special Olympics’ Valentine’s Dance.

“They get out there and meet people, and it’s led to a lot of summer jobs,” Muglia says. “I hope these partnerships will continue to give our students access and experience with local chefs at many other venues going forward.”

As a Hatteras Island native, maximizing CTE students’ community interaction is a key strategy for Evan Ferguson. Ferguson teaches both Marketing and Foods (levels one and two) at Cape Hatteras Secondary School. The student population is only slightly more than 300, but Foods and Culinary Arts is by far the most popular CTE program. So, while her class may not have the same shiny kitchen, she says there’s no difference in the value to her students.

“We may be a smaller program here, but the career skills are so obvious,” Ferguson notes. “Food safety. Teamwork.

Communication. Technical skills.”

Ferguson says their unique environment means that they have to be as innovative as possible. Besides reinforcing career milepost

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capabilities, she puts a strong focus on sustainability and supporting the local economy. As a result, students participate in a variety of events, such as an annual fall Veteran’s Day breakfast, where the students cook and serve food, and Day at the Docks, another annual community gathering that takes place each September and gives CHSS students the opportunity to celebrate their heritage by offering cooking demos using local seafood.

“I try to explain to my students that it’s not enough to just want to own your own business,” says Ferguson. “The question is more about what you can do to make the world a better place around you.”

That includes considering Hatteras Island traditions, like sourcing and serving locally caught seafood. In fact, Ferguson also secured a grant in partnership with North Carolina Sea Grant, which gives CHSS students the opportunity to study the feasibility of adding Cape Shark (a currently underutilized fish) to their lunch menus.

Furthermore, CHSS students are in their third year of a diversity and food exchange

program with area students in Conetoe, a primarily rural and agricultural-based town located about 160 miles inland.

“We’ve traveled to Conetoe several times now to trade fresh seafood for produce,” Ferguson says. “Then we normally prepare a healthy meal together and discuss food access issues that affect both communities.”

“A hive is like its own little world,” Ferguson says excitedly. “There’s so much to it, but one of the greatest things is that it helps students start to think about not only their food sources, but about how other species communicate with each other.”

And as far as the larger array of CTE courses available throughout Dare County’s three high schools in the future?

A unique environment means being as innovative as possible.

Most recently, CHSS got its own beehive, which might one day help students to become certified beekeepers. (Don’t laugh: the average wage for an experienced beekeeper is $33.71 an hour; salaries can touch six figures for the best in the biz.)

At the very least, they’re looking forward to harvesting their first batch of honey this coming fall — which Ferguson’s Foods students will then be able to add to their list of local ingredients.

That’s still to be determined, but Taylor anticipates another countywide survey to keep abreast of local students’ interests — which, based on national job trends, may very well include classes like Public Safety (to prepare students for careers in emergency management) and Environmental and Natural Resources (a pathway to horticulture or National Park Service careers) in 2017-18.

“I think we’re at the beginning of what we can do,” Taylor muses. “It’s like a buffet, and it’s available to everyone. Each student is a success story in their own way.

There’s no limit.”

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It used to be that outdoor activities reigned supreme. Retirees came here to cast a line. Ride a wave. Or just lie in the sand, soaking up rays. Nowadays, Outer Banks seniors are bailing the beach for the gym, drawn to a strategic new sport — with an even stranger name.

“I see stories saying pickleball’s the fastest growing sport in the country,” says Colington Harbour’s Lynn Brooks. “I’m not sure if it’s true, but it is the funnest game ever.”

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Lynn and her husband, Ron, first discovered the mix of tennis, ping-pong and badminton in 2011, while spending the winter in the Sunshine State. They loved it so much, they came home and started telling friends. With help from folks like Lew and Judy Gregory, they organized the first pickleball league on the Outer Banks for seniors 55 and over.

“Five years ago, we’d never heard of pickleball,” says Aubrey Remige, the fitness coordinator for the Baum Center and events director for Outer Banks Senior Games.

“Now it’s part of the local and statewide Senior Games. So, it’s really ballooned into a life of its own.”

Stroll into KDH’s Dare County Family Recreation Center, three courts bustle with players, the bleachers brimming for the next pick-up game. There’s hoots. Fist

Outer Banks seniors are picking up a whole new racket. bumps. Smashes. Plenty of chatter. They talk new gear. (“This Voltage has a wider grip.”)

Proven strategy. (“It helps to have a wide wingspan.”) But the most common overheard phrase just might be, “Good game!”

Must be. Born in Florida’s retirement communities, more than two million people play pickleball today — a 385 percent increase since 2010. Why “pickleball”?

Nobody’s certain. Some say it comes from a dog named Pickles, who wouldn’t fetch.

The USA Pickleball Association says it’s a reference from the rowing world — as in, the pickleboat is known as the slowest boat in the race. But the game moves surprisingly quickly, requiring reflexes, an ability to communicate with your partner, and plenty of strategy.

The rackets resemble oversized ping-pong paddles. The ball is similar to a wiffle ball.

The play area is roughly one-third the size of a basketball court, with a net running up the center, just a couple inches shorter than a typical tennis set-up.

But the real key to the court is “the kitchen,” an area close to the net where the players can’t stand while making a volley. Knowing when to softly dink the ball into your opponents’ “kitchen,” and when to try to smash the ball past them, makes for fast-paced play that keeps pickleballers

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addicted, while the shorter court allows for athletes of all ages to keep pace.

“Early on I asked, ‘What’s the big deal?

Why not just play tennis?’” says Remige.

“The answer was the smaller court means there’s less running.

And using the wiffle ball and a larger paddle puts less force on the joints. So if you’ve had tennis elbow or a knee injury before, it’s not a problem.”

“

the real key to the court is “the kitchen.”

Plus, a pickleball game is short — points go up to 11 — so it is great for folks who want to rest between matches. Meanwhile, players can chat and watch, catching up with neighbors or meeting visiting pickleballers.

In fact, last year, vacationers who stopped in to play left enough money in the donation box to purchase new nets and balls.

“It’s not just great exercise,” says Kill Devil Hills’ Mel Alley, who grew up playing basketball and tennis. “It’s a fun way to meet new people.”

So fun, the whole beach is getting in on the action. Today, Manteo’s Westcott Park and Buxton’s Fessenden Center organize

free games. The Nags Head and Currituck YMCAs offer pickleball for their members.

Community’s like Duck’s Shipwatch and Pirates Cove converted some tennis courts for out-of-town players. And some people are even posting up permanently for the area’s pickleball opportunities.

“I bought my home here because of pickleball,” admits Ann Wellham, who recently retired from Maryland’s Garrett College, where she coached several sports. “I was looking for an active senior community and a competitive pickleball scene.”

At times, it’s almost too popular. (In summer, when Rec Park gets busy, the league moves to Kitty Hawk Elementary — and shrinks games to nine points — yet folks still sometimes wait 30 minutes between games.) But there’s one group they’d like to see get more involved: younger people.

Lynn Brooks hopes that between schools and the increase in courts, fresh blood will pick up a paddle. She believes it’s the best way to keep pickleball thriving. It’s also a great way to keep seniors active — and put whippersnappers on their toes.

“You can’t always tell who’s better,” says Brooks. “Our 80-year-olds may not be as fast as the 50-somethings, but they know good strategy. And I can kick my son’s butt. He’s got speed, but I’ve got finesse.”

— Ashley Bahen

Ed Note: Wanna play? Go to www.pickleballouterbanksnc.com or check out the Pickleball Outer Banks, NC Facebook page. And watch live action at the Outer Banks Senior Games, April 28. Or compete by registering at torch.ncseniorgames.org by March 10.

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2017 EVENTS

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GRAnd OPEninG MAY 13 featuring

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FRANK STICK MEMORIAL ART SHOW DCAC Gallery, Manteo, through February 28 OUTER BANKS FORUM PLAYBILL EXHIBIT Duck Town Hall, through April 28 JOSEPH BATHANTI RESIDENCY Poetry Workshop March 11, DCAC Gallery, Manteo FIRST FRIDAYS ON ROANOKE ISLAND Music and Arts Celebration, Downtown Manteo MOLLIE FEARING MEMORIAL ART SHOW DCAC Gallery, Manteo, through May 30 ARTRAGEOUS KIDS ART FESTIVAL Dowdy Park, Nags Head ROCK THE CAPE Art Show and Concert, Avon, June 22 NEW WORLD FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Manteo Waterfront SURFALORUS FILM FESTIVAL Multiple locations BLACK OPAL MASqUERADE BALL DCAC’s Annual Gala, Pirate’s Cove Pavilion OBX VETERANS WEEK Veterans Writing Workshop, UNC-CSI, Nov 4-5 MANTEO TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION Holiday Small Works Show, DCAC Gallery, Manteo

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goshoot We all know the Nighthawks just won the state soccer championships. And real fans can rattle off which schools are always competitive in various sports, or who’s the top athlete on any given team. But we’ll bet even the most rabid stick-and-ball aficionados can’t name the surest trigger finger, straightest arrow or savviest mapreader in Dare County — despite the team’s performances over the past seven years.

Good sports, great shots: Will Ropercke; Hailey Schreyer and Tyler Roberts.

Photo: Chris Bickford

“Last year, the high school finished third out of 12 schools,” says First Flight Shooting Team head coach Sam Ballard. “And our middle school finished fourth overall, bringing home a first in hunter skills and a third place in rifle.”

After lying dormant for a long time, the team was revived by Ballard in 2009. He enlisted the coaching help of certified instructors in rifle, shotgun, archery, and orienteering.

Today, the team boasts more than 50 kids.

Some are hunters and scouts preserving family traditions, but many are beach kids anxious to try something new.

“The shooting team allows kids to get involved in an activity they otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” says Garvis. “Dare County is densely populated compared to the more rural areas where kids have places to practice shooting.”

First step: every member takes a North Carolina Hunter Safety class. Then the coaches take them to the Dare County Shooting Range. That’s where you’ll find the kids every second and fourth Sunday. And

It’s a martial art — a meditation sport.

“It’s a martial art — a meditation sport,” he says. “Girls are some of our best shooters because they tend to concentrate better.”

Pentecost adds that those benefits carry over into real life, helping kids stay centered and focused. So do the firearms categories.

A few hundred yards from the archery targets, you’ll find the rifle team firing rounds. Meanwhile, shotguns blast at clay skeet flying through the air. It’s a skill that takes many hours to master.

Shotgun coach Ralph Garvis likes to refer to the team as “a sort of secret society.”

He’s joking. But they do fly under the radar.

While the team’s affiliated with Dare County Schools, it functions under the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and is nearly selffunded. Plus, every practice or competition takes place out in the middle of nowhere, so they can fire weapons and practice skills that any spy would kill to know. (But in the safest settings, of course.)

“The equipment consists mostly of compasses, guns and bows,” says Ballard.

“Some stick to just one thing, like archery.

Others do a few things on the team. But it’s basically kids who love the outdoors.”

“

the number of females showing interest. But it’s not just the adrenaline rush of shooting arrows. Archery requires extreme concentration and physical fitness, since any small shift in wind or body position can affect performance.

“Shotgun requires a pretty strong commitment,” coach Garvis notes. “We meet every chance we get.”

And when they’re not meeting with the team, many of the kids are likely bolstering skills with family. Eighth grader Tyler Roberts regularly hunts with his twin brother, Conner, and their father, Gray.

ON TARGET

First Flight’s Shooting Team keeps kids steady and focused.

unlike most teams, everyone from sixth to twelfth grade practices together and learns from each other.

“A GPS doesn’t always work,” says Schreyer.

“And we have a good mix of kids out here learning these skills.”

“Our team’s been together since middle school,” says orienteering/hunting skills coach Rob Schreyer. “So they tend to do really well.”

Including his own daughter. Hailey Schreyer joined the team in middle school. Today, the senior also competes in rifle and archery.

And while she enjoys shooting, the benefits go beyond hitting the bullseye.

Creeping through the woods near the Wright Brothers Memorial, orienteers learn to navigate using only a compass and map.

During competitions, they work together, following a predetermined course to get to a set marker. It’s a key lesson for any wouldbe outdoorsman.

“It’s fun to be part of a community that likes the same things you do,” Hailey says. “And seeing me out there also shows girls that this is not a male-dominated sport.”

Coach Curtis Pentecost says The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen definitely boosted

“It’s good for kids who may not get involved in another school sport and want to participate,” Gray explains. “And it’s something they can continue to compete in during their college years as well.”

Come March 25, the competition officially fires up when the team heads to Columbia’s Eastern 4H Center for the District 1 tournament. Maybe that’s another reason for the lack of chatter — every match is an away game. But for all the low-profile elements of this edgy program, coaches insist there are more similarities with traditional athletics than there are differences. And they’re all worth cheering for.

“The kids out here are learning the fundamentals they would get in any sport,” says Ballard, “discipline and competition.”

— Michelle Wagner milepost 47

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fooddrink Chamaedorea Tepejilote: The pacaya palm, or “mountain maize,” comes from southern Mexico, Central America and Northern Colombia. Considered a delicacy in El Salvador — and traditionally served on the Day of the Dead in Guatemala — the blossom and flower of the chamaedorea tepejilote remain popular on salads; however, the taste can be a tad bitter. (Think baby corn with the flavor of a bitter gourd.) The preferred method of preparation is to batter them in an egg wash, then fry or sauté with onions, garlic, tomatoes, and cilantro and serve as a side dish.

It’s like a fiesta in your mouth, and everyone’s invited.

Photo: Carlos Blanco

endnotes questionauthority

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upfront

MUCHO getactive DELICIOSO soundcheck

Let a local tiendita give your taste buds a trip.

startingpoint

Sometimes it feels like the whole Outer Banks is on vacation — except you. Neighbors pack bags for Nicaraguan canopy tours. Families plan Caribbean cruises. Instagram and Facebook feeds fill up with photos from Mazatlan to Machu Piccu. But money’s tight. Work’s calling. The mere thought of a vacay remains a shimmering oasis behind a veil of reality. But that doesn’t mean your taste buds can’t travel — start with a journey to your nearest Latin market.

roadmap

“My wife and I love fresh fruit,” says local wildlife enthusiast Jim Gould. “The mangoes at La Playa in Kill Devil Hills are from Peru. They are so perfectly ripe, you can eat them like an apple. We even buy sugarcane to make mojitos.”

gokite

Once only for western cities and urban centers, tienditas — or mini markets — are now nationwide. And the Outer Banks boasts two in KDH alone: La Mexicana Minimart and La Playa International Food. Famous for serving our growing Hispanic community, these stores do more than help workers wire money home. They import exotic finds from Mexico, Central and South America. Grab some Bimbo donuts, a bag of chicharones and a Mexican 8-ounce Coke full of real sugar, and you’ll be awash in sweet memories from south of the border. But that’s the obvious stuff.

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Here’s five savory souvenirs from foreign climes, all sure to transport your palate to paradise: Chontaduro: Also known as the peach palm fruit, this erect, sea island palm grows across the tropical forests of South and Central America. We may be more familiar with the trunk itself — that’s where you find the heart of palm, famous in salads and other sides — but the fruit is also edible. Mild yet savory, with a starchy texture, chontaduro tastes like yucca and looks like a sweet potato. Cooked, it works well in cakes or fritters. But most prefer the fruit peeled, pitted, then topped with a bit of mayo, cheese, salt, and pepper. (It also contains very high levels of vitamin A, which helps vision, bone growth and the immune system.)

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outthere gohunt

Chayote: Like cucumbers and melons, this prickly squash is a member of the gourd family. Along with the fruit, the flowers, shoots, leaves, and roots are all edible. Ninety-three percent of a chayote’s mass is water, and it boasts high levels of potassium, vitamin C, B-6, magnesium and folate. While there are many varietals, the prickly version is preferred for its sweet flavor and firm flesh. Pairing possibilities are endless: slice it thin and add it raw to salads, or mix it into soups, stews and side dishes. (Take heed: the prickers are no joke; use tongs to prepare and cook a bit first to make the process easier.)

Gordolobo: Need something to expel lingering bronchial issues?

The mighty Mulien flower — native to central and northern Mexico — is your solution, able to help with asthma, sore throats, dysentery, diarrhea, and diphtheria. Boil the flowers and stalks to make a tea, but make sure you strain after steeping, as the plant matter may irritate the esophagus. (You can also make a poultice for external applications.) Please avoid if you are allergic to other herbs of the daisy family, such as chamomile, Arnica or ragweed.

A bag of chicharones and An 8-ounce Coke recall sweet memories from south of the border.

Achiote: This red seasoning and marinade — also known as annatto — is a derivative of the seeds from the Achiote schrub. North, Central and South American cultures traditionally used the seeds to make red body paint and lipstick. However, mixed with cumin, lime, OJ, vinegar, and oregano, Achiote paste gives meats like pork and chicken a mildy peppery flavor and colorful hue. (Use gloves to avoid staining your hands.) It is sometimes hard to find, but if you like your tacos super legit, add Achiote to your arsenal.

The options don’t end there. Any tiendita’s freezer boasts a range of interesting finds. The sweet treats are varied and colorful — and the staffs are as warm and inviting as a freshbaked besito.

“Last visit to La Playa we brushed up on our Spanish,” Jim shares with a smile. “And they welcomed us back to practice any time.”

Who knows? You may arrive with the intentions of scoring fresh dragon fruit for an acai bowl — and end up leaving in your favorite soccer jersey and a new set of boots.

— Fran Marler milepost 49

A disturbing crime thriller that will enthrall long after it is finished!

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George, Rolo and Earl put a lot of frequent flier miles behind ‘em.

Photo: Ryan Moser

startingpoint roadmap gokite New release by local author

Gabriel Scudiero The first in a trilogy.

Find a copy at E-books I-Tunes, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, also sold at Something Old... Something New located at 1300 S.Croatan Hwy. KDH

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outthere SERIOUS FUN Wanna know what fuels every rock band? It’s not record sales. (The Replacements never went gold.) Nor fame.

(Who the hell knows Hüsker Dü?) Talent?

Respect? Riches? Hardly. The Sex Pistols couldn’t play a lick, never got rich — and couldn’t care less. The answer is: fun. Plain and simple. A love for lugging amps, playing live — and the mad memories it produces.

gohunt

rearview

Like the Louisiana dive bar that doubled as a laundromat, mixing overloaded baskets with teeming mosh-pits. Or that time the brakes caught fire blazing down a West Virginia mountaintop. Or the one crazy fan who drove all the way to Manhattan to show her boobs — to someone else.

“That girl was called Sparkle,” recalls Manday Huge stunt guitarist, George Tsonev, with a cheeky grin. “She went on Howard Stern and said, ‘I’ll take my top off if you play my favorite band.’ He said, ‘Sure, I’ll play this milepost

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For Manday Huge, old habits rock hard.

crap!’[laughs] And he did. That’s when the phone really started ringing.”

Not that it wasn’t ringing already. By the early 90s, bands like Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers already reigned supreme.

So when Tsonev, bass-player/vocalist Chris “Rolo” Rollinson and drummer Buddy Allison started showing off their funk-rock chops in ’93, they stage-dove directly into the mix.

“Right away we clicked,” says Rolo, an axevirtuoso who switched to bass to join the band. “We started writing songs, playing gigs — boom! — things moved quick.”

Mixing styles from speed metal to ska, they blended energy, dexterity, variety and volume with quality musicianship and natural aggression. Jams were hard. Words got heavy, capturing all the pre-millennium, counter-culture chaos that gave rise to acts like Rage Against the Machine and Nirvana.

“Freedom of speech has been impeached / Don’t be a wimp and hold your ears, did you hear what I just said?”

By 1997, the power trio had the local rock stations on lockdown. But it was more than natural talent, it was a serious commitment to putting in hours, whether it was regular practice sessions, stapling fliers, selling merchandise, or licking stamps to put on mailers.

“This was before social media,” says Tsonev.

“You had to really work hard to get the word out. But that was our job. We were trying to take over the world. And for awhile it got pretty real.”

How real? There were real band write-ups and reviews in real magazines. Real CDs that cost real money. (Both the self-titled debut and follow-up Fat & Happy cost $10k to make — and more than broke even.)

And lots of real touring — as many as 22 shows in 30 days. DC. Richmond. New York.

Philadelphia. On the road, they blew minds from the Mississippi Delta to CBGBs in New York. At home, they broke records.

“Suicidal Tendencies said we were the best opening band they ever had,” laughs road manager and sometime-bass-stand-in, Gee Winfree. “They wanted our poster. And when we released our second CD at Port O’Call, 2600 people went through the door.

Guys were stage-diving off the balcony.”

“They sold out of beer at midnight,” laughs Rolo. “Frank Gajar was calling Kelly’s to try and get more.”

But real life has a way of catching even the craziest dreams. Responsibilities like fatherhood. And family. And staying afloat.

After seven years of banging heads against the brick ceiling of rock stardom, the boys called it quits in 2000. Buddy, Rolo and Gee carried the torch as Cool Hand Luke for a few more. Then, as quick as the ascent, there was silence.

“

bobbing heads. All to songs written a quarter-century ago.

On the road, they blew minds.

At home, they broke records.

“I never saw ’em back in the day, because I was seven,” laughs Bonzer Shack manager Matt Joyner. “So I was surprised. The band’s as highquality as anything I booked all summer long. And the response from my age group’s been solid, because that heavier sound is coming back around right now.”

George agrees: “I guess the younger guys aren’t used to seeing three guys up in your face, moving so much air. But the shock-andawe is addictive.”

So is cranking it out.

For a while, at least. But rock habits — and happy memories — die hard. In 2013, Gee called Rolo to play a memorial show for Buddy. They hit up George to do a short Manday tribute set. Then found the perfect fill-in on drums.

A year after slapping together 40 minutes of songs, the sets are twice as long — and 10 times as polished. The band room is framed out, soundproofed and ready for action. The practices are weekly. The spring gigs are stacking up. There’s even recording equipment on order and fresh songs in the works. Scariest of all? The phone’s started ringing all over again.

“I grew up watching these guys play,” says Earl Winfree, Gee’s younger brother. “Buddy took me to my first drum seminar when I was 13 or 14. I learned so much watching him.”

When George confides mid-interview that their former booking agent’s called from Louisiana to book Mardi Gras, the whole room erupts.

And he learned fast. The updated trio locked down four songs in a single afternoon — then improvised two more. With that tiny spark, the fire to play started blazing again.

Which begs new questions. What’s next?

Are there more road stories to come? Or is that too much work?

“In 2003, Buddy died of cancer,” says Gee. “We were crushed. That basically ended it.”

Last March, the band shook up Drunkapalooza. By May, they were blowing the doors off Bonzer Shack. Then Shredfest.

Then the Brewing Station. Each gig drives the wheel forward, building momentum and adding bodies. And while the early draws were old-school fans, shedding tears and slugging nostalgia, recent gigs see just as many young bucks throwing elbows and

“That’s a loaded question,” George laughs, shaking his head. “I don’t know if it’s work, or it’s fun. Right now, we’re just scratching that itch. But once you get to a certain level of proficiency with your bandmates and it all clicks in front of the crowd, there’s no feeling like it in the world. Like jumping out of a plane or riding a wave, just ‘Whoo-hoo!’”

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artisticlicense Happy camper. Photo: Julie Dreelin

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“There was no TV, there was no radio,” she reflects. “There was nothing but my class, my meditation and my yoga practice.

You’re so calm, so relaxed — it really made a profound difference in my life.”

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Aupfront DATE WITH DESTINY soundcheck

“That’s one of my favorites,” she grins. “But then Ganesh was always my favorite Hindu god.”

When the universe calls, Ticia Valentine listens.

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“I drove out, I got the interview, I got the job,” says the 47-year-old Southern Shores resident. “And I met my husband, Marshall, immediately. I was plugged into this group of wonderful, loving people that I had a lot in common with. Everything just fell into place so easily. I guess the universe kind of hands us what we need.”

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Or maybe it returns what you give out. Petite, with auburn hair, a huge smile, and twinkling eyes, Valentine radiates a contagious enthusiasm that draws parents, peers and especially students. Originally from Gatlinburg, she attended University of Tennessee in Knoxville where she earned a BS in art education, inspired by her natural talent — and a sense of the practical.

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“If I wanted to be in the art world,” she reasons, “I had to figure out a way to actually get paid.”

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After a short stint at the high school, Valentine shifted to First Flight Elementary for 12 years, then jumped to Kitty Hawk Elementary for the past thirteen. In 2014, Dare County

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“we’re teaching kids to think outside the box.”

You can find these lessons in her poetry boxes. Using imagery, collage, clay — and a range of random objects — she paints and decorates 3D wooden structures, then fills them with positive thoughts. Like the blue, boxy house with button flowers beaming, “Let your love light shine.” Or the crimson square brimming with crystals, and a jeweled Indian elephant trumpeting, “Remove all obstacles.”

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A Native American reservation in Montana. The Virgin Islands. Alaska. All places where Ticia Valentine considered starting her teaching career in 1992. Then destiny stepped in. Childhood memories of family beach vacations enticed the Tennessee native to request an application from Dare County. Two weeks later, they called — there was an opening at the high school.

Ashram (aka Yogaville), where she became a certified instructor.

named her Teacher of the Year, recognizing her quartercentury of class time and daily dedication to every student who walks into her classroom — even those who don’t consider themselves “artistic.”

“We’re not teaching kids to be artists,” she insists, “we’re teaching them to think outside the box. They envision, they explore, they use a lot of trial and error. All these skills come in handy in many other disciplines — just about any other corner of life.”

Valentine’s corner is a home studio where she turns clay into colorful bowls, platters, vases, and mugs. Back in college, she had two concentrations: ceramics and watercolor. But she dropped the brush shortly after graduation. Watercolor was “too precise.” She prefers the flexibility and flow of wet mud.

“It’s such an earthy craft,” Valentine explains. “I love that it is something so old, people have been doing it for thousands of years. If you look into any ancient culture, there’s some kind of pottery in it.”

Valentine’s modern pieces maintain that primitive vibe.

Using contrast in tone and imagery to create a sense of balance, she carves deep lines to draw universal symbols: stars, moons, suns, waves. The waves aren’t as much about the ocean as they are about life: riding the undulations of ups and downs, breathing in and out, a reflection of her time living clean and learning poses at Virginia’s Satchidananda

Makes sense. As both the “Lord of Beginnings” and “The Remover of Obstacles,” Ganesh is the perfect spiritual guide for any good teacher to follow — and then pass on to burgeoning students.

“Ms. Valentine was one of the first people to really recognize and foster my creativity,” says former student Barry Lee, now a successful illustrator and designer in Atlanta. “And having a teacher who believed in my skills helped me gain confidence in the fact that I wanted to make art a career.”

Ironically, Valentine’s teaching career means keeping art more of a hobby. She mostly fires the kiln during summer and breaks, keeping the shelves stocked at Dare County Arts Council and the KDH Co-Op. But, in just a few years, she’ll be ready to retire. That’s when she and Marshall plan to hit the show circuit, mingle with fellow artists, and make Valentine’s passion her trade.

In fact, they already have the mode of travel ready — a tricked-out Shasta camper trailer that sits in front of their house — waiting its turn to be the couple’s new vagabond home. She might make her way to Asheville. Or hock clay from here to Vermont. Or she might just head to another favorite family destination from her youth — the Great Smoky Mountains — where there’s a spot on the Little Pigeon River so breathtaking and dear, she calls it “my father’s church.”

At that point, Valentine can go anywhere and find happiness, following the guiding light of her favorite Hindi expression: “Truth is one, paths are many.”

— Shannon Sutton milepost 53

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THEY CAME. THEY STAYED. THEY CONQUERED. Hail to the chefs! (And the artists... And the singers... And...)

We spent a good bit of this issue saluting brave, native souls who busted loose to make the big-time. But lest you think we’ve gone soft on our “stuck here” philosophy, remember: many of our local heroes started out as tenacious invaders. In fact, while perusing images at Manteo’s Outer Banks History Center, we stumbled across a stockpile of legends, some of who were just digging in three decades ago. Artists turned gallery owners. Stage help turned production heads. And enough dish dogs turned restaurateurs to fill a walk-in. Once, they were baby-faced dreamers just making their marks.

Now, they’re recognized for making this place what it is today. So, for anyone who wonders, “Could I make it here?” Or “Could I make a difference here?”

Here’s proof you can do both — and still make yourself happy.

Top Left: Everyone knows the guy in back is Mike Kelly — former kitchen serf turned champion of tasty food and torrid night life. Noble paladin of Nags Head’s St. Paddy’s parade. (Celebrating 28 years this March.) But can you recognize the young squire to the right? That’s one-time Kelly’s chef turned Duck restaurateur, Wes Stepp, whose fine-dining reputation’s led to big, beefy gains, including TV appearances, a line of health-conscious cuisine, and a second Red Sky Café in Harrisburg, PA.

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Many local heroes started out as tenacious invaders.

Top Right: Who is that handsome fella? It’s Carl V. Curnutte III. In the mid-80s, this talented costume designer cut his teeth (and plenty of cloth) at The Lost Colony before moving into film and TV, where he scored an Emmy nomination in 2004. That same year, he returned to his roots at our longest-running outdoor symphonic drama — this time running the whole show — before moving onto his current, leading role at the Elizabethan Gardens, where his love for local culture still blooms eternal.

Bottom Left: Rick Tupper’s tale is a true American success story of immigration and innovation. After coming to the U.S. from Korea in 1958, Tupper moved to the Outer Banks in the mid-70s with a degree in Illustration from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. From there, he drew his own path, making paintings, catching fish and operating the Greenleaf Gallery for 24 years.

Bottom Right: Thirty years ago, Laura and Dan Martier were just a couple of lovebirds on the local music scene, playing gigs, having fun and keeping their ears open for the next cool project. Today, Laura’s voice carries from here to Hampton Roads, including time leading jazz vocal courses at William & Mary and jams with the Virginia Symphony.

Dan’s drums keep perfect time with Tim Reynolds, driving beats and packing houses on nationwide tours. In-between, they still make beautiful music, performing as Birddog.

All photos by Drew C. Wilson/The Virginian-Pilot.

Courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center.

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YOU’VE GOT IT ALL BACKWARDS

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This place sucks.

You constantly have to do something or else.

Conquer the next obstacle.

Perform another task.

Work. Strive. Hustle.

Face fresh challenges.

Seize a new day that’s more difficult than the last.

Those youthful distractions you once loved only shimmer so long.

Partying late or paddling early.

Lounging around with a lazy Sunday hangover.

Lying on the beach ’til your skin glows red-hot.

All the things that brought you here stop quenching your thirst.

One day your reflection ripples with questions.

What next?

Why me?

And there are no clear answers.

It’s never, ever easy.* — C. White *Now read it from bottom to top.

Photo: Ryan Rhodes milepost 57

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Let Jennette’s Pier’s adventure camps paddle your kids this summer.

Sign-ups start Mar. 6.

Photo: Ryan Rhodes

upfront soundcheck getactive Feeling pent up? Inspirationally blocked? Get outta the house and ingest some cultural fiber at the Outer Banks Community Quilt Show at Roanoke Island Festival Park. From now to Mar. 18, see classic examples and meet expert collectors. Plus, Mar. 11’s Vendor Day sells quilting- and sewing-related items, while Mar. 13’s Trunk Show lets local stitch-smiths display current work. Mon.-Fri., 9am-4pm; Sat.10am-4pm. More at www.roanokeisland.com.

• The early bird books the summer camp. On Mar. 6, log onto www.jennettespier.net at 9am for first dibs on spots in Jennette’s Pier’s popular activities, like: Waterman’s Adventure Camp (surfing, fishing and kayaking); Outdoor Adventure Camp (SUP, hiking and trips to First Flight Adventure Park); and Surf n’ Science (learn to ride waves and read their behavior) — plus a bunch of other cool options that beat the hell out of any babysitter. • Or herd your nerds at Coastal Studies Institute’s 2017 Summer Day Camps’ combo of outdoor activities and scientific learning for ages 10-15. Call David Sybert to register: 252475-5451. (And don’t forget: CSI’s Science on the Sound Lecture Series dutifully dorks out every month, including: Terri Kirby Hathaway’s “Beach Combing Biology,” Mar. 23; Jeff Lewis’ “Sustainable Coastal Gardening,” Apr. 27; and Mike Muglia’s “Harnessing the Power of the Gulf Stream,” May 25. Get info and watch live streams at visit www. coastalstudiesinstitute.org.) • Creativity runs amok when Carolina Coto and Carol Willet explore the “Realms of Imagination” at Dare County Arts Council through Mar. 31. And stop in anytime for Vinyl Fridays, where DCAC completes the week by playing a classic record from start to finish. Find ’em on Facebook for titles and times. More at www.darearts. org. • Color us stoked! Mar. 6 marks the golden return of Rundown Café’s Fried Chicken Night every Mon., while Vegetarian Tapas Night goes green each Thurs., starting Mar. 9.

The full spectrum of specialties waits at www.rundowncafe.com. • Gorge yourself on cherry rides, Mar. 11, when the First Flight Cruisers Shamrock Car Show packs First Flight High School with 200+ dream machines — enough creampuff classics to make you puke candycoated paintjobs. Find details on Facebook. • The Alligator River Wildlife Refuge Tram always rocks, with Sat. nature tours, Mar. 11, Apr. 8 and May 13, 9am-noon. ($10; adultaccompanied kids ride free.) Hate paying covers? Pea Island Refuge’s Free Bird Walks squawk each Fri., 8-9:30am. The Preschool Young Naturalist Program runs free every Fri., 10-11am at the visitor center on Roanoke Island. And the free Red Wolf Howling’s go “awoooooo!” Apr. 8, 7-8:30pm, and May 13, 7:30-9pm. Meet at the Creef Cut Trail Parking Lot. Call Steve at 252-216-9464 for details. • You call that wild music? Wait til you hear Holly Overton with Midnight People play Bonzer Shack on Mar. 11. (Miss it? The local girl’s cassette Every New Day comes out in May; find her Bandcamp page for soundbites.)

And stay tuned for Full Moon Parties, Mar. 12, Apr. 11, & May 10. • Or get real-time opera — with real-life subtitles — when “The Met: Live in HD” comes to KDH’s RC Theater: La Traviata (Mar. 11); Idomeneo (Mar. 25); Eugene Onegin (Apr. 22); Der Rosenkavalier

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(May 13). Adults: $22; Students: $15; Seniors: $20. Shows start at 12:55pm. Score deets at www.rctheatres.com/met-opera. • Outta the way, fat lady. We wanna watch the Kelly’s 28th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. On Mar. 12, line up between Bladen St. and Driftwood St. to watch 1.25 miles of swerving Shriners, cross-dressing beach bums, and marching bands.

(And don’t forget: Mar. 11’s Running of the Leprechauns kicks off the weekend with 5k and 10k dashes at Outer Banks Sporting Events. More at www.outerbankssportingevents. com.) • On Mar. 18, chug over to the Outer Banks Brewing Station, where the St. Paddy’s 1-Mile Beer Run pours 12oz. cups between 1/4-mile dashes, from 12-1pm. Prizes for winners and costumes, plus everyone gets a t-shirt and glass. $20. Check-in at 11am. Email obxrunning@gmail.com for the latest deets.

• Lack the green for a decent prom dress? The 3rd Annual Project Glam Girls hooks up any student at zero cost. Come to Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church, Mar. 17 (1-9pm) & Mar. 18 (9am-3pm), for gowns, purses, shoes — even tuxes. Got items to donate? Drop ’em before Mar. 15. (Or just cut a check). Find full-figured deets on Facebook. • First climb’s free when the Currituck Beach Lighthouse opens its doors for the season, Mar. 20, 9am-5pm. (How else they gonna hook you on that view?) After that it’s $10 for ages 8+ all the way ’til Dec. 1. Full info at www.currituckbeachlight.com. • Need to hustle up some college dough? Each spring, local groups, from boat builders to tree huggers, offer scholarship dollars to high school seniors. Apply at the guidance office by Mar. 24.

Then circle back for Scholarship Night to cheer the winners: Manteo High School (May 15); First Flight High School (May 16); Cape Hatteras Secondary School (May 31.) • On Mar. 25, meet real-life doctor — and ocean-loving dreamboat — Wallace J. Nichols when Buxton Village Books brings the Blue Mind author to Avon Fire Hall for a discussion about his latest research and upcoming works. Get times and details at www. buxtonvillagebooks.com. • Big brains know the smartest way to check out spring cuisine is Mar. 23-26’s Taste of the Beach. This year’s fresh items include: Mar. 23’s Brew Devil Rum Tapas dinner at the Outer Banks Brewing Station; Mar. 24’s Master Class in Food and Wine Photography at Sanctuary Vineyards; and Mar. 25’s NC Coast Oyster Eco-Tour with local waterman, Joey Daniels, and bivalve-whisperer, Rowan Jacobsen. (Or just party like a pirate at Jolly Roger’s Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bash, where vodka and tomato juice mixes with bacon, shrimp — and about everything else: Mar. 25.) • And it’s the favorites that’ll keep you coming back: Mar. 24’s Outer Banks BBQ & Wing Showdown fills Nags Head’s The Soundside (12-3pm); Mar. 25’s 8th Annual Chowder Cookoff steams up Southern Shores Crossing (12-2pm); and, on Mar. 26, head to Port O’Call for two seatings of the Grand Tasting & Bartenders Bubbly Bash — 12-2pm & 2:30-4:30pm — where the best local chefs battle for bragging rights. Find scoops and buy tix at www. obxtasteofthebeach.com. • Savor sophisticated sounds — with a rustic, bluegrass feel — when Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts brings Nashville’s Barefoot Movement to First Flight High, Mar. 25, 7:30pm. $28 ($15 for students). Tix and deets at www. outerbanksforum.org. • Lose the shoes and make a splash when H2OBX Water Park brings waterslides, wave pools and a Flow Rider to Currituck this summer. Plus: season passes make crossing the bridge easier than an ocean breeze: through Mar. 31, pay $99 ($89 each if you buy 4+); Apr. 1-June 2, pay $109 ($99 each if you buy 4+.) More deals and dates at www. h2obxwaterpark.com. • Dive deep into maritime history when the Graveyard of the Atlantic hosts its 4th Annual Underwater Heritage Symposium, Apr. 1. From 10am-5pm, meet divers, scientists and historians, and keynote speaker/world-renowned shipwreck explorer Mike Boring — plus hear presentations by local dive legends like Jim Bunch, JT Barker, Dave Sommers, and Marc Corbett. (P.S. Between speeches, check out the new year-long exhibit, featuring watercolors, words and aerial photos by Hatteras native, Dixie Burrus Browning.) Full sched. of events at www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com. • Here’s a switch: starting in Apr., the NC Aquarium on Roanoke lsland appeals to little landlubbers with twice-weekly Nature Play Days in the Lost Woods Nature Play area, where 3 hrs. of hands-on fun comes free with admission. Dirty details www.ncaquariums.com/roanokeisland. • Are you a fool for art? On Apr. 1, be at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, 2-4pm, milepost 59

endnotes community fun, Apr. 7, including a Downtown Books launch party for Mary Ellen Riddle’s for a dual-opening of the 22nd Annual Artist Self-Portrait Exhibition and The Glenn — new title, Outer Banks Shipwrecks. And the 5pm start — with a 6pm toast — leaves time A Second Dimension Library of 40 Years of History. Learn more at www.glenneureart. com. • A fool for flowers? Elizabethan Gardens’ 2017 Daffodil Festival blooms Apr. 1 for to crash Dare County Arts Council’s 6-8pm opener for Peggy Saporito’s watercolors a fertile month of displays and educational opportunities. exhibit. (Hangs thru Apr. 28.) Colorful updates at www.

Ruffs rock Woofstock at Elizabethan Gardens, Apr. 8.

Decorative details at www.elizabethangardens.org. • Or a fool in darearts.org. • Wanna bust a gut? Then bust a move over to Photo: Jennifer Snell love? On Apr. 1, head to The Sanderling, where the Outer “Comedy Tonight” at Lost Colony’s Waterside Theatre, Banks Wedding Showcase lets brides and grooms sip, chat Apr. 7, where serious laughs by stand-up Greg Hahn raise and make sensible choices about cakes, DJs, photogs and funds for the Roanoke Island Historical Society. Or scare catering. 11am-4pm. More at www.sanderling-resort.com. • On yourself silly, Apr. 10-12, when the Ghosts of the Lost Apr. 2, show the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles some Colony returns with an interactive hunt for paranormal tenderness with a Kelly’s NEST fundraiser, featuring raffles, activity on the historic grounds. Tix and deets at www. silent auction, and tunes by the Riff Tides. 5-8pm. $10. Hard thelostcolony.org. • Go bonkers for bowsers at Elizabethan facts at www.nestonline.org. • Scurvy dogs learn new tricks when Gardens’ Woofstock, as dog lovers of all species gather for costume contests, agility courses and photos, Apr. 8, 10amBlackbeard’s Ghost and Queen Ann’s Revenge storms First 1pm. Free for canines, standard fee for humans. More at Flight High for a free performance on Apr. 3. From 7-9pm, www.elizabethangardens.org. • Race like a greyhound — or watch Western Carolina University channel an old-school pedal like a poodle — when the 4th Annual Outer Banks radio-style broadcast to create an updated take on NC’s Duathlon run-bike-runs through the historic villages of infamous pirate. More at www.bryanculturalseries.org. • And Corolla, Apr. 9. (P.S. Nags Head’s breed of sneakering and fasten your seatbelts for Theatre of Dare’s production, Boeing cycling dashes between Jennette’s Pier and Pea Island, Apr. Boeing, where juggling three stewardesses leads to romantic 29.) Maps and info at www.theobxrunningcompany.com. • turbulence for a swinging, 60s bachelor. Apr. dates TBD at COA. On Apr. 14-15, soar down to Jockey’s Ridge for Kitty Hawk Kites’ Fly into Spring/Easter Point to www.theatreofdareobx.com for the latest. • From Apr. 7-9, the road to Wanchese Eggstravaganza, where multiple 30- to 100-foot kites colorfully cavort, while kids hunt eggs turns cultural destination, as Contemporary View: Artwork by Larry McCarter comes to Skyco. With clients like Jacques Cousteau, you’ll want to witness this colorful take on coastal and hang with the Easter Bunny. Find all the furry details at www.kittyhawk.com. • Then life: Fri., 4-9pm; Sat., 12-4pm, with a catered event, 6-9pm; Sun., 11-4pm. 805 NC HWY 345. scramble over to Elizabethan Garden’s Easter Eggstravaganza, Apr. 15, for more games, bonnet and hat contests — plus their own Sir Walter “Peter” Wabbit. BYOB. (Bring your Learn more at www.larrymccarter.com. • First Friday fills Downtown Manteo with

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own basket.) 10am-1pm. Full sched. at www.elizabethangardens.org. • Find an egg — or just crack a beer — when Hoppy Easter brings giddy games for all ages to Avon’s Pangea Tavern, Apr. 15. (Don’t go too big, or you’ll miss 6am’s Sunrise Easter Service at the Avon Pier on Apr. 16.) More at www.koruvillage.com. • On Apr. 17-28, watch grandma and grandpa fight to the death. ( Just kidding.) The Outer Banks Senior Games gathers athletes 50-plus for friendly-yet-fierce competition in a full range of sports. Participants must register

by Mar. 10 at www.torch.ncseniorgames.org, or sign up at KDH’s Baum Center. • Expand your horizons when Town of Duck’s Nature on the Boardwalk invites an NC Aquarium educator to lead soundfront tours: Apr. 20, 6:30-8pm; Apr. 25, 9-10:30am; May 16, 9-10:30am; May 25, 7-8:30pm. Totally free — but with limited space — so email btrimble@townofduck.com to register. • North Carolina Coastal Federation can’t wait to celebrate Earth Day. That’s why they’re joining Corolla’s Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education for Outdoors Day, April 19, 10am-3pm. More at www.nccoast.org. • Can’t stop loving your mother? Come out to the Brew Pub, Apr. 22, as the 4th Annual OBX CARES Earth Day Celebration gathers all the grooviest non-profits for rescue pony rides, pet adoptions, vet dunking, vegan and vegetarian specials, live music, and even a CARES-Blended-Brew to benefit local dogooders. 3-7pm. Find ’em on Facebook. • Meanwhile down south, the NC Beach Buggy Association beautifies the planet by battling litter, Apr. 22, with Operation Beach Respect and Adopt A Highway events at all access ramps, 8am-12pm — followed by a purty little picnic at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center, 12pm-3pm. More at www. ncbbaonline.com. • Batten down the hatches, Apr. 22-23, as tons of eye-patch sporting buccaneers overtake the Flying Pirate Half Marathon and First Flight 5k. Wanna swashbuckle without breaking a sweat? Volunteer at www.flyingpiratehalfmarathon.com. • And the 15th Annual Outer Banks Bike Week invades on Apr. 22-30, promising daily THE LOST COLONY

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TICKETS STARTING AT $20 1937

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thrill rides and nightly ragers — like Jolly Roger’s Bike Week Host Night, Apr. 26. And come the weekend, haul ass over the bridge to Outer Banks Harley-Davidson for boss concerts by Great White & Slaughter (Apr. 28) and Molly Hatchet & Christopher Shayne (Apr. 29). Score tix at www.outerbanksmusicfest.com. • Ditch the bandana and get down to some banjo. On Apr. 23, the Bryan Cultural Series fills First Flight High with mountain jams courtesy of Grammy-winning musician/storyteller, David Holt, and fiddler Josh Goforth. 4pm. $15. More at www.bryanculturalseries.org. • Like less twang in your strangs? Join the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts at First Flight High, Apr. 29, and watch the Virginia Symphony play classical masterpieces. 7:30pm. $28 ($15 for students).

Full details at www.outerbanksforum.org. • You don’t need to be a doctor to help save lives. On Apr. 27, the Outer Banks Hospital Health Coach is hosting a Volunteer Recruitment Day, 8-11am. Come learn how donating your time can make others healthy. Updates at www. theouterbankshospital.com. • Good golly, Miss Mollie! Celebrate two decades of local art — and the memory of one of Manteo’s finest citizens — when the 20th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show opens Apr. 30, 2-4pm, at the DCAC Gallery. Then make it a flashy First Friday when Corey Schaible shows off his photography talents, May 5, 6-8pm. More at www.darearts.org. • Gather with other sophisticated tastes Apr. 29 at the Waterfront Shops for the 9th Annual Duck &Wine Festival. From 12-3pm, sample delectable apps and delicious vino to feed the Currituck-Dare Community Foundation. Can’t find tix? Volunteer to help (then sneak swigs between shifts). Learn more at www.duckandwine.com. • Total tea-totaler? Love coastal authors? Head to Elizabethan Gardens, Apr. 30, as Downtown Books hosts a Teatime with Kristy Woodson Harvey. From 2-4pm, learn about her latest work, Slightly South of Simple. $40 admission includes a book. ($35 for members.) Call 252-473-3234 to register. • The Graveyard of the Atlantic’s Salty Dawgs Lecture Series barks non-stop in

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April 10 - April 22 • Tickets $20 Tours leave from The Lost Colony Ticket Office at 8:00pm

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art & food

derby girls

kidz zone

A fundraising event for our area Veterans and Special Needs Communities

Saturday, May 20th, 2017 2-8pm @ the SOUNDSIDE OUtEr baNkS EvENt SItE

tickets and info @ dare2careobx.com • facebook: Dare2CareOBX • insta: #obxshredfest milepost 61

endnotes The Double. (Limited to 50 lunatics.) For deets, race over to www.nagsheadwoods5krun.

May. Start with Ernie Foster’s “History of Hatteras Sport-fishing,” May 2. On May 16, Hatteras Island’s Dave Kelmer describes “Explorers and Their Impact on the org. • Great ideas meet the great outdoors, May 13, when the 28th Annual Artrageous Environment and Native People.” George Converse recalls “The Building of Wooden Kid’s Art Festival anchors Nags Head’s Grand Opening of Dowdy Park. From 10am-8pm, Warships in North Carolina during World War II” on May 23. And Stuart Parks reveals celebrate visual, performing and culinary arts — and a free outdoor concert. Learn more at “Outer Banks History Center - A True Treasure Trove,” May 30. Full details at www. www.darearts.org. • Give your wardrobe a fresh coat when the Couture by the Shore graveyardoftheatlantic.com. • Homespun music and tales converge, May 5-6, when Fashion Show and Silent Auction returns to Kelly’s, May 13. From 11am-3pm, runway Hatterasity makes up for its Matthew-induced cancellation with a string of live bluegrass models show off the latest clothing, jewelry, hair — plus a luncheon, raffle, giveaways — all to shows by Special C, Danny Paisley and the benefit the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.

Southern Grass, The Crop Circle Agents, and $40. Find tix at www.outerbanksrelieffoundation. more. Then it’s straight into the Hatteras com. • On May 19, TX’s Mike Dillon Band Storytelling Festival’s epic yarns, May 6-7. hammers the Brew Pub with vibraphones, More at www.hatterasonmymind.com. • You xylophones and plenty o’ energy — with a li’l want epic? Dude! Watch the region’s best surfers introductory ear-pounding from Zack Mexico. shred the gnar next to Jennette’s Pier at the And come back May 25 for the 16th ESA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, May 5-7. (More at Anniversary Beer Church Birthday Bash, www.surfesa.org.) Or lose the trunks, strap on a featuring live tunes by Italian bluegrass gypsies, tie and head inside for May 11’s 5th Annual La Terza Classe. • Get a grip on the glory of OBX Tourism Summit, where Outer Banks suits soaring when the 45th Annual Hang Gliding learn about marketing trends. Updates at www.

Spectacular wings into Jockey’s Ridge, May outerbanks.org. • Love the fillies? On May 6, 19-22. See www.hangglidingspectacular.com for make the Kentucky Derby even more thrilling comp times, vid clips and surrounding events. • with two fundraisers at Elizabethan Gardens.

And, May 20, celebrate 15 bloomin’ years of the From 10am-3pm, strap on the fancy feedbag for Coastal Gardening Festival at KDH’s Baum a Taste of the Derby. And from 4-8:30pm it’s Center. From 9:30am-2:30pm, 60 vendors spell Run for the Roses: where folks sport funny hats out the “ABC’s of Gardening” with priceand sip mint-juleps between races. Proceeds also friendly plants — plus crafts and scavenger hunts help the Dare Education Foundation and for kids. Proceeds benefit the Dare Extension Beach Food Pantry. More at www.

Master Gardener Volunteer Association and elizabethangardens.org. • Put some miles on that the Dare County Center of the NC Fitbit — and raise funds to fight cancer — when Cooperative Extension. Questions? Call 252Outer Banks Relay for Life gallops around 473-4290. • Like floral wines, hair metal First Flight High, May 6, 12am-12pm. Sign up bands — and barbecue? Bang your head over to your team at www.relayforlife.org/darecountync.

Sanctuary Vineyards for May 20’s Buns N’ • Or head indoors for a healthy dose of dazzling Rosés, where local pitmasters compete, The art. From May 4-July 26, Town of Duck’s K.O.D.E. and TEAZE play 80s rock, and NC Rotating Art Show features Mixed Media by breweries pour cold brü. $30 per person; $50 Fay Davis Edwards, promising a first floor full of for a special Poison Pass. Full deets at www. crazy combinations. Come out May 6, 3-5pm, for sanctuaryvineyards.com. • For a different mosh an opening reception, or stroll in any Mon.-Fri., of music and mind-blowing stunts, head to May 9am-4pm. More at www.townofduck.com. • 20’s 2nd Annual Dare2Care OBX Shred Fest Listen up, Buttercup. On May 7, the Bryan at the picturesque Soundside Event Site. From Cultural Series is bringing the New York 2-8pm, pro skateboarders, BMX riders and roller Cloth, paper, and critters. They all work their way into Duck Town Hall when Fay Davis Edwards’ Gilbert & Sullivan Players to First Flight High mixed media hangs Mar. 4 to July 26. derby queens perform pyrotechnic half-pipe for a production of the classic, H.M.S. Pinafore. feats.

Meanwhile, live bands rock the crowd Where else you gonna get catchy tunes, hilarious — including Manday Huge, Ruth Wyand and a grip of monstrous headliners to be plot twists, primo theatre and happy endings for just $20? 7:30pm. More at www. determined — all to support our veteran and special needs communities. More at www. bryanculturalseries.com. • Of course, some sea tales end in tragedy. The public is invited to dare2careobx.com. • And the live tunes keep cranking all weekend long, as Corolla’s join members of the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard and British Royal Navy for Mustang Spring Jam returns to Mike Dianna’s Grill Room, May 21, with a TBD line up of two 75th Anniversary British War Grave Ceremonies, honoring the 63 lives lost off NC totally rad bands. And that’s not all: a little birdie told us that Bearded Face Productions is during World War II. May 11 in Buxton; May 12 in Ocracoke. Both start at 11am. For more also bringing a free Soundside Live Sunset Concert Series to Nags Head, three info, email clara.scarborough@ncdcr.gov. • Now, dry those tears and tear up the lawn, when consecutive Thurs. nights: May 25, June 1 & June 8. Keep your ears open for details. • And the Children and Youth Partnership’s 10th Annual Kids Fest comes to Roanoke Island finally, celebrate eight decades of live, outdoor shows — courtesy of the nation’s oldest Festival Park, May 12. From 9:30am-12:30pm, ages 5-and-under get free face painting, symphonic drama — when the Lost Colony opens its 80th season on May 26. Curtains go music, firetrucks and fun. (Rain Date: May 19.) More at www.darekids.org. • On May 13, the up at 7:45pm. Premiere tix just $35. (Or sneak into Thurs. night’s dress rehearsal preview, 34th Annual Yuengling Nags Head Woods 5k invites fitness fans to run wild through the forest — and crown Fastest Mom on the Beach — 7-10am. Wanna do it twice? Sign up for May 25, for a mere $20.) More at www.thelostcolony.org.

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Spring is Nature’s Way of Saying,“Let’s Party!” ~ Robin Williams

It's ALL G ood!

& h c n u L t Grea ls a i c e p S r Dinne World Famous Fish Tacos

Serving Lu nch & Dinner D aily!

Lunch: 11:30 am.

Dinner: 4:0 0 pm.

Tiki Bar is open after Dinner Hou rs.

Call for C losing Times !

Wednesday

Kwan’s

authentic

Pad thai available all day!

ff Come Cool O ! r at our Tiki Ba

Milepost 9.5 • Highway 158 in KDH • 252.441.7889 • MamaKwans.com

Open For Lunch & Dinner Wednesday - Sunday! springtime uploading...

Captain Grit Cake

97%

■ Lunch & Dinner: 11:30 AM - 9 PM Bonzer Bar: 11:30 AM - Until ■ Live Music Sat 6-9 PM ■ Bonzer Breakfast Sun 11:30 AM to 3 PM ■ Great Craft Beers & Drafts ■ Out Of This World Class Cocktails

Lunch Specials $9.99

MP9 on the Beach Rd. • Kill Devil Hills • BonzerShack.com • 252.480.1010

milepost 63

local

spirit

sometimes old friends make for new beginnings. outer banks brewing station and outer banks distillery enjoy a long, storied relationship built on friendship and a passion for locally crafted liquid concoctions. for the first time ever, we’re joining forces and sharing the love. introducing our local spirit belgian dubbel. starting with our Holiday ale, we stirred in locally harvested, rum-soaked pecans and let the two bodies blend. then, we poured the resulting elixir into a winter sol spice rum cask, steeped with cinnamon, fig and vanilla. Join us march 23rd when we crack the barrel to enjoy the fruits of our longtime friendship – then leave it on tap until the final drop flows. don’t linger! this tasty relationship won’t last forever.

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