OUTER BANKS MILEPOST: ISSUE 8.4

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DO. DO. SOME. SOME. THING. THING.

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Issue 8. 4

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We gokite don’t milepost have to graphiccontent save the gosurf planet. outthere Well, actually, we do, but that’s not what this issue’s about. It’s about making the world better, one step at a time. Not the whole world, but your world. Our world.

Which, in general, Outer Bankers aren’t all that good at.

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Disasters? Now that’s a different story.

Nobody helps neighbors-in-need like our little coastal community. From hurricane flooding to medical tsunamis, when the proverbial poo hits the propeller, we don’t just come a-runnin’ to clean up — we’ll throw ourselves on the blades to contain the mess.

But what about between catastrophes?

When skies are sunny? Friends are healthy?

And there’s not a storm cloud or crisis on the horizon? Too often, that’s when most folks go right back on cruise control and let a tiny fraction of the population take the wheel. Confident someone else will keep the community safe between the curbs.

Who you calling “Beach Bum”? Moon Tillett’s spent 46 years helping the Shriners and Masons do good deeds.

Photo: Daniel Pullen

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I won’t say it’s laziness. Sure, we like to joke — even embrace — our slacker stereotype, but we’re not really beach bums. (If anything, we’re so busy juggling dish trays and hammers that we’ve run out of hands.) And it obviously ain’t selfishness either. ( Just watch the donation jar bulge at any backyard benefit.)

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it feels good to put a personal passion into action.

No, I’d argue it’s a mix of worry, trust and fear: we worry we’re not up to the challenge; we trust someone else will do the job better; and — more than anything — we fear it’ll be a drag. On our time. And energy. Just a big, boring pain in the ass with very little pay off.

Well, newsflash, folks: community service is fun! Okay, not always. (I can personally recall 100 torturous, court-ordered hours painting state park picnic tables.) But when it’s your baby — your beliefs — it feels good to put a personal passion into action. Just check the photos from this issue’s feature.

You’ll see nothing but smiles. And that’s not just because it feels good to be recognized — it’s because these DIY dynamos know they’re making a difference.

Some of these folks put their time into an established non-profit — others kickstarted their own causes. Some have been helping out for decades. Others just got started.

Some fight hunger and save lives — others just brighten moods and build confidence.

Not one of them solve every problem all the time. And none of them need to — or hope to. They just want to do a little something to shoulder the load. Because when everybody lifts a little, the whole world feels lighter.

— Matt Walker

Thank you for reading Outer Banks Milepost. We hope you enjoy it. If not — before chucking this issue in the nearest dumpster — please consider one of the following equally satisfying ways of expressing your disgust: wad up a series of paper mutes for a horrible holiday horn section; make a reusable horse diaper for the coming parade season. 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. We promise to find some way to re-purpose them. milepost 3

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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

Discover What’s New

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Est. 1929

graphiccontent gosurf outthere gohunt rearview AwardWinning Wines

“Death By Left”

By Noah Snyder “Fractal burning is sort of touch-and-go. It can overwhelm a piece, or it can be minimal. This one’s a bit of both. I started out making the finer parts of the wave. Then, I wanted to create that depth effect of being in the water. So, I came back in and did the crazy, heavy burn in the foreground, which gives that 3D feel that pulls you in and puts you on the shoulder. Finally, I threw on a little bit of black and white paint, which gives it that stormy winter feel. So, sometimes I dictate the piece. Sometimes, the piece dictates me. But that’s the cool thing about wood: if you mess up, just sand it and start over.” [Laughs] — Noah Snyder

03 StartingPoint Everybody has issues.

What’s yours?

19 Do. Some. Thing.

Meet folks who make our world better, one action at a time.

06 UpFront Locals project, Dune Billy resolves, and generosity counts.

24 GraphicContent Gaming development.

16 QuestionAuthority How not to get a head on the Outer Banks.

32 GoLess “Simplify, man!”

34 FoodDrink We don’t have the meats.

37 ArtisticLicense Noah Snyder feels the burn.

39 RearView De-destructing Dorian.

41 O ut There Shuck U. 42 EndNotes On-dates for the offseason.

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GENEROSITY COUNTS getactive soundcheck

Tallying the output — and impact — of Outer Banks non-profits.

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Sometimes, the Outer Banks’ stretched-out geography can make folks feel separated. Until a disaster strikes.

Then suddenly a fierce sense of solidarity connects the whole sandbar, from the “Northern Beaches” and “Down South” to our favorite vacay spot a ferry ride away.

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Although Hurricane Dorian smacked Hatteras, it absolutely smote Ocracoke, as seven feet of storm surge soaked entire neighborhoods and destroyed most vehicles on the island.

Since early September, everyone from Corolla to Cedar Island has rallied to help, giving their time and money to help struggling villagers.

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But with about 200 charities across the barrier islands, figuring out where to donate is like looking at rows of cans in the soup aisle — there’s a lot to choose from, and they all sound good.

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It’s especially confusing when the names are similar.

“When somebody calls us, we send them to the Outer Banks Community Foundation,” says Patty McKenna, executive director of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. “I feel very good about that money getting to the right people.”

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Although the Relief Foundation came 22 years after the Community Foundation, which was founded in 1982, people often mistake one for the other, especially during the chaotic aftermath of a storm. But the roles and mission are distinctive.

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The Relief Foundation is intended to help folks who are

struggling with an unforeseen personal crisis.

The nonprofit was started in response to an employed couple who lost their home because of costs to treat their 9-year-old daughter’s leukemia, despite a $7,000 donation from the community. Today, it may also help pay a family’s bills when Mom or Dad suddenly loses their job.

“We really want to fill gaps,” McKenna says.

So far this year, the charity has provided $175,000 in assistance to 100 families.

About 40 percent of the need is related to cancer care. The Relief Foundation also sponsors the “211” service, which connects to a call center that can direct the prospective givers to the appropriate charity.

Most of the group’s funding comes from proceeds from Outer Banks Sporting Event races, including the Outer Banks Marathon, and the annual fashion show, Couture by the Shore. Still, it became evident that the foundation needed a more sustainable revenue source. So, this fall the nonprofit launched a one-time fundraising campaign, “Impact OBX,” to raise $1 million from “planned giving,” or bequests.

McKenna says the goal has almost been met, thanks to behind-the-scenes preparation and solid relationships built over the years.

“Overwhelmingly, the community members have been super generous,” she says.

The concept of planned giving is what has kept the Outer

Banks Community Foundation so stable after nearly four decades. It holds $19 million in funds, most from endowments, that it distributes through numerous grants and 50 scholarships to the community, says executive director Lorelei Costa.

And when disaster strikes, they serve as the pass-through organization for local relief.

As of early October, Costa says, 4,600 households and businesses from across the US have donated a total of

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$900,000 — with $700,000 for Ocracoke alone. A significant chunk of those funds came from a few large donors: $150,000 from Towne Bank; $50,000 from BBT; $25,000 from First National Bank; $10,000 from Southern Bank; and $54,000 from the Outer Banks Restaurant Association’s dineout day.

She notes that every penny goes to help victims. And by being the central collection destination, the hope is that it makes it less confusing for donors.

“We’re kind of the hub,” Costa says.

One of the Community Foundation’s most important partners is the Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men, or CHUMM, which has been on the ground providing storm recovery assistance on the island for 41 years, says director Dennis Carroll. The group also partners with local non-profit Interfaith Community Outreach and Dare County Social Services, and has operated a food pantry on the island for 30 years.

After Dorian, Carroll says, there were 474 requests for help on Hatteras Island, mostly in Hatteras and Frisco.

“We are primarily the last resort for a lot of people,” he says.

With about 80 part-time volunteers and 12 officers, the Methodist Men run an impressively efficient operation, swooping in after storms and sticking around for the long haul after everyone else has moved on. Working off a $75,000 to $100,000 budget, CHUMM also provides yearround assistance for those who need temporary help with rent, power bills, or other needs. It operates with “zero overhead and 100 percent giving to victims,” Carroll says.

The majority of donations — of money and time — pour in after storms. In the early days, the charity depended on fish fries and other fundraisers, as well as whatever islanders could afford to contribute. But the funding base has since grown and diversified.

“Most of our donors have some type of connection to Hatteras Island,” Carroll says. “Over the years, as our reputation grew, we were able to expand our outreach and not depend only on local donors.”

And whatever the group spends, he adds, gets multiplied when combined with the volunteer labor, such as church groups, fire departments, and others, who often come in from outside the area to help.

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The ma jority of donations pour in after storms.

For example, a surf club from Wilmington, NC spent a day clearing debris — “we put them in some really nasty stuff” — as well as donated $3,500. Locally, a t-shirt fundraiser held by the Inn on Pamlico Sound garnered $25,000 for the recovery effort.

When it comes to fundraising, benefits are a prime driver for many non-profits, and are a popular way for locals to socialize while supporting a cause.

One favorite event is fall’s annual Evening of Jazz with John “Dr. Jazz” Sanchez, with proceeds going to the Community Care Clinic of Dare, which opened in 2005. With a $380,000 annual budget, the clinic provides free medical services for the uninsured or underinsured working population in Dare County, from locations in Nags Head and Frisco.

Most of the 600 active patients have chronic health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and thyroid disease. However, the clinic, which has a Spanish

language interpreter on staff, also partners with providers who offer other services such as HIV and retinol screening.

It also collaborates with NC MedAssist, a non-profit that provides free non-narcotic medications.

“We’re all about keeping our working class community healthy and well,” says executive director Tami Montiel.

Montiel also points out that without the clinic, many patients would end up in the emergency room at a much higher public and personal cost.

With more than 6,000 patients cared for over 15 years, Montiel says that the Community Clinic offers important solace for people already struggling to pay for housing and groceries in an area with a high cost of living. In fact, this year, the clinic opted to help more families by upping the eligibility limit. Now, a household of four with an income of $77,250 qualifies for care.

“This is one less thing for them to worry about,” she says.

Meanwhile, Dorian’s victims in Ocracoke have been handed a fresh stress point to ponder. In October, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the island did not meet the criteria to qualify for the agency’s individual assistance funds. The disaster relief program would’ve provided food stamps, funds for repairs, and help for the unemployed. Now, Ocracokers will be looking elsewhere for support.

Luckily, a strong network of local non-profits stands ready to step up. And the OBCF is encouraging more donations to the Outer Banks Disaster Relief Fund to make up the difference.

“We now know that private philanthropy has a larger role to play,” says Costa. “Ocracoke is not going to recover for many months. It’s up to us to help our neighbors get back on their feet.” — Catherine Kozak

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upfront soundcheck

Stood here on purpose? First Flight’s 1948 wreath-laying ceremony enlisted four local family members. Photo: Jim Mays/Norfolk Public Library

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EVERGREEN TRADITION

Celebrating the Wright Bros.’ locally sourced ground crew

December 17, 1903. The day that Orville Wright opened the world to powered aviation — accelerating over the sands of Kitty Hawk, while Wilbur ran alongside — is celebrated each year at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. It’s a special occasion, with flyovers by military and privately owned aircraft. Dignitaries visit. Speeches resound. But the ceremony doesn’t just honor the brothers from Dayton, Ohio. It also serves as a salute to the Outer Banks ground crew who supported their efforts.

Just five men bore witness to the historic moment that cold, blustery day. Most remembered is John T. Daniels, who would eventually be cast in bronze for capturing the iconic photograph of Orville lifting off the ground. He used the Wright’s box camera and was instructed to push the hand-held bulb when the flyer left the ground. The other four were Daniels’ fellow lifesaving service members, Adam Dough Etheridge and Willie S. Dough, Manteo’s W.C. Brinkley, who was reportedly looking for beached lumber to salvage, and Johnny Moore, a curious Colington Island teen.

Daniels, Dough, and other men from the Kill Devil Hills Station had been on hand three days earlier when Wilbur had an unsuccessful attempt in the flying machine. So, Outer Bankers were aware that the Wrights were actively testing.

As early as 1938, the descendants of these five men played a part in the annual ceremonies by laying wreaths at the base of the monument. That was the year that Roanoke Island Historical Association president, D. Bradford Fearing, presented a five-foot wreath to Daniels and Etheridge as part of the 35th Anniversary Celebration.

According to Steve Massengill, former photo archivist with State Archives of North Carolina

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and author of Dauntless Resolution and Unconquerable Faith: Selected Anniversary Celebrations at the Site of the Wright Brothers’ First Flight, 1928-1978, “The two retired Coastguardsmen…passed the wreath on to two of their grandchildren, Billie Cox and Jack Wilson, who together positioned it above the massive bronze doors of the memorial.”

According to David Stick, Drinkwater was “questioned time and again by people professing a desire to learn all of the facts of that historical occurrence with which he had been connected — yet in reality they were interested only in skimming the surface; in getting the bare outline; in being able to say that they had met and talked with a man who had helped make history.”

From then on, laying a wreath at the site became an annual tradition. In 2011, John T. Daniels’ granddaughter, the late Lois Smith, shared memories in an interview for the First Flight Society Newsletter. She remembered a steady stream of visitors who would visit her grandfather’s home each year around December 17, to hear him tell of the Wright brothers’ historic flights.

By 1953’s Golden Anniversary celebration, both Orville and Wilbur and all of the witnesses of the first flight had died. On December 14 — the first day of a four-day event — ceremonies were dedicated to locals. Daniels other granddaughter, Margaret Pearce, and Janie Etheridge — Adam Etheridge’s granddaughter — had the honors of laying the wreaths.

“

“I’d accompany my granddad,” she recalled. “We’d all go together. Always a wreath to lay with Alpheus Drinkwater’s grandson Billy Cox and Adam Etheridge’s grandson, Jack Wilson.”

Just five men bore witness to the historic moment.

In fact, according to Massengill, “Drinkwater would become a fixture at these anniversary celebrations for decades.”

For the record: Drinkwater was not a witness to the first flight. However, he was working at the telegraph office to relay messages of the Wrights’ later experiments with gliders in 1908. Over the years, reporters confused the events and started giving Drinkwater credit for telegraphing the news of 1903’s historic moment. It was a reputation that proved hard to shake.

Sometime after 1948, the wreath laying moved from the memorial to the boulder that marks the spot where the plane took off. But the tradition continues to this day. Just ask local radio personality Lisa Brickhouse Davis.

“I know all about the annual December 17th wreath laying,” says the great granddaughter of Johnny Moore. “My brother Lee and I have met such greats as Buzz Aldrin, John Glenn, and Neil Armstrong. And my mom, Karen Brickhouse, has attended every one of them for, I think, 70-plus years.” — Sarah Downing Sources include: “Golden Anniversary Observance of Man’s First Successful Powered Flight,” Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off, 1954; Massengill, Stephen E. By Dauntless Resolution and Unconquerable Faith Selected Anniversary Celebrations at the Site of the Wright Brothers’ First Flight, 1928-1978, North Carolina Office of Archives and History, 2003; Stick, David, History in your Own Backyard, North Carolina Historical Review, January 1958.

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

HIGH FIVE Local biz leaders were buzzing over the latest travel expenditure figures, which saw a roughly 5 percent boost in revenue. In 2018, Currituck visitation dollars were up 5.6 percent, to $243 million, while Dare increased 4.9 percent to hit $1.9 billion. After a decade of record economic highs, one question remains: how long can the party last?

DUMBSTRUCK Locals were left speechless after a pair of shocking fatalities this fall. In Kitty Hawk, lightning crashed from a clear blue sky to strike a frolicking swimmer. Next, a fire dept. truck blindsided a Rodanthe sunbather. Both lost their lives. Both never saw it coming. A tragic reminder that even the sunniest beach day can suddenly turn deadly.

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THE HOUSE (INSURANCE COMPANY) ALWAYS WINS Gamble? Investment? However you view owning Outer Banks property, prepare to take a loss this spring, as the NC Rate Bureau announced an average 4 percent rate increase for homeowners insurance statewide — and a 9.8 percent increase, for the Currituck, Dare and Hyde beaches.

Proof that when it comes to insurance, no matter how long your house has been standing without making a claim, you’ll still end up taking a hit.

IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST, DOES SOMEONE HEAR IT? Maybe not, now that Nags Head Woods has a free audio tour. Thanks to the work of oral historians — and funding from the Outer Banks Community Foundation — any cell phone can transport listeners back to the turn of last century, when the empty forest was home to a village of 40 families where “Everyone Helped his Neighbor.”

PILING IT ON The storm season sure stuck it to local fishing piers. First, Dorian whacked the ends off both Avalon and Nags Head. Then, Melissa’s high waters ruffled Avon’s decking.

All three icons remain open — but all are also uninsurable by law. So go spend some bucks to help buy some boards. (And if you really wanna cement your pier troll status, contribute to the Avalon Pier GoFundMe page.)

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO BACK IN THE WATER Forget Jaws. In Sept., beachgoers were advised to stay out of both sea and sound for two weeks because of monster-sized bacterial levels caused by Hurricane Dorian and a subsequent deluge. Last year, a single July rainstorm caused a weeklong advisory.

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HOW DENSE CAN WE BE? That seems to be the question for towns in terms of development. In Oct., Nags Head considered easing limits on big homes before tabling the discussion until a Nov. meeting. In Manteo, SAGA asked to push their proposed hotel’s footprint beyond 20,000 square feet — and four stories — with a public hearing set for Dec. 4. Both decisions were met with a wave of negative comments as citizens asked if, in towns where flooding and runoff are already problems, is adding density really the brightest idea?

PARK PLACE Give Manteo credit for wanting to add some green space — and vehicle space. In summer, news broke the county was leasing them three parcels of land for a new Manteo Town Commons, featuring public grounds, recreational facilities, and at least 50 parking spots. And while it was sad to see the Fort Raleigh Hotel come down, we can’t wait to spend First Friday stretching out and strolling

the sidewalks — instead of hunting for empty curbs to squeeze our cars against.

COME AND GO BLUES Nobody was singing “Sweet Melissa” on Hatteras Island in mid-Oct. The nor’easterturned-subtropical system washed across NC 12 in several spots, leaving residents, ramblin’ men, and midnight riders stranded — and in some cases buried in sand. The DOT weren’t wasting time no more, though. With only one way out, they worked through blue skies and pouring rain so folks could say, “I feel free.” And while there ain’t no use in crying, we’re clearly at a crossroads when it comes to southbound access.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHED Big Brother? Or thin blue line? That’s the latest question at the nexus of privacy rights and technology as local police enlist new camera-enabled crime-fighting apps. In Duck, “Axon Citizen” allows residents to submit clips of suspicious activity to police to share

on social media and store as evidence. In Nags Head, the “Neighbors App” not only lets users submit vids anonymously, they can volunteer doorstep footage from Amazon’s Ring security cameras. Helpful? Possibly.

Creepy? Definitely. And if you thought Alexa’s living room eavesdropping sounds Orwellian, wait ’til your neighbor’s doorbell busts you for smoking a blunt.

WHAT’S RULE NUMBER ONE? Party! At least for the makers of Peanut Butter Falcon. At press time, our homegrown, heartwarmer had generated $20 million in revenue nationwide, earning critical praise and plenty of award buzz. Some critics are already predicting Oscar nominations. If that happens this Feb., expect the whole Outer Banks to pop the champagne.

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.obxtoday.com.

SMART-ASS COMMENT OF THE MONTH “Give SAGA an inch and they’ll try to build a condo in it.”

— Travis, “SAGA Seeks Changes for Marshes Light Hotel Project,” OuterBanksVoice.com, Oct. 4, 2019

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leighed Sthis season!!

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Mary Jernigan, 53 Leisure Activities Coordinator Kill Devil Hills “I work with a team of volunteers. We deliver meals to homebound seniors and set up Medicare plans. We have grief counseling and workout programs. So we really make older adults’ lives more enjoyable.”

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Grace Saunders, 8 Student Wanchese “I volunteer with Surfing for Autism every year, and every time I walk on the beach, I pick up all the trash that I find.”

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Eric Anderson, 51 Contractor Salvo “I’ve built ADA-compliant handicap ramps at beach accesses like Coquina. Also, as controversial as this may be, I helped tear down the old, decrepit Frisco Pier.”

outthere

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gohunt

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Deshawn Banks, 34 NC State Trooper Manteo “Work-wise, I serve the public and try to keep the roads safe for everyone. Outside of work, I coach kids in recreation league basketball and baseball.”

What do YOU do to make the Outer Banks better?

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Shamecca Jones, 27 Facility Supervisor Manteo “I know a lot of people are struggling, so I go out of my way to inject some positivity into my community and lift people up. Hopefully that person can instill that positivity into the next person and keep the goodwill going.”

Morag Nocher, 79 Beach Food Pantry Coordinator Kitty Hawk “For the past 16 years, I have worked here at the food pantry to help Dare County residents who may be facing hardship or crisis that has caused them to be food insecure.”

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Ryan Rhodes, 43 Restaurant Manager Kill Devil Hills “I try to take time with visitors to share the history of our island. I also encourage local youth to utilize our amazing outdoor resources to channel their negative energy — because negativity was something I struggled with as a kid.”

Chris Hewett, 62 Horticultural Entrepreneur Kitty Hawk “I help people create beautiful spaces to help them relax. A lot of times they come in and you visibly see their mood lift. I know stopping to smell the flowers brightens my day.”

Interviews and images by Tony Leone

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Turns out Wilbur and Orville got one hell of a rap sheet. In 1987, plastic helped preserve fingerprints for federal agents.

Photo: Drew Wilson/OBHC

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This fall wasn’t the first time Orville Wright busted loose.

We tracked down one of his 1985 kidnappers for some graphiccontent historical perspective.

Drunken teens? Fiending junkies? Stupid tourists? This fall, the whole beach was frothing with opinions — and outrage — over who snatched Orville Wright’s copper likeness from the national monument. What many don’t realize, however, is it’s the third time that Orville’s been kidnapped. (He first went rogue back in 1985; in 1987, both brothers enjoyed an unplanned holiday.) At press time, the bust had been recovered on a KDH beach, but whodunnit remained a mystery. We tracked down one of the original pranksters from ’85 for an anonymous interview to see what happens when a foolish stunt becomes a federal offense — and what today’s fun-loving criminals can expect.

gosurf

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MILEPOST: What happened back in 1985?

Just a lot of bad decisions. And a lot of beer.

[Laughs]

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Were you still in high school?

No. It was my first year of college. We must’ve been home for summer because the FBI came looking for us on the beach wearing business suits. milepost

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Were you planning to do something the night of the heist?

No! It was totally random. Just another crime of opportunity. We’d been riding around in a buddy’s van having a few beers, and we ended up at the monument.

At some point it was just two of us left at the top, drunk and high. We were like, “Hey, these things move!” So we shoved

one over. Then we shoved the other one over. Then we wrenched off Orville’s head, carried him down, and threw him in the bushes. We didn’t even tell the others. We just jumped in the van and went highway surfing — riding around on top like Teen Wolf. [Laughs] Just your basic night of teenage debauchery.

Did you even remember the next day?

And did you realize you’d made a mistake?

Actually, a friend saw the paper first. He called and woke me up: “Do you have Orville?!” And I was, “Yeah!” At that point it was still funny.

Then I saw it was frontpage news, and it was like, “Uh-oh.

That was probably a bad idea.” [Laughs] And then it was on the national news.

And that’s when we were like, “Oh. We’re f#%ed.”

“

“There were five people with us that night — that’s four too many.”

What’d you do?

After a couple days, we called the Coastland Times from a payphone — full Deep Throat style — and said, “Orville’s in the bushes.”

We were hoping they’d stop looking for us if they got the bust back. But, by then, everybody was super pissed. I don’t think it took the cops a week to find us. They rounded us all up, one by one, took us to the park service offices at Fort Raleigh, and put us in separate rooms. At that point, I just told them the truth.

How’d they’d figure it out?

I think one of the girls told them. But there was also a $5000 reward, so who knows? I mean, there were five people with us that night — and that’s four too many. [Laughs] How scared were you?

I was terrified! I had to tell my mom I stole Orville’s head! And all week people around us were talking about how they wanted to kill us. Even my mom’s boyfriend was like, “They should kill those bastards!” And it was a federal offense. They were talking about 15 years in jail, a $750,000 fine. But they

ended up charging us with destruction of government property. We had to pay $7500 in restitution — each — and got two years federal probation.

Who do you think it was this time?

People on Facebook are blaming tourists and junkies.

It’s kids — of course it’s kids! It happened homecoming night. If it were junkies, they’d have stolen both of them.

Do you think they had the same idea — that by ditching Orville in the dunes, the cops would stop looking?

I’m sure that’s what they’re thinking. But I heard they might have prints. If that’s true, they’re done.

Think they’ll have solved the case by the time this mag comes out in November?

Depends on how many people were there, but they’ll be dealing with it for at least another six months. It took us forever to go to court. And I’m still hated around here.

In fact, about 15 years after, I helped a teacher friend with a class project, and the school was like, “Don’t ever bring him back!”

[Laughs] Those poor bastards. They don’t know what they’re in for.

What would you do?

It’d probably be better just to turn themselves in. I bet they would have gone easier on us if we had. But we also were paying for the damage. I guess we should have screwed off Orville’s head — that’s what the guys did in 1987.

Do you know anything about who pulled that one in ’87?

No. I was back at school. But the FBI came knocking on my door: “The heads were stolen again.” I was like, “Wasn’t me! I haven’t been there since that night!” I still haven’t.

Actually, I’m kind of surprised they didn’t come talk to me this time. [Laughs] Well, that was the last time anyone got the originals: the NPS says the current ones are replicas.

So they never got ’em back?!

No. They got ’em back. They just stashed them someplace secure.

That’s good. Because I paid a lot of money to make them look like new. [Laughs] — Richard Hauptmann

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What’s your favorite Shriner-mobile?

Is it the doublehooded, twinsteering-wheeled Honda doing 360s?

The man-eating shark, dismembered arm dangling like a loose cigarette? Maybe you’re just into red fezzes. But the Outer Banks Beach Bums are more than party dudes parading down the Beach Road. For every Shriner doing donuts, a young child’s getting necessary medical care.

And underneath every funny hat, is a fundamentally caring human.

“Shriners operate 22 children’s hospitals in North America,” says Beach Bums director, Neal Combs. “We take care of children from birth until their 18th birthday, and it’s totally free to the family.”

They also love to have a good time. For years, a fishing tournament paid for brand new vans to transport patients.

Now, an annual banquet raises thousands of dollars for the hospital in Greenville, SC. But parades are where the real fun happens: five times a year, members of Eastern NC’s Sudan Temple march with their fellow nobles to put a public face on a not-so-secret society.

“In order to be a Shriner, you first have to be a Mason,” says Combs. And Masons?

“Willett Tillett always wanted to start a parade unit,” says Combs. “He was the most mechanical man I ever met. He built go-karts, minibikes, motorcycles. He died before we could start the Beach Bums, but we’re still one of the few units that builds their own vehicles.”

Their first madcap creation was a car made from two mid70s Civics welded together. (It’s since been replaced by two mid-90s Accords.) Next, they made a 14-foot landshark from fiberglass and a riding mower. Soon, the fleet was a rolling salute to Outer Banks culture, featuring surf fishing mobiles, scooterized jet-skis, and motorized beach scenes. Ninetyyear-old Moon Tillett went so far as to craft a scale model of his commercial trawler.

“The cabin’s a little cramped,” cracks the temple’s statesman through pipe-clenched teeth.

In 2001, they beat 400 other units to take “Best Overall” in Myrtle Beach’s Annual South Atlantic Shrine Association Parade. And they’ve snagged multiple trophies on every return trip. That doesn’t include all the shiny smiles they earn cruising across Eastern NC, including the Manteo, Wanchese and Stumpy Point holiday parades and — of course — Nags Head’s notorious St. Patrick’s Day march.

“We won so many times that Mike Kelly finally gave us a lifetime achievement award,” says Combs.

In fact, they’re the world’s oldest. One that spans centuries, countries, political leaders, and business legends, from George Washington to Winston Churchill to Henry Ford.

Except this brotherhood doesn’t allow alcohol. So, in 1872, some New York Masons decided to loosen things up.

Between road trips and fundraisers, these so-called “bums” gather at the club to perform regular maintenance and handle all the logistics that keep the 70-plus-member shrine running. There’s contractors. Boat captains. Police officers.

Judges. A lot of retirees. Many are sons, grandsons and nephews of Masons. But plenty are just friends of nobles who were first smitten by the sense of camaraderie, then stuck around for the cause.

“Masonry in the 19th century was very formal,” says local noble Russ Lay. “So the Shriners spun off and took on this flamboyant garb of the Middle East as a counterpoise to guys who met in tuxedoes and top hats — and to be a more visible side of the Masons and their charity work.”

“I could introduce you to at least ten Shriners who joined because they saw how much fun we have,” says Combs.

“But go to a hospital and meet these kids and hear their stories, you’ll be in a room full of grown men balling like babies.”

In 1922, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine opened their first children’s hospital to help fight polio. In 1948, the Dare County Shrine Club first met in an airport hanger. In1952, they built their own club at Whalebone Junction. (Today, it’s the Holy Trinity by the Sea Church.) By 1966, they’d upgraded to an HQ at the north end of Roanoke Island.

You don’t have to go to Greenville to see their good work.

Just ask Marley Wiseman. The KDH native was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease. The Shriners first flew her to Montreal, Canada for cutting-edge treatment at 11 months old. And they’ve been caring for her ever since, covering every penny, including transport and hotels for her and the family. But, looking back, the 20-year-old esthetician says she felt their presence most between scheduled visits.

“We’re basically a fraternity.”

But it wasn’t until 1997 that the Beach Bums came to be.

“My bones can break at random times,” she explains.

“That’s the nature of the disease. But anytime I broke something, we weren’t stressing about the hospital bills. We knew the Shriners would take care of us.” — Matt Walker By code, a Mason cannot ask anyone to join. But we’re not Masons! So if you’re interested, seek out a member.

And to donate to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. milepost 21

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Miles Dav

So was Benny Goodman.

Duke Ellington?

A barely legal 18 when he lined up Duke’s Serenaders. But, if you still think jazz is for geriatrics, consider Eric Williams, who cofounded the Eastern NC Jazz Orchestra before he even graduated from Manteo High.

vis was 19 when he struck up his first band.

“Live at Lincoln Center hosts a national Big Band competition that picks 15 high school jazz bands to come play in New York,” says the now 19-year-old trumpet player. “None of our high school groups were up to that level of competition, so, senior year, my friend from Hatteras, Enrique Babylonia, and I entered our own group.”

Relying on their years playing in all-state ensembles, they gathered 16 players from as far as Wilmington and Raleigh, then met twice a month in Greenville for rehearsals. They didn’t make the final cut, but the teens so impressed organizers that they invited them to play the 2018 Charlotte Jazz Festival — then asked for a repeat performance this past June. Only this time Williams was already attending UNC Greensboro’s music school. No problem. He just fielded a fresh group of fiercer talents.

“Our bass player actually just took second in an international competition,” says Williams. “So while people like to say jazz is dead, there’s actually more younger musicians playing the music now than there was 50 or 60 years ago.”

Some even started jamming when they were still in their jammies. Williams was just two when he was introduced to piano. Soon after, he began performing in church.

In middle school band, he picked up the trumpet. By high school, he was top brass in two all-state bands — concert and jazz.

But it was the latter style that stole his soul.

“I always found jazz more freeing than classical music,” he says. “Then, for my senior project, I shadowed [UNC’s Director of Jazz Studies] Jim Ketch. Hearing him play, having him mentor me — having him invite me on stage — that really sparked something. I decided, ‘This is what I want to be one day.’”

Every note Eric Williams plays breathes new life into the local jazz scene. Photo: Biff Jennings

But being requires doing. And doing means practicing. A lot. The college sophomore’s daily regimen reads like a

bebop bootcamp, where focused, 45-minute sessions stack specific skills.

“I start with technique,” Williams says. “Getting the best sound I can out of the trumpet — a lot of long tones, lip slurs. Then I work on dexterity. Then articulation. Then breath control and focusing my airstream so I can hit certain registers. Then sometimes I’ll do transcriptions.

Sometimes I play just to play. But I try to get in at least five or six hours of practice a day.”

Even on-stage, he’s squeezing in hours. On a recent Jazz Night at Art’s Place, Williams sits in with Joe Mapp and the Coordinates. Between solos, he quietly fingers parts, counting off measures. And when it’s his turn to blow, he more than keeps up with his bandmates’ collective decades — he hops right in, adding subtle layers of slick, city feel.

“He’s good, man,” says bassist Ed Tupper. “A lot of horn players will blast your head off. He has the nicest, softest tone. Totally Miles-inspired. But Eric’s obsessed. He wants to play jazz.”

But Williams doesn’t just want to make notes for himself — he wants to move people. Which requires an audience.

So, just as he once created his own big band to tackle playing Duke Ellington, he’s created The Modern Jazztet to celebrate a full range of artists. Several times a year, he and his Greensboro colleagues travel home to fill the Dare County Arts Council. Last December, they jazzed up the holidays with fresh arrangements. This summer they channeled Thelonius Monk. In February, they’ll be playing sax great John Coltrane’s Giant Steps in honor of its 60th anniversary. For June, he’ll focus on his personal idol, Clifford Brown.

“He’s one of the most influential bebop jazz trumpet players of all time,” says Williams. “And most people have never heard of him — and they should have.”

More than honoring established legends, Williams wants to convert listeners. In fact, his ultimate goal is to make Manteo another Carolina jazz hub. Maybe not on the same scale as Greensboro and Durham, but enough to kindle a local love for this most American of genres, and to remind folks of what jazz isn’t — century-old pop music for silverhaired seniors — and of what it is: the very definition of instrumental improvisation. A living, breathing discipline designed to document a musical inspiration at its moment of birth. And a style that’s influenced nearly every fresh note since its inception.

“The reason jazz has stayed relevant is because it branched out into neo-soul, hip hop, R&B, even country,” says Williams. “People don’t know that because they don’t understand it. But in order to understand it, they first have to listen to it.” — Leo Gibson Hear The Modern Jazztet interpret holiday classics at Manteo’s Dare County Arts Council, December 7. And stay tuned to www.darearts.org for February’s 60th Anniversary of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps. milepost 23

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Step 3: Every player will start with 8 houses.

The person who’s lived here longest goes first.

(Owning a rental property or family home does not count!) In case of a tie, start with the person who has the most money/investment properties in real life. This player places 1 house on the town of their choice — then pulls the corresponding Monopoly card to keep track of their properties.

Step 2: Steal the dice from your Risk Game.

AVON/BUXTON/FRISCO: pennsylvania Avenue/North Carolina Avenue/ pacific Avenue (Green)

RODANTHE/WAVES/SALVO: Kentucky Avenue/Indiana Avenue/Illinois Avenue (Red)

MANTEO/WANCHESE/INLAND DARE: Oriental Avenue/vermont Avenue/Connecticut Avenue (Sky Blue)

KITTY HAWK/KDH/NAGS HEAD: States Avenue/virginia Avenue/St. Charles place (purple)

COROLLA/DUCK/SOUTHERN SHORES: St. James Avenue/New York Avenue/Tennessee Avenue (Tan)

Step 1: Dig out your most complete version of Monopoly. You’ll need as many houses/hotels as you can possibly muster, plus the following property cards to correspond with the towns and colors on the map.

All you need is 2-to-4 players, six dice, a semiworking version of Monopoly, an understanding of Risk, and a complete lack of concern for your community’s future and quality of life!

IF YOU’VE PLAYED RISK — AND YOU’VE PLAYED MONOPOLY — YOU CAN PLAY RISK-OPOLY!

rearview RULES:

gohunt

outthere

gosurf

graphiccontent

Corolla

Southern Shores

Duck

Kill Devil Hills

Kitty Hawk

The strategic game of owning it all.

OPOLY!

isk-

milepost 25

WHOEVER STOPS PLAYING FIRST WINS!

d. BEACH NOURISHMENT. Every 5 turns, grab a handful of Monopoly cash and dump it on the board just for fun!

c. DYSTOPIAN FUTURE! Can’t stand to see all that undeveloped federal land? Use Water Works and electric Co. cards to develop Cape hatteras and pea Island!

b. ROLL DOUBLE SIXES? That’s a SAGA! player automatically demolishes all the existing houses on whatever town they’re attacking and replaces them with 1 brand new mini-hotel from the Monopoly box.

(Each mini hotel is worth 3 houses.)

a. CATASTROPHIC RISK! If any player rolls double 5s, the whole Outer Banks suffers a major hurricane! every player must remove 1 house from any territory with 2 or more houses.

BONUS PLAY! (Feel free to incorporate the following for extra fun.)

Step 4: play as you would Risk — except!

— instead of invading countries, you’re demolishing each others houses and taking over their properties! (Find Risk rules here: www. ultraboardgames.com/risk/game-rules.php. Read from “II. Attacking “ to “III. Fortify your position.”)

Note: attacking across water requires a bridge (indicated by dotted line). And whenever you defeat another player remember to take that property card.

Moving left, each player places 1 house on an unoccupied town of his or her choosing until everyone runs out of their 8 houses. (Remember to take your card so you can keep track of your properties.) For each new turn, a player picks up and places another house for every 3 cards they hold — plus one more house for every complete color they own. (Because they’re writing the regulations.)

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26

Est.1984

ATTITUDE O O ATTITUDE

G

OF GRATITUDE. GRATITUDE. OF

Gail Leonard is searching her memory.

Concentrating hard. Almost struggling as she tries to answer what sounds like a simple question: “Why?”

Why did this soft-spoken, 81-year-old come to run Ruthie’s Kitchen, a weekly community dinner — no, feast — inside Kill Devil Hills’ Son Rise Church of Christ, where happy volunteers and hungry guests become one boisterous, communal crowd?

As Leonard ponders her lifetime of serving others, an attendee named Nellie walks by and chimes in with the obvious answer: “You’re talking to the Outer Banks’ Mother Teresa!”

Nellie’s only half kidding. Leonard’s devoted whole years of her life to the Outer Banks’ most hardstruck locals. She donates selfless hours to Interfaith Community Outreach and serves on the board of the Community Care Clinic of Dare.

For years, she ran Room in the Inn, which helps homeless people find shelter in wintertime.

When a parishioner named Ruthie Rigor left money to St. Andrew’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church to fund community outreach more than a decade ago, Leonard suggested a new way to help food-insecure residents. In 2009, Ruthie’s Kitchen began serving free meals inside Nags Head’s His Dream Center. And when that gathering space closed in 2017, Leonard worked to secure a new home, finding another enthusiastic partner in Jo Brake at Son Rise.

“I offered it up to the elders and they instantly said yes,” recalls Brake, who coordinates the weekly dinners, which happen every Tuesday. “There was no question about it. That’s what we do.”

They can’t do it alone, so every week different churches and groups help the cause. This Tuesday, it’s Kitty Hawk’s Holy Redeemer By the Sea Catholic Church, which turns out in force. Nearly 20 volunteers cook, gather and deliver the food, setting up tables and lighting chafing dishes. Some even fetch guests who can’t drive themselves. By the time the doors open at 5pm the food line is bursting with Italian dishes, chicken, roast beef, sloppy joes, hot dogs, veggies, and salads.

There’s always room for one more in Ruthie’s Kitchen. Photo: Ryan Moser

But Ruthie’s Kitchen is more than just a meal. It’s a regular communion for thankful friends. And it’s loud. A lively game of rummy takes place at one table. In the corner, longtime piano teacher Faith happily plays song after song — everything

from “Piano Man” to “Dixie.” In-between, a grizzled local ambles in with a boisterous “Good morning!”

The room grows quiet for a few moments as everyone circles up for the blessing. Then, as the guests dig into the main course, another table fills with banana pudding, cookies and even treats donated by Tullio’s Bakery in Duck. It’s almost too much, but don’t worry: whatever’s left over goes into containers for folks to take home — or wherever they sleep.

“It’s like the loaves and fishes,” says Holy Redeemer’s Mary Lamm. “Everybody gets fed.”

In addition to a nice meal, diners enjoy some nourishing company. And volunteers get an eye-opening look at the diverse needs in their community. When Zack Holton moved here to become Son Rise’s youth minister, he was shocked to discover people sleeping in their cars and scrambling for basic needs. Now he encourages his flock to come do its part.

“I tell the youth, ‘If you take care of each other, there won’t be as many needs because everybody’s taking care of everybody,’” Holton says. “So we have kids that will come talk about surfing, or about their day. You don’t understand what that does, just talking to somebody.”

Until you see it firsthand. Looking around Ruthie’s Kitchen, the hall doesn’t feel like a somber soup line where suffering folks go for a handout. It’s a place where smiling faces trade laughs and play cards — a bottomless buffet bursting with vitality.

That’s why Leonard and Brake wish even more families would come share in the fellowship.

“Our church really encourages community involvement,” Brake says. “And, fortunately, a lot of the groups that are doing this, it’s important to them, too. We definitely take care of each other, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

That’s ultimately the answer that Leonard comes to. Yes, she finds volunteering fulfilling. Yes, the work keeps her busy. But as her mind churns over the “Why?”, Leonard still can’t think of herself and her needs. She can only point to another hero of the downtrodden — John Steinbeck — and one of his lesser known works, Sweet Thursday.

“He talks about how ‘man owes something to man,’ and I love that,” Leonard explains. “But we do, you know? Those that have more should do more. It’s an attitude of gratitude.” — Steve Hanf

Join Ruthie’s Community Kitchen every Tuesday from 5-6pm at KDH’s Son Rise Church of Christ. And learn how to volunteer at www.ruthiescommunitykitchen.com. milepost 27

Grace Hook’s dream

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Baby blue and shimmery.

Paired with bedazzled high heels and her light blonde hair pulled up into a perfectly sculpted bun, she’d look and feel like a princess for prom.

dress looked straight out of a storybook.

Or so she imagined.

“I’d find a ton of looks I wanted to have, but I knew I’d never be able to afford them,” Hook remembers two years later. “It was heartbreaking — finding a dress you really liked, but the pricetag never agreeing with you.”

And then Hook discovered Project Glam Girls, a nonprofit that provides local students with donated prom dresses, tuxedos and accessories — completely free of charge.

“The first dress I tried on fit me like a glove,” she says.

“It was a strapless, long ballgown that was yellow with pink flowers going up it. It looked like it was made for me.”

Project Glam Girls Founder and Manteo resident Quinn Capps first had the idea for the organization in March of 2015. Musing aloud at work, Capps told coworker, Janna Dimmig, about her desire to make prom dresses accessible for all girls on the Outer Banks, regardless of financial background — largely because she remembered suffering from stickershock herself.

“Not every girl can afford to go out and spend hundreds of dollars,” says Capps. “I was one of those girls. I couldn’t afford it; my mom couldn’t afford it. I think my prom dress cost $56.”

FAIRY FAIRY MOTHERS. OTHERS.

A graphic designer with a passion for fashion, Dimmig felt an immediate connection to the cause. A few days after deciding to join Project Glam Girls, she already had a logo ready to go. At a jewelry party later that week, Capps casually mentioned the idea again. This time, Outer Banks local Barbara Gudoski joined the team.

“I thought it was a good way to offer something to the community,” Gudoski explains. “I said, ‘I think we could probably get Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church ladies on board and have the event there in the fellowship hall.’”

With two new partners, a logo, and a location, Capps began planning the event. Over the next few weeks, the team coordinated dress donations, event promotion, storage, and volunteering.

From proms to weddings, Barbara Gudoski, Quinn Capps and Janna Dimmig have girls covered.

Photo: Julie Dreelin

On April 10, 2015, with the help of volunteers from the church and community, Capps and her team lined

the walls of the fellowship hall with over 200 gowns, watching as students and families poured in to find dresses for free.

“I saw girls from all walks of life come in,” Capps said.

“There were girls that came in who definitely could not afford to go out and get a prom dress, and there were girls that were there who probably could afford a prom dress. But they all came in, and nobody looked down on anybody.”

Since then, Project Glam Girls has served hundreds of students, from Hatteras to Columbia. The event, which now takes place at Manteo Faith Church, is held each year in the spring. It’s free and open to anyone, regardless of income level.

In recent years, Capps and her team have expanded to offer a wide variety of dresses for prom, homecoming, eighth grade dances, and even a wedding.

“We had a woman who came in who had heard about Project Glam Girls, and she was getting married the next day and didn’t have a wedding dress,” Capps says.

“She found something and we let her take it.”

Thanks to OBX Tux and OBX Curtains & More, Glam Girls also offers vouchers for free tuxedo rentals and a free, on-site tailoring service. In addition, Sunday school rooms serve as dressing rooms, complete with mirrors and chairs, with lots of volunteers to assist shoppers.

They even roll out a mock red carpet for on-site photo shoots.

“When they come in, people are shocked that it’s free and that we have people in there working,” Capps says.

“Just like a sales associate would help you in a store, it’s our job to make these girls feel as beautiful as they are.”

And like any job, Glam Girls takes real effort. From marketing to fundraising to coordinating donations and more, the one-weekend event keeps Capps and her team busy year-round. They love the challenge — and that joy doesn’t go unnoticed by the ladies and their families.

Grace Hook says the Glam Girls team made her feel special from the moment she walked into the popup boutique to the moment she walked out with her dream dress in hand. It’s those reactions — seeing girls who find their perfect prom look for free — that keep the Glam Girls team motivated.

“Just loving on those girls and making them feel so special,” says Capps. “That’s the most important thing.”

— Arabella Saunders

Glam Girls 2019 will take place March 5-7 at Manteo Faith Church. Care to help the cause? Glam Girls can always use donations — especially plussizes and menswear. Follow their Facebook for ways to donate and assist, starting in January. milepost 29

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Kevin McSherry Call or text

Janessa Lockwood has

After a long morning filling troughs and mucking stalls, she notices Tater Tot’s gone rogue. When a volunteer spots a pair of tall ears poking up from the grassy ditch along White Horse Road, she dispatches two kids with cookies to retrieve him.

transport them for slaughter in other countries.”

“If y’all run, he’ll chase ya!” Janessa calls in the pitchperfect Southern accent she’s cultivated over the past eight years.

“Technically Tucker is up for adoption,” Janessa says. “but it would have to be a very special family.”

s a wayward donkey on her hands.

Affordable land to keep six horses first lured Janessa from New Jersey to Shawboro in 2011. She worked as the manager of Currituck County Animal Services, for a private vet, and later at the Currituck SPCA. In 2014, she decided she wanted to take care of animals on her own terms.

She converted her ten-acre farm into a non-profit animal rescue facility called Southern Hope Animal Rescue & Education (SHARE). She offers lessons, boards horses, and saves animals — mostly equines because of her expertise.

PONY PONY UP! UP!

Plus, she saw a need.

“There are not enough people who stick their necks out for horses, mostly because they are expensive and labor intensive,” Janessa says. “But it’s not like I woke up one day and said, ‘Hey, let’s go get 35 horses and figure out how to feed them.’”

Over the last five years, SHARE has grown to the point where the farm is now home to 22 large horses, three donkeys, and 12 mini horses — as well as three goats (one who’s missing half a leg), a deaf and almost blind sheep, and a pig who got too big to be a pet. Their inventory fluctuates between 20 and 30 horses. But she insists they are not a sanctuary; they are always trying to adopt or foster out the ones who are not already owned and boarding at the facility.

“Our goal is to be that middle place,” Janessa points out.

“We rescue them from bad situations or surrenders and try to find them their next place in life, which is hopefully their forever place in life.”

Horses come to SHARE for all sorts of reasons, but the majority of them are rescued from feedlots.

Hugs are for horses. (And donkeys…and dogs… and pigs...and sheep.) Photo: Brooke Mayo

“Many of these horses would have been shipped to slaughter for human consumption,” Janessa says. “It’s illegal to slaughter horses in the US, but it’s not illegal to

She points out Tucker, a 30-year-old pony who’s almost blind. (“I paid his bail from the feedlot. He was a walking skeleton with infected eyes.”) He happily shares a pen with his seeing-eye horse, Maddie, a 35-year-old mare who’s used for SHARE’s lesson program.

Matching the right person with the right horse is serious business at SHARE. It’s also one of Janessa’s favorite duties. Jeremy Rummell’s South Mills family originally came for another horse; instead she matched them with Zoe. “Zoe was a much better fit,” Janessa says as Jeremy nods.

The Rummells now board Zoe at the farm. Their kids participate in the riding programs and the whole family volunteers.

Janessa’s demand for help is infinite. She needs laborers, but she also needs help with grant writing, fundraising, administration, construction, lawn maintenance, and more.

“This could really go in any direction,” she says. “We could plateau here, but if we got a great volunteer outpouring, it could get bigger. There are never enough rescue situations for all the unwanted horses in the world.”

The other thing Janessa could use? Money. SHARE spends about $3,400 a month in feed and hay in the warm months. In winter, that number climbs toward $5,000.

Then there is $12,000 a year in preventative vet care, plus farrier care, supplies, blankets, fuel, and so much more.

She covers costs through adoption fees, owner surrender fees, riding lessons, boarding fees, summer camps, plus donations and fundraisers like December’s Christmas in the Country, where bake sales, Santa shoots, pony rides — even a donkey kissing booth — help bring the bucks.

“It always seems to work out somehow,” Janessa says.

“But we definitely never make a profit, and our needs are great.”

Right now, SHARE could use new electric fencing, a tractor, a generator, and general goods. She also needs help building a new barn and digging ditches around every pasture. A big dream is to be able to buy the lot next door for a permanent horse sanctuary. Janessa admits it sounds overwhelming, but she gets through by keeping her head down — and her chin up.

“I just do it and don’t think about it,” she says. “If I don’t help, who will?” — Terri Mackleberry Help SHARE make hay by heading to the Christmas in the Country fundraiser on December 7, from 12-4pm.

Find more ways to contribute year-round at www.southernhopeanimalrescue.org. milepost 31

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Stop and think about your favorite things. Possessions you don’t want to part with. Random objects you’re attached to. Belongings you’ve kept for purely sentimental reasons. This behavior is not just common, it’s cultural — especially in America. It actually started with the greatest economic catastrophe in history, which made personal items very precious. Then the connection grew stronger over the decades, as commercial marketing and consumerism made buying stuff a national status symbol. “[The Great Depression bred] a generation of people who had to keep everything,” explains Janie Munsey, a professional organizer. “And ‘The American Dream’ is the most genius marketing slogan ever.”

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Now, as Baby Boomers pass everything on to their kids and grandkids, new generations are feeling the cumulative effects. All that clutter becomes stressful.

“We’re an emotional species, nostalgic,” Munsey says. And while it may not make logical sense, “we’re tying emotions to

possessions. We are seeing the effects of stuff and clutter in the environment, and we’re seeing it mentally.”

That’s not just an opinion — it’s scientific fact. A January 2019 article in The New York Times points to a study showing that cluttered homes are stressful homes.

Meanwhile, more recent research suggests streamlining has positive effects on anxiety levels, life satisfaction, physical health, and cognition. Which is why Munsey says that decluttering your living space is not just cleaning up your surroundings — it’s a form of therapy. Less chaotic spaces translate into a more peaceful and more motivated state of mind.

Or as she puts it, “Physical clutter breeds mental clutter.”

Munsey, an Arkansas native, draws her working inspiration from her own experience. Her family is full of designers and architects. Her mother is also a professional organizer. After attending Savannah College of Art and Design for

get rid of. But she recognizes not everyone’s so lucky. She knows some people have too much stuff to just pitch overboard. Others are too overwhelmed with busy lives to begin unloading. And others — the ones we sometimes callously call “hoarders” — simply can’t control themselves.

“This is chronic for some people,” she explains. “They feel the embarrassment, the shame, and depression.”

No matter the setting, the process can be difficult. But once you get past the first hurdles, the work is rewarding. Munsey has helped young moms navigate various phases of toys, guided cancer patients who want to get rid of all belongings that remind them of that period in their lives, and handled estate sales held after relatives have passed.

A clutter-free cabin makes for stressfree cruising. Photo: Chris Hannant

“

interior design, Munsey came out knowing she wanted to focus on spatial planning and sustainable living. She started her business, Whole Space Edit, in 2017. But she emphasizes that she doesn’t just help people contain their things — she is more of a declutterer.

“Physical clutter breeds mental clutter.”

“The actual act of organizing is the last step in my process,” Munsey explains. “When people are ready to contact me, it means they’re ready to purge and really get rid of stuff and actually downsize.”

It helps she can lead with firsthand tips. A lover of the outdoors and the simple life, she and her boyfriend, Chris Hannant, have lived on a 26-foot sailboat since May. This has helped Munsey “walk the walk” when it comes to making tough choices on what to

Sometimes they go through items together, or if the bereaved doesn’t want to see, she will go through items alone. Munsey will also revisit clients, as needed, for a refresher for six months after working with them. Still, she believes the best approach is to treat downsizing not as a one-time event or a wintertime chore, but as a life change — like going vegetarian or hitting the gym — where every day and each decision lead to a healthier way of life.

“This is absolutely its own kind of therapy that you should invest in long-term and keep it going,” she says. “If I’m going to buy a piece of clothing, then I’m going to purge two.”

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Munsey doesn’t know of any other organizers locally, but shares guidance and inspiration in a Facebook group that has members from all over the country, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Scotland, and Australia. And in coming months, she plans to expand her business by creating virtual courses so people can declutter on their own time, with her guidance.

But there’s one piece of advice that holds true no matter what. Get started. Take on one room at a time. And be patient with yourself.

“I always say, ‘It didn’t accumulate overnight,” says Munsey. “It won’t go away overnight.”

— Corinne Saunders

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fooddrink Don’t think meatless BBQ can be tasty?

You don’t know jackfruit. Photo: V. Gandeit

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Local chefs share their sneakiest ideas for conning carnivores.

roadmap

Beef. It’s what’s not for dinner. These days, you can’t even cruise a drive-thru without them dangling some “impossible” meat-free item, as more carnivores look to change their ways. In some cases, it’s a political stand. (Anti-antibiotics; pro-animal rights.)

Others just to do more for the planet by consuming less and reducing their footprint.

(One pound of beef devours 1799 gallons of water — and creates 16 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.) And then there are people who eliminate meat for the most selfish of reasons: to live longer.

gokite

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don’t necessarily satisfy a real carnivore’s needs — which is why their veggie burger is designed to taste and feel like a freshly ground cow.

“If you feel like you have to have meat,” Everheart says, “Beyond Burger is a good substitute.”

With almost $1billion in revenue, Beyond Meat’s currently leading the meatless patty pack by fusing together pea protein, rice protein, coconut oil, cocoa butter, potato starch — and, most importantly, beet juice, which gives the burger the “bleeding” effect.

At South Beach, they go as far as to fill buns with vegan cheese and “vegenaise.” The end result? A burger that closely mirrors the original in flavor, juiciness, texture, and nutritional value. Still, she cautions all meatless varieties are not alike, especially as more choices enter the market.

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“My husband, Wayne, had some heart issues,” says Kerstin Everheart. “So we decided it was time to change our diets.”

gosurf

Nearly three years later, the longtime local restaurateurs are both vegan. And their South Beach Takeout, Catering and Delivery offers a popular array of meatless items, like tacos and wraps. But they also recognize chickpeas, cauliflower and tofu

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gohunt

“You just have to pay careful attention to what you’re purchasing,” Everheart

says. “Some of the options can be highly processed, contain high levels of salt, and just not taste good in general.”

That goes for more than cows and chickens.

Nearly every edible animal has a vegan alternative now; from algae-based shrimp to soy-based “faux fish.” One company called Perfect Day uses a 3-D printer to make cowfree milk and cheese, creating proteins “by inserting a modified version of bovine (cow) DNA into yeast microflora, instructing it to produce whey and casein when it ferments with sugar.”

Um. Yeah.

Maybe that’s why other chefs go the other direction by not trying so hard.

“

“I don’t think you can fool a real meat eater,” says Rusty Midgett.

Nearly every edible animal has a vegan alternative.

The owner of Rusty’s Surf & Turf in Buxton instead suggests sticking to reliable favorites like quinoa and falafal patties. Then going heavy on the seasoning to make it taste unique.

“The trick is to have a good flavor imagination,” he says. “Decide what would make you happy and don’t sacrifice quality.”

That includes playing to a protein source’s strength — like crumbling up a meatless burger to use in chili, where surrounding ingredients and spices can deliver a familiar punch. Or, cook something like tacos, where a smoked tempeh can lay there like a chewy base, while layers of salsa and guac do most of the real work.

Maybe even all of it.

“You can make veggie tacos so well you won’t even miss the meat,” Midgett says.

“A great way to impart flavor would be to smoke your veggies first and then finish with a really nice slaw of radish and cabbage tossed with a first press olive oil or coconut oil. It’s a win in my opinion, because you get flavors, good texture, and good fat.”

Or try jackfruit as a pork substitute. The pulp inside is a goldmine of good calories, fiber, and immune boosters. But what makes this fig relative the fun kid at the party? It takes on the flavor of whatever you toss it with. Pull or shred, and smother with BBQ for a savory sandwich. Or fill your favorite shell, top with fresh cilantro, avocado, onion, and you’ve got an amazing mock-taco.

Chances are meat eaters won’t notice the difference — and might even prefer it.

“People like to try new things,” says Meghann Pauls of Mike Dianna’s Grill Room. “Whether it’s making chili or egg casserole with a Beyond product or something prepared in a restaurant.”

Which is why her Corolla eatery is taking some fresh, meat-free risks. Although Mike Dianna’s Grill Room is known best for hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood, Pauls is making room next season for vegan pasta dishes, smoked potato salad, and pickled eggplant dip. All of which can assume the savory appeal that makes carnivores happy. And while she recognizes that the more processed meatless products are attractive for their convenience, she believes using fresh local ingredients — and being adventurous — gets better results.

At least most of the time.

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“I’ve even been so adventurous as to try and pickle avocados,” Pauls says with a hearty laugh. “It was terrible. But the only way I was going to find out was to go for it.”

Her best advice for would-be test pilots?

Start slowly. And stay informed. As with any food trend, companies are racing to fill demand with less than flavorful, not-sohealthy options. And there will be more to come, as experts predict fake meat becoming a $140 billion industry within the next decade. So while you may not like it on your plate, it’s time to make room for it on your menu.

“This generation is different,” says Kerstin Everheart. “Now more than ever folks are wanting veggie options. Whether as a segue to a healthier diet or as a matter of convenience, the meatless industry is more than just a trend, it’s here to stay.”

— Fran Marler

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artisticlicense with gruesome results. (In January 2019, a Michigan man became the fourth American hobbyist to die in two years.)

Noah’s board art has come a long way.

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fooddrink endnotes questionauthority

“She said, ‘Can’t you do some artwork with it, and make it a little different?’” he recalls. “I had one piece of wood that had a little crack in it.

I kind of drew a wave on it with water. I got the machine out, burned it. And almost before I put any paint on it, I could see the image clear as day.”

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FULLY gokite CHARGING

Noah Snyder tackles a new style of natural expression.

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“You’ve definitely got to be careful,” Noah says. “Make sure you’re not around anything that can conduct electricity.”

This is the process of “fractal burning.”

Done properly, the high voltage creates electrifying pieces of art. Touch a random piece of metal, stand in a water puddle, or fumble into some other way to complete the circuit? It’ll send a charge through your body

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“Before I put any paint on it, I could see the image clear as day.”

upfront

Noah Snyder brushes a water compound across a round piece of pine. He slips on some rubber gloves, flips a switch on a small transformer, then grabs some alligator clips that look like tiny jumper cables holding small metal rods. Touching the wood, a miniature bolt of lightning dances across the wet surface, burning into the grain, the heat sending tendrils from the main channel to create chaotic patterns.

Still, nearly 250 years after a German physicist named Georg Christoph Lichtenberg pioneered fractal burning, his “Lichtenberg figures” are more popular than ever, filling Facebook and Etsy feeds with powerful, rustic impressions. That’s how Snyder first got inspired. He and his wife, Corissa, were already making custom side tables, benches and cutting boards from distressed wood. Fractal burning appealed to the finer side of Noah’s creative streak, so he had an electrician friend help make a burner from an old microwave. But it was Corissa who added the essential spark.

Of course, he could. Twenty-five years ago, Noah Snyder became the Outer Banks’ first bona fide professional surfer — or at least the first to make a real living riding waves.

But before he ever “turned pro,” Noah tried following in the footsteps of his father — renowned local artist, Rob Snyder. He even spent two years in art school.

“Got about half my degree, then surfing took off,” he says. “My dad was like, ‘Pursue surfing. You can always come back to art.’”

So maybe the world of creating art is somehow similar to surfing?

“I would say absolutely,” he responds. “Kind of like trying to dictate what you’re going to do on a wave. Letting things flow and linking things up.”

Back in the workshop, Noah reads the wood like he would the surf. He’s looking at the burn patterns, following the lines. And as he stares, a story starts to emerge.

“If you look here, it could almost be a pond,” he says. “And there’s a tree. And there’s reflections. But there’s still a lot of work to do after the burn is done.”

While others might fill the cracks with blue resin to create a river — or just add a glossy finish to highlight the grain — Noah will sketch and paint pictures that flesh out the patterns with vibrant color.

“The cool thing about fractal burning is that it adds an element of depth,” he says. “In painting and artwork, you want that depth; you want that feel.”

Noah’s finished pieces are stunning examples of his natural instincts. The violet tentacles on a jellyfish follow the fractal variations with a near 3D effect. His sea turtle is so real, it nearly swims off the wood, the Lichtenberg figures creating the nicks and scars that are inevitable in the life of any wild animal.

“He’s been through a lot,” Noah says.

There are more intricate paintings of other colorful animals. Subtler abstract works, vaguely suggesting a sunrise or sunset. And, of course, lots of empty waves, none of which look exactly the same. For Noah, that’s the appeal — each piece of wood begins smooth, waiting to tell a story.

Noah talks a lot about his father. About how he set an example for thinking about art as something that is always changing. Always evolving.

And for his father, Rob? What he sees now in “Noah the emerging artist” is something similar to what he saw in “Noah the adolescent surfer.” A young mind that found a passion and took to it fast — while finding a way to forge a new path.

“I was constantly watching what he was doing,” Noah recalls. “And he was constantly trying new stuff. Which is kind of what I’m doing here.”

“I think he’s found something that’s a little different than what other artists are doing,” says Rob. “He’s got a feel for this — and he’s just starting.” — Kip Tabb milepost 37

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rearview

RECONSTRUCTING DORIAN

Preserving a hurricane’s aftermath to help Ocracoke recover.

Daniel Pullen shouldn’t have even been home for Hurricane Dorian. He was supposed to be in Missouri at a photography workshop, honing his craft. Instead, he stuck around Hatteras to gut homes and cut limbs. But when Ocracoke took the brunt, he knew he had to bolt south to help. And when he saw the outpouring of people helping rebuild, he recognized another way to preserve their way of life.

“

“Everyone in Hatteras Village always talks about what it was like to be cut off from civilization after Hurricane Isabel,” Pullen recalls, referring to 2003’s legendary landfall. “How special it was the way people came together to help each other. But there’s no photos of it. So I started photographing different Ocracoke islanders — partially to document the aftermath, but also to humanize the situation.

Because it’s one thing to show a pile of stuff, but a whole other thing to put a face with it. You see the connection. You see that’s their belongings. That’s their life.”

Six weeks in, Pullen already had plenty of powerful images. There’s the picture of Eduardo Chavez sitting atop his famous taco stand’s porch where the flood left it in shambles a few hundred yards away.

Another shows Fiddler Dave Tweedie of Molasses Creek, surveying his yard and folding curtains like he’s holding his violin. Yet another catches the kitchen crew from the Back Porch, crying, as the owner hands them a $100 tip a customer left behind.

“The paychecks stop, but the bills don’t.”

Over the coming months, he’ll document Ocracokers’ day-to-day lives, stockpiling shots for a future retrospective to celebrate their full recovery — maybe even for a fundraising opportunity. For now, he’s teaming up with local writers like Kelley Shinn and Heather Johnson to remind the press and people nationwide that, while the water itself may be gone, the financial impacts won’t recede for many months to come.

“These people have gone weeks with no income,” says Pullen. “The paychecks stop, but the bills don’t. So my hope is that people who see these photos, the second Ocracoke’s ready, they’ll go flood the place with business. It’ll help everybody — the business owners, the employees, the local economy. Just take a day trip and buy a $10 lunch. It’ll be huge.”

Top Left: “On Hatteras, it was mid-morning when we experienced the eye, and the wind switched and pushed in the sound. On Ocracoke, they experienced that all at first light. So, when Cindy Austin took this photo of her husband and her son, the flooding wasn’t even at its peak, and it’s still a ton of water.

I’m not sure what they’re doing, but it has to be one of two things: evacuating their house to find safety, or wading over to check on other folks to make sure they’re okay. Because at moments like these, that’s about all you can do.”

Top Right: “The mood on Ocracoke has changed as time’s gone on. For some people it’s, “We’ll get through this in time; we’re tough, we’re resilient.” For others, it might be a little darker, because so many people lost everything. As a kid, how do you process that? How does that affect you down the road? I can’t even begin to understand it. But this little girl seemed to be doing just fine. She’d already pulled some toys back off the life pile and was running around non-stop — just being a typical kid. In fact, she was probably more frustrated with me chasing her with my camera than she was about losing her stuff.”

Photos by Daniel Pullen

Can’t make it south to spend a few bucks? Donate to the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s Ocracoke Disaster Relief Fund at www.obcf.org. Or write “Hurricane Dorian Relief” on a check’s memo line and mail it to Ocracoke United Methodist Church, PO BOX 278 — or Ocracoke Assembly of God, PO Box 68 — Ocracoke, NC 27960. milepost 39

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“

Cracker, butter, hot sauce, repeat.

I never learned how to shuck an oyster. My dad tried to teach me. Tried and tried and tried again. Still does. On holidays. Weekends. Any chance he gets.

Grab the shucker, the one with the smooth blue handle that lives in the everything-butforks-knives-and-spoons-drawer. It’s lying over there, on the bed of my truck. Grab it, hand it to me. Okay good. See where the two shells meet and form a little knot? Dig the tip into the base. Now, you get a good grip. Put some pressure on it. Wiggle the knife in, and then pry up. Pop! Ohhh, yeah, that’s a nice one. Slice the muscle that holds it in place and toss the extra shell in the aluminum tin. There ya go. Okay, now you try. Your turn. Here…

But I can never do it. Wrists are too weak, I tell myself. Knife’s too pointy. Handle’s too smooth.

Blade’s too sharp — too scary. So I dig a little. And I wiggle for show. Until I finally surrender and pass the oyster over to my dad, who gladly shucks it in seconds and hands it back. One after another. Year after year. And still, I never learn.

I can dress them though, I boast to my boyfriend.

It’s Thanksgiving, his very first with my family. We stand in the driveway, wrapped in jackets that will never be warm enough — because who owns a real-deal winter coat on the Outer Banks? — and we radiate charm. He’ll charm my relatives, gradually letting go of the timid tendencies taught by his Northern family and cut loose with the middle-state yeehawers and the local-as-itgets-ers. And I’ll charm him with a cracker, a little bit of hot sauce, and a whole lot of butter.

50 Local Artists • Art Classes for Kids and Adults

So, first you grab the cracker. Captains Wafers only, the buttery kind. And then get an oyster, obviously. Dad, will you pass me an oyster? This one has a little crab in it — lucky you! Alright, so oyster — nudge it out with the knife and dip it in the melted butter. Don’t just dip it, dunk it. Bathe it. Saturate that sucker. Then drop it in on top and douse it with hot sauce. Okay, don’t really douse it, just a drop or three. Now here, take it. And eat it all in one bite. Just shove the whole thing in. Good? Right?… Right!

And then it’s an assembly line. Shuck, slice, toss, pass. Cracker, butter, hot sauce, repeat. A real family affair. With Yankees, inlanders and locals all mixed together. With hoots and hollers and a lot of “You can’t get seafood like this back home.”

It’s an older brother sharing jokes with his sister’s new beau, who thinks no one can tell how intimidated he is. It’s a girlfriend who lets her boyfriend keep believing he’s pulling it off. And a dad who still takes pride in helping his college-aged daughter crack open an oyster. It’s country, local and up-North, all wrapped up and covered in butter. We shuck and dress and savor. All of us. Together. — Arabella Saunders

Art by Cloey Davis

Milepost 8.5 Bypass KDH kdhcooperative.com 252-441-9888 milepost 41

endnotes

Save the Date

March 26-29, 2020

questionauthority upfront soundcheck

The outer banks restaurant association’s

getactive

Enjoy two servings of Songs From the Road Band this fall: Nov. 24’s Food Truck Showdown in Nags Head; and a free 1pm performance on Nov. 29 at the Tap Shack in Duck. Photo: Sandlin Gaither

Got Tonkas? Dump any extra toy trucks — and other unwrapped presents — off with the Dare County Center Toy Drive at Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo. And if St. Nick needs help reaching your kids, fill out an application before Nov. 27. Call 252-475-5566 with questions. • On Nov. 23, show off your good taste by heading to Trio’s HarvestFest — a walkaround sampling of seasonally themed wines, beers, cheeses, and appetizers to inspire a more savory Thanksgiving. $25. 2-5pm. More at www.obxtrio.com. • Coastal Cravings serves up a sweet musical combo, Nov. 23, by pairing Lo Faber — singer/guitarist from God Street Wine — with The Ominious Seapods’ Tom Pirozzi. 9pm-12am. Find $15 tix at www.beardedfp.com. And come back Nov. 29 for a free post-Turkey Day musical dessert

by Songs From The Road Band at 1pm. • Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts channels good vibrations by bringing Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute to First Flight High on Nov. 23. 7:30pm. $32 (Under 17: $20). Get around to www.outerbanksforum.org for deets. • Nags Head’s Soundside Event Site is a honkable horn o’ plenty, Nov. 24, when the Outer Banks Food Truck Showdown delivers a mobile cornucopia of high-octane eats, beer, wine, and music. 11:30am-3:30pm. Free to enter and park. Complete menu of trucks at www.outerbanks.org. • Hammer down some holiday cheer, Nov. 25, as Outer Banks Brewing Station’s Elf Crusher Release Party unveils their annual Trappist ale finished with rum pecans from Outer Banks Distilling. 4pm. (At 8% ABV it might even carry you into Nov. 27’s Tipsy Turkey 1-Mile Beer Run, where prizes go to fast racers and funny costumes. 11am start. Learn more at www.theobxrunningcompany.com.) • Or head over to First Flight High, Nov. 24, where the Dare County Youth Orchestra manhandles Handel’s Messiah with help from John Buford, Tshombe Selby, Deborah Kasten, Adrian Kerr, and an ensemble of students and community chorus members. 4pm. Full score on Facebook. • On Nov. 27, Real Watersports’ Watermen’s Bar & Grill Holiday Party heats things up with firing tunes by Rory Kelleher and fugly sweaters by everyone. 6-9pm. More at www.realwatersports.com. • Get a head start on your meat sweats with two Nov. 28 races.

Down south, proceeds from the 8th Annual Surfin’ Turkey 5k & Puppy Drum 1/2 Mile Fun Run feed the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund. (8am start; more at www. hatterasyouth.com.) Or dash up to Duck’s 24th Annual ADVICE 5K Turkey Trot, where the race may be full — but there’s always room for one more in the crowd. 9am. Dash to www.advice5kturkeytrot.com for deets. • On Nov. 29, do your Black Friday shopping — and stuff a needy kid’s stocking — by overloading your Walmart cart with extras for Dare County Toys for Tots. Find updates on Facebook. • And you can help Dare County Motorcycle Toy Run fuel a worthy family’s festivities by dropping toys at KDH’s Country Deli and The Gift Garden throughout the holiday season. Check their Facebook page for deets. • Elizabethan Gardens’ greens start to glow, Nov. 29, as Grand Illumination sparks 22 nights of Winter Lights through Jan. 18. Find holiday warmth, festive food and drink

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CERTIFICATES from our 60+ member restaurants

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inside, and cozy fire pits on the Great Lawn on almost every Tues.- Sat. in Dec. — and Fri. & Sat in Jan. — except for Dec. 24, 25, 31 & Jan. 1. 6-9pm. Find pricing and scheduling details at www.elizabethangardens.org. • Swing back to the beach, Nov. 29-30, for Hangin’ with Santa & Kites with Lights, where Kris Kringle sits down for pictures at Kitty Hawk Kites’ Nags Head store, Fri. (10am–2pm) and Sat. (1-4:30pm). And on Sat., from 5-7pm, witness the lighting of the Jockey’s Ridge State Park Solar Christmas Tree while holiday themed kites flutter like technicolor tinsel. More at www.kittyhawk.com. • Don’t need the dazzle? Enjoy Jockeys Ridge’s natural look all winter long with weekly ranger-led programs, like guided hikes and programs on ridge history, snakes, and fish printing. Complete sched at www. ncparks.gov. • Then work your way down to Nov. 29-30’s Annual Hatteras Island Arts & Crafts Guild Holiday Show, where Cape Hatteras Secondary School puts together two days of paintings, quilts, photos, and furniture by top local artists — and raffle tickets fund scholarships for future talents. 10am-3pm. Find updates on Facebook. • On Nov. 30, get lit inside Manteo’s Downtown Books as Authorpalooza 2019 invites Joseph Terrell, Suzanne Tate, Wayne & Nancy Gray, Amy Gaw, and Dyanne Kelley to sign fan favorites.

11am-2pm. More at www.duckscottage.com. • Indie spirit and Christmas spirit combine at Nov. 30’s 7th Annual Outer Banks Entrepreneurs Holiday Bazaar, where 50 vendors fill KDH’s Ramada Inn with generous deals while DJ Cowboy spins holiday tunes. 9am-5pm.

Find their Facebook page for details. • Can’t get enough oyster stuffing? On Nov. 30, belly up to the table at Sanctuary Vineyards’ The Big Curri-Shuck, featuring bushels of bivalves, BBQ, local wine and beer samples — plus live tunes by Jonny Waters Band and Trae Pierce & T-Stone Band. 12-5pm. And come back every weekend through winter as Friday Night Live fills the winery with sweet tunes from 5-8:30pm. Full lineup at www. sanctuaryvineyards.com. • Less noshing — more moshing! On Nov. 30, Fujiwara swirls up a punk rock storm at Secret Island. And every Mon. is Barryoke! Go ask Mr. Wells to show you some Circle Jerks. More at www.secretislandobx.com. • On Dec. 1, commemorate the lighting of Currituck Lighthouse with a free climb from 9am-5pm. But don’t dally! After that they close for the season. See illuminating deets on Facebook. • Lucky 12 will close down Dec. 2-4, before reopening on Dec. 5 at 5pm as Jingle 12! This 100% holiday-themed pop-up bar features Christmas cocktails, appetizers, décor, and attire all the way to New Years. Pop in for a few frosty ones before, after (or during) your required work parties.

Follow Facebook for updates. • Elizabethan Gardens stays a’bloom with Dec. events. On Dec. 4, WOOFstocking lets dogs enjoy the WinterLights display from 6-8pm. Dec. 7’s Holiday Feast serves up two seatings of banquets among the glowing bulbs. Dec. 21’s Dinner with Santa lets you butter up the fat man for gifts — while Dec. 27’s Thank You Santa let’s you drop a note of appreciation. Enjoy a bubbly night of shopping when Ladies Night at the Gardens serves up free champagne from 5-7pm, Dec. 2 & 9. Or learn how to deck your own THE ELIZA ELIZABETHAN ZABETHAN GARDEN GARDENS S halls with workshops on Christmas Greenery (Dec. 2), Poinsettias (Dec. 2 & 21), Christmas Cactus (Dec. 7), and Holiday Wreaths (Dec. 16) — plus four chances to learn the Art of the Centerpiece (Dec. 7, 13, 20, & 23). Find prices, times and reserve spots at www. elizabethgardens.org. • Everyone’s nose glows at the Brew Pub, Dec. 5, when the Rotary Club hosts an Annual End of Prohibition Party. Dress up as flappers, bootleggers, and gangstas to win prizes — and help fight polio worldwide. And come back Dec. 7-8 for OBXMas, where local art and silent auctions benefit Interfaith Community Outreach — and Bloody Mary and mimosa specials lift sprits. 12-5pm. More at www.obbrewing.com.

• Then plant yourself at the Village Beach Club in Nags Head, Dec. 6-7, for Outer Banks Hotline’s 31st Annual Festival of Trees — two days of holiday bazaars culminating in a live auction to support programming and shelter to address domestic and sexual violence.

Find a sched and volunteer opportunities at www.obhotline.org. • Dec. 6 brings an extra festive First Friday to Downtown Manteo. Not only does Downtown Books have a launch party for Soulfire Woman by Dyanne Kelley at 4pm, the streets fill with carols and holiday spirit for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting — and a Lighted Boat Parade does loops from 7-9 pm. • Land lubbers, fear not! The annual Downtown Manteo Christmas Parade

FEATURED EVENTS

4 Seasons Chamber Music Festival Clarinet Trio Saturday, April 18, 2020 • 7:30 pm All Saints Episcopal Church, Kitty Hawk

Presented in conjunction with the

Virginia Symphony Saturday, February 29, 2020 • 7:30 p.m.

First Flight High School, Kill Devil Hills

For more information about our upcoming events visit:

www.bryanculturalseries.org

milepost 43

endnotes will still roll, Dec. 7, with electrified emergency vehicles, evergreened Elizabethan rowboats, Year’s Day Sail — go to www.colingtonyachtclub.com. • There are no silent nights at the and e-braking Shriner-mobiles, starting at 10:30 am. (Line up an hour early, at least.) More Jolly Roger. In fact, their Karaoke machine will let you sing carols to Carol Ann all week at www.townofmanteo.com. • Step inside Dare County Arts Council, Dec. 7, for the long. Or go scream “Freebird” at fresh talents every Sat. at Open Mic Jam Night with College of The Albemarle Holiday Show and Sale. From 10am-3pm, buy work by COA Rollo & Mitch, 6:30-9pm. More at www.jollyrogerobx.com. • Or bop down to Buxton’s jewelry and art by students and alumni. Be sure to peep the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, where yelling “bingo!” funds 2019 People’s Choice Exhibit by mixed media master, Fay local scholarships every other Wed. night. Winter sched Davis Edwards. (Hangs thru Feb. 4.) And come back midawaits at www.capehatterasanglersclub.org. • Watch peeps Dec. to Jan. 18 to see Expressions of Hope & Healing. This scurry, see raptors soar, and hear geese honk, Dec. 6-8, when exhibit, funded by Outer Banks Hospital, features works Wings Over Water Encore Session puts together tours, by local folks whose lives have been touched by cancer. clinics, and workshops to document the birds that visit our Colorful details at www.darearts.org. • Commercial fishing shores, woods and skies in wintertime. Get the full flap at gear gets extra festive, Dec. 7, when the 9th Annual Duck www.wingsoverwater.org. • Forget wildlife. Bring on the Yuletide Celebration lights the annual Crab Pot Tree. nightlife! The Brew Pub’s hairy Sat. night live music sched From 3-5pm, enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, sweets, and includes Delirious George (Dec. 7), Sean K. Preston & the holiday music by Just Playn’ Dixieland, while waiting for Loaded Pistols (Dec. 14), and One Culture (Dec. 28). Can’t Santa to arrive upon the Duck Fire Engine. (Be sure to hang late? Show up for Full Moon Oyster Roasts with bring a donation for Food for Thought or Outer Banks firepits, smores and Kill Devil Rum, Dec. 12, Jan. 10 & Mar. 9.

SPCA.) And come back Mon.-Fri. through Jan. 29 to see the 5-9pm. Crack a calendar at www.obbrewing.com. • Family latest Rotating Art Show with watercolors by Robert affected by Alzheimer’s? Be at the Baum Center, Dec. 10, Sink your talons into killer raptor tours when Wings Over Water returns Dec. 6-8. Photo: Cory Godwin Wiltshire. Community calendar at www.townofduck.com. when the Dementia Task Force Caregiver Support Group • Find holiday gifts — and heft a few pints — at Trio’s lets local caregivers share experiences, information and Holiday Market, Dec. 7, where local artists and vendors encouragement. 2:30-4:30pm. • On Dec. 11, learn about impress you with their presents. (And their presence.) 2-5pm. Peep www.obxtrio.com for cleaning the planet — while polluting your liver — as OBX Green Drinks gathers at more. • On Dec. 7, the Colington Yacht Club’s Holiday Boat Parade invites all captains to Waverider’s Coffee, Deli & Pub to discuss enviro issues and hear from guest speakers. put some bling on their rigging for a casual cruise. Don’t sail? Line the canal and light up your 7pm. (Repeat meets on Jan. 8, Feb. 12 and Mar. 11.) More at www.obxgreendrinks.blogspot. favorite displays with applause. For details and a 2020 sailing schedule — including a New com. • Theatre of Dare dials in the holiday nostalgia when WWII Radio Christmas

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Gather at the Duck Town Park for holiday music by Just Playn’ Dixieland, tasty treats from local Duck businesses, and the lighting of the Crab Pot tree in preparation for Santa’s arrival on the Duck Fire Engine. Learn more at townofduck.com or by calling 252.255.1286.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

For a shopping guide and information on special events held by Duck Village Merchants, visit doducknc.com.

townofduck.com 252.255.1286

transforms Roanoke Island Festival Park’s indoor theater into a 1940s holiday broadcast.

Dec. 12, 13, & 14 at 7:30pm; Dec. 15 at 2pm. Adults: $12. Students: $6. Tune into www. theatreofdareobx.com for the latest. • Or just enjoy the harmony of the season when the Outer Banks Chorus sings Holiday Concerts at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (Dec. 13, 7pm) and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (Dec. 14, 4pm.) More at www.obxchorus.org.

• Down south is the place to be Dec.14. Start with a Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Free Climb (9am-12pm), before popping over to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum’s Holidays on Hatteras for children’s crafts, live entertainment, and festive refreshments — and shopping discounts when you bring a food bank donation. (12-5pm; more at www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com.) And at 2pm, head to the Hatteras Community Center to watch the Hatteras Island Christmas Parade. Can’t make it south? Find Radio Hatteras at www.radiohatteras.org for live coverage. • Gorge yourself on gorgeous paintings, photography, jewelry, and crafts — while helping feed local talents — when the 34th Annual Starving Artist Party returns to Kitty Hawk’s Cozy Kitchens, Dec. 14.

4-9:30pm. Get a list of participants on Facebook. • Be at Dare County Regional Airport, Dec. 15, as the Candy Bomber — aka Berlin Airlift hero Col. Gail Halvorsen, USAF — performs a holiday surgical strike of parachuted treats, and delivers Santa Claus for photo shoots. • Then be at Wright Bros.

Memorial, Dec. 17, as they add Col. Halvorsen’s name to the Dr. Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine as part of the 116th Annual Celebration of the Wright Brothers First Flight — plus flyovers, speeches and other powerful salutes to powered aviation. More at www.firstflight.org. • Who’s getting toasted? Find out Dec. 17 — and Jan. 21, Feb. 18 & Mar. 17 — when Dare2Care OBX and Motu Music Foundation bring Toast of the Town Tuesday to Outer Banks Brewing Station. This monthly celebration of unsung local leaders also raises funds for our special needs and veteran communities. 5:30-8:30pm. Learn

more and nominate fête-worthy folks by emailing lisadabrick@gmail.com. • Work off some holiday calories — or vent nervous energy — by joining Dec. 21’s Outer Banks Jingle Jog Christmas Run at the Marketplace In Southern Shores. With distances from 5k to 1/4mile, the whole family can feel the burn — and the benefits. 8am-10am. More at www. obxrunning.com. • Come Dec. 24, ditch the missus for some frosty beers — and free advice — at the KDH Co-Operative Art Gallery Man Sale, where experienced artists give clueless dudes creative ideas for last-minute gifts. 10am-2pm. Deets at www.obxlocalart.com.

• Dec. 28 is Daisy Buchanan’s turn to get plowed when Secret Island hosts a Great Gatsby Party with Wrecka — leaving just enough time to recover before their New Year’s Eve Party w/ DJ Fresh roars into the 2020s. Stumble to www. secretislandobx.com for info. • Leave the Partridges in a pear tree. On Dec. 30, the Outer Banks’ most fruitful musical relatives — The Martier Family Band — come to Trio at 7:30pm. More at www.obxtrio.com. • Enjoy extra hours of family fun, Dec. 31, when the 3rd Annual New Year in the New World NYE Celebration returns to Downtown Manteo. Start by stopping into Downtown Books from 2-9pm for deets on a Photo Scavenger Hunt.

Then stick around for live music, fireworks and more — including Avenue Grill’s Roaring 20’s Party with DJ John Harper and fire dancer Panda Daniels.

Find a full sched at www.NYEManteo.com. • You smell something, Avon? Must be Pangea Tavern’s annual gas — the Old Farts New Years Eve — where music, food and drinks linger from 5pm-12am. Limited seating, so be sure to claim yours. Spicy details at www.pangeatavern.com. • Run like the wind into 2020 when Tortuga’s Lie’s 30th Annual Unofficial Beach Road 5k kicks off Dec. 31 at 10pm. No sign up, no fees. Just come run and have fun. T-shirts available for purchase. Headlamp or a flashlight recommended. Follow their Facebook page for updates. • Or blast into next year at the Outer Banks Brewing Station NYE Party, where Zack Mexico delivers an explosive show of space-age rock —

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THE ELIZABETHAN GARDENS

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Art, Photos & Outtakes from 35 Issues of Outer Banks Milepost Dare County Arts Council | Mar. 6 -28, 2020

Nov. 30 - Jan. 19

Sponsored in part by

(select nights)

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endnotes State of the Non-Profit Dinner is a snazzy affair at Duck Woods Country Club. (6-8pm. cushioned by plenty of bubbly and a sea of balloons. More at www.obbrewing.com. • Head Members: $27; Non-Members: $32.) Feb. 18’s Beat the Winter Blues Card Party is a hurt on Jan. 1? Make yourself feel better with a resolution to do good in 2020. Maybe sign luncheon fundraiser full of games and good eats. (11am-3pm.) And Mar. 7 reconfigures their up with Children & Youth Partnership’s Family Literacy Program to help tutor Latino biggest rager when Diamonds & Denim goes Speakeasy! Get deets and make reservations children. (Visit www.darekids.org for more.) Or handpick your mission by heading to the at www.elizabethangardens.org. • On Feb. 8, get a head start on Valentine’s Day by chasing OBX Common Good Volunteer Directory at www.obxcommongood.org. • What in the that special someone around at Sanctuary’s Sweetheart Vineyard Run. Dash to www.

Old Buck is going on with Old Christmas this year? You’ll have to ask around closer to Jan. obxrunning.com for deets. • On Feb. 9, Gentle Expert Memorycare encourages the 6, but if tradition holds, the Hatteras Island community will converge upon Rodanthecommunity to Have a Heart for Dementia, with a Valentine-themed fundraiser at Outer Waves-Salvo Community Center in an annual show of holiday cheer and independent spirit. • Theatre of Dare flexes their funny bones with Becky Shaw — a cleverly constructed Banks Brewing Station. From 5-8pm, enjoy sweet treats, couples photos, and tunes by The comedy about ambition, the cost of being truthful, and the perils of a blind date. Swipe right Riff Tides — all to support families and loved ones dealing with dementia. Suggested donation is $10. More at www.gemdayservices.org. • Remember lines easy? Or just look into DCAC’s Manteo Gallery, Jan. 10, 11, 17, 18 (7:30pm), and Jan. 12 &19 (2pm). $12. ($6 good in war paint? Try out for students.) More at www. for a summer role in The theatreofdareobx.com. • Lost Colony when Local Trashy girls and guys hook Auditions come to Manteo up for a shame-free beach High, Feb. 15. Find updates walk when the NC Coastal on www.thelostcolony.org. • Federation’s Shoreline “Life is a banquet and most Clean-Up takes place, Jan. poor sons of bitches are 11. 9am-12pm. Location starving to death.” Get more TBD. Go to www.nccoast.org Depression-era Bohemian for details. • How’s Dare wisdom from Mame Dennis County doing? Find out Jan. when Theatre of Dare 15, when the State of the brings Mame: The Musical County Breakfast Meeting delivers the latest from to Festival Park: Feb. 21, 22, commissioners and leaders 28, & 29 (7:30pm); and Feb. from the Outer Banks 23 & Mar. 1 at 2pm. $15 Chamber of Commerce. adults/$10 students.

Find sizzling updates on Stockpile details at www.

Facebook. • On Jan. 18, get theatreofdareobx.com. • a sense of past struggles — Friends of feathers — and and appreciate the present fierce hunters — flock — when the Unitarian together, Feb. 21-23, when Universalist Congregation the Hatteras Village of the Outer Banks Waterfowl Festival mixes What local masterpieces will come together for “Stuck Here On Purpose: Art, Photos and Outtakes from 35 Issues of Outer Banks Milepost”? presents The Bread Family hunting blind tours, bird Find out when the exhibit comes to Dare County Arts Council, March 6 -28. Photo: Chris Bickford. Painting: Ben Morris. Digital layout: Ben Miller.

Tales — a collection of walks, and decoy exhibits stories, photos, and foot-stomping music focusing on family life in the Jim Crow era. 7pm.

— plus a Fin, Feather & Bourbon Social to start it off. More at www.hatterasonmymind.

Learn more at www.uucob.org. • Is your green thumb broken? Let the Dare Master com. • On Feb. 29, celebrate the extra day — but no unnecessary notes — when Outer Gardener Volunteer Speakers Bureau show you the magic touch. KDH Library sessions Banks Forum for the Lively Arts and Bryan Cultural Series team up to bring the Virginia include: Plants that Survive & Thrive ( Jan. 15); Native Plants ( Jan. 29); Herbs (Feb. 12); Symphony to First Flight High on Feb. 29. 7:30pm; $32. (Under 17: $20.) Full score at Container Gardening (Feb. 26); Orchids (Mar. 11); and Container Irrigation (Mar. 25). www.outerbanksforum.org. • Is your purse feeling empty as we head toward prom? Let Or be at Manteo Library for Integrated Pest Management ( Jan. 22), Plants that Survive Project Glam Girls fit you with dresses, shoes and more for free, Mar. 5-7, at Manteo Faith and Thrive (Feb. 19), and Foliage (Mar. 18). 11am-1pm. Find evergreen deets at https:// Church. Follow their Facebook page for times. Got clothes to donate? Drop them at Barco dare.ces.ncsu.edu. • Only master artists make the cut for Dare County Arts Council’s Library, Duck’s Cottage, Atlantic Realty, or Downtown Books, beginning in January. • prestigious 42nd Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. See for yourself at Jan. 25’s Triple your artistic pleasure with three original Dare County Arts Council exhibits, Mar. opening reception at 6pm. (Or come back anytime before Feb. 22.) And you can take in 6-28: the Ocracoke Artist Show delivers passionate pieces from our favorite pirate island; Janet Pierce’s impressionistic paintings, Feb. 7-28, with an opening day reception 6pm.

Ryan Fox reveals watercolors with rebel spirit; and stick around for Stuck Here On More at www.darearts.org. • On Jan. 25, Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts helps Purpose: Art, Photos and Outtakes from 35 Issues of Milepost. All three shows open preserve turn-of-the-century, syncopated rhythms by bringing the Peacherine Ragtime with free bevvies and tunes for First Friday at 6pm. More at www.darearts.org. • Feel late Orchestra to First Flight High. 7:30pm. $32. (Under 17: $20.) Sweet deets at www. for your own Outer Banks Wedding Weekend & Expo? That’s because they shifted the outerbanksforum.org. • And NC Coastal Federation serves up only fresh bivalves when the dates to Mar. 7-8. Don’t worry: it’s still two days of 120 top vendors, from shooters to chefs.

Hatteras Island Oyster Roast returns to Oden’s Dock, Feb. 1. Every bite of seafood, And it’s still at First Flight High. 10am-4pm. Info and tickets available at www.obxwa.com. • cornbread and baked goods helps fund oyster education and restoration programs. 1-4pm.

And mark those calendars for spring’s don’t miss events: Mar. 15’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade $25 in advance; $30 at the door. More at www.nccoast.org. • Elizabethan Gardens fuels the and the 2020 OBX Taste of the Beach, Mar. 26-29. Get a full schedule and buy tix for the cold season — and feeds their coffers — with a series of hot parties. On Feb. 5, the Annual annual cornerstone events at www. www.obxtasteofthebeach.com.

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HAPPENING AT THE BREW PUB THIS WINTER? MON/TUES

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

CLOSED!

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haLf-priCE winE

(ExCEpt fOr thankSgiving wEEk...)

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tOaSt Of thE tOwn thirD tuESDay EaCh mOnth

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painting partiES Start at 7pm

FRIDAY

90’S DJ DanCE party

SpECiaL guESt ChEf OnCE a mOnth

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fuLL mOOn OyStEr rOaSt EvEry fuLL mOOn

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SUNDAY

inCrEDiBLE natiOnaL BanDS

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