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BEYOND THE MUSIC Local musicians reflect on 2020 as a new year dawns.

10 Dredging will soon free Lost Colony replica sailing ship from shallow waters.

table of contents

11 NATURE WISE Volunteers are an invaluable asset to dolphin research on the OBX.

COASTAL CULTURE Animals take the spotlight as painters and muses in two art exhibits.

From the Editor Well, it’s been a rough gie Miles, Carrie Brothers, year. But I don’t need to tell Jessica Taylor, James you that. And it’s not like Charlet and Phil Houseal there’s a reset button helped fill our pages with pushed now that the calen- bigger idea pieces as well as dar has rolled into small bites and 2021. Things are regular columns. never going to be And when stay-atthe same, but we home recomhavetohopethey’ll mendations linget better. gered, Megan I took over as Scott and Sam Coast editor last Harriss tempted Victoria year during prepareaders with food Bourne ration for the and cocktail reciMarch issue. pes, while phoThough based in Norfolk, I tographers Sean Ballentine had lived and worked on the and Lori Douglas provided Outer Banks for a spell, so visual appeal to cover stothe area is familiar territory. ries. Then the pandemic hit We even ran a weekly and the whole world up- coloring page over the sumended. mer and created a spotlight The barrier island closed section for reader-submitto visitors for nearly two ted photos. In short, we months, and I wondered made it happen. howwe’dbeabletoproduce I’m not much for New this publication — from afar Year’s resolutions — not — when so much of what really. But my goal, my miswe’d normally cover or sion is to continue providhighlight was shut down ing the kinds of stories that and struggling. appeal to locals and visitors I leaned on veteran writ- alike. ersJohnHarper,ScottSechBut just like I needed a man and Mary Ellen Riddle, village to help keep the who pivoted so gracefully Coast train on the tracks in and never failed to turn over 2020, I need you, dear interesting stories and col- reader, to stoke our inspiraumns. Correspondent Dave tion to keep it chugging Fairbank, already tapped as along in 2021. our local editor, helped keep Got an interesting story the story copy moving and tip? Let us know. We’re here provided a needed connec- to listen. tion to the beach. Writers Amy Gaw, Mag- — Victoria Bourne, editor

18 History and romance unite for Blacksmith Date Night on Roanoke Island.

COVER STORY The Pioneer Theater, an OBX fixture for more than 100 years.

STAFF FILE

The Coast team of writers have never failed to provide interesting stories and columns.

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ABOUT COAST For more than 30 years, COAST has been the go-to source for information about the people, places, and things that make the Outer Banks one of the top destinations on the East Coast. The publication shines a spotlight on locals who are making their mark, and it provides current information about the latest happenings that should not be missed — from music and art, to food, festivals, fishing, and more. COAST. All local. All the time. EDITOR Victoria Bourne, victoria.bourne@ pilotonline.com, 757-222-5563

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Gaw, John Harper, Sam Harris, Hannah Lee Leidy, Maggie Miles, Mary Ellen Riddle, Scott Sechman, Jessica Taylor. ADVERTISE WITH US Find out how you can engage more readers with an integrated marketing program. John "Ski" Miller, media sales manager, ski.miller@virginiamedia. com; Elizabeth Cato, senior account executive, elizabeth.catoe@ virginiamedia.com HOW TO GET YOUR NEWS OR EVENT IN COAST Do you have an event coming up that’s open to the public, or an idea for a story? If so, we’d like to

know. Contact victoria.bourne@ pilotonline.com. THINGS TO KNOW During the summer season (May-August), when Coast is a weekly publication, information must be submitted at least 10 days in advance of an event. During the shoulder season (September-October), when Coast is a monthly publication — with the exception of November-December and January-February, when two months are combined — information must be submitted at least 14 days in advance of an event. WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information, visit coastobx.com; facebook.com/CoastOBX

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Hoppin’ John, collards and oysters, a New Year’s Day trifecta By Amy Gaw Correspondent

In northeastern North Carolina, the devoted and the superstitious know that only by eating a steaming bowl of heavily seasoned, black-eyed peas with rice will one have a chance for good luck in the new year. Collards, in all their greencolor-of-money glory, represent prosperity, and must be eaten as well. If a few local oysters can be scored

for the meal, too, that is hitting the New Year’s Day trifecta. Thankfully, the blackeyed pea recipe is relatively easy to make and affordable for most food budgets. Hoppin’ John is also delicious, filling and healthy. Collards are in the local fields and cut-your-own stands provide machetes. Oysters are local, too, and are as easy to prepare as buying a pint of pre-shucked and a box of saltines or as complicated

as firing up the grill for a quick roast, which isn’t complicated at all. Oysters can also be decadent and, no matter how presented, they provide the eater an immediate source of good luck. Food always tastes better when eaten with others. If able, share a separate-buttogether helping with a neighbor. Most of these foods are also available in tinned forms, perfect for donating to local food bank.

Hoppin’ John over Rice Serves: many Ingredients

1 pound dried black-eyed peas, soaked in water overnight 10 cups water 1 ham hock 4 bay leaves ½ cup olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 medium carrots, diced 8 cups cooked rice, prepared according to package instructions Kimchi and chopped green onions, optional garnishes. Instructions Place dried black-eyed peas, water, ham hock and bay leaves in a medium sized pot and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the peas are tender. Add more water as needed to keep it soupy.

AMY GAW

ISTOCK

Collards from a field in Currituck.

Hoppin’ John, a traditional side dish from the American south made with rice and black-eyed peas, is often eaten on New Year's Day for good luck.

When the peas are tender, drain and reserve cooking liquid and ham hock. In clean pot add olive oil, onion, celery and carrots. Cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the onions start to become translucent. Add cooked beans, ham hock, reserved cooking liquid and 6 cups of water. Simmer for at least 30 minutes and season generously with Tabasco, salt and pepper. For service, top warm rice with Hoppin’ John, garnish with chopped green onion and serve with plenty of hot sauce, salt and pepper. You might also enjoy the addition of kimchee, a fermented, spicy cabbage condiment that especially popular in our region. Be sure to eat this dish with a helping of collards.

AMY GAW

Bivalve mollusks from Devil Shoal Oysters in Ocracoke, owned and harvested by Heather and Fletcher O’Neal.

Collards, in all their green, color-of-money glory, represent prosperity.

Collards with Cornmeal Dumplings Serves: many Ingredients 4-5 pounds of collards, washed and clean ⁄4 – 1⁄2 pound salt pork

Water for cooking collards ⁄3 cup fine-ground white cornmeal 2

⁄3 cup plain flour

Pinches of salt Pinch of sugar ⁄2 cup water or broth from cooked collards

Instructions Place collards and as much salt pork as you like in a large pot. Cover with water and simmer for 45-50 minutes in a covered pot. While simmering, make cornmeal dumplings. Combine cornmeal, flour, salt and sugar then add just enough of the water to hold the mixture together, but still a little wet. From the dough, make small flat dumplings to drop into a stew. Drop individual cornmeal dumplings around the side of the pot with the collards and simmer for 20 more minutes with the lid off. Recipe credit: Contributed by Chef Lovey Selby, of Manteo, she remembers it prepared at Miss Esther’s Café on Roanoke Island. This recipe was originally featured in the book "Lost Restaurants of the Outer Banks and Their Recipes" by Amy Gaw

Fancy Baked Oysters Serves: 2-4 2 dozen shucked, briny oysters on the half shell

1 batch topping 1 batch blender hollandaise w/extra dash cayenne Topping: 1 cup chilled, cooked, drained, chopped collards 1 clove shallot 2 ounces country ham 2 ounces white wine 2 tablespoon bread crumbs Dash celery salt White pepper to taste Blender Hollandaise 3 egg yolks Juice of 1⁄2 lemon ⁄4 teaspoon local sea salt

Dash of cayenne pepper 1 cup butter Instructions Prepare topping by pulsing all ingredients in a food processor until very fine. Set aside. To prepare hollandaise, put egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and cayenne in a blender. Heat butter until bubbly. Do not burn. Cover blender and whirl at high speed for 2 or 3 seconds. Remove the cover’s center section and pour in the hot butter in a thin, steady stream. Make sure you do this while the blender is running, about 30 seconds. Taste and add more lemon or salt if needed. Set aside. Arrange oysters on a baking sheet. Top oysters with a teaspoon of topping mixture and a drizzle of hollandaise. Broil until bubbly and steamy, about 1 or 2 minutes (the tops will get brown). Do not overcook. Drizzle with more hollandaise. Eat immediately.

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BEYOND THE MUSIC

Will 2021 be better? Local musicians weigh in By Scott Sechman Correspondent

In my 67 years, only 1968 and possibly ’70 rivaled 2020 in its level of tumultuousness, division and fear for the immediate future. Coming into last year, I thought there were possibilities. I had retained a regular slate of jobs through the winter, which kept my skill levels – paltry as they are -– somewhat acceptable. I had expectations of seasonal work and my calendar reflected that. I booked gigs, knowing I would winnow some down to a more manageable number as summer’s heat and humidity rolled in. I had also booked a trip to California in March to finally bring that chapter to a close and deal with the remnants of my former life that resided in two full storage rooms – the cost of which, over the last five years, could have paid off a Prius or two. Sale of its contents might have been enough to rent a beach house here for a week in the deep off-season. So, plans were made. Backbone steeled. There was work for me, as daunting as some of it was. But, as they say about best laid plans … . An imperfect storm of plagues, both medical and political, have brought us to our knees. Not just in the good old USA, but worldwide. Welcome COVID-19! Hey there, 2020 political season! As 2021dawns, I am filled with more amounts of dread than whatever they call that opposite thing. It’s early December as I wrote this, and the outlook is bleak and hopeful at the same time. A vaccine for the coronavirus has been deemed viable enough to warrant emergency use authorization. On the other hand, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there may be as many as 350,000 dead Americans dead by midJanuary. Couple that with the most contentious election

in our history. Discord, hatred and invective have dominated our national “conversation” over the last five years. Norms shattered. Battle lines formed and at the moment I’m putting pen to paper, it rages on. My hope is that we, as a nation, can survive. So, in my first offering of 2021, I asked several of our vaunted local musicians, from Hatteras Island to the south to Duck to the north, what they hoped and feared for the new year. Will my spirits be lifted by their answers? Will yours?

CONTRIBUTED

Outer Banks drummer Dan Martier.

Dan Martier, singer songwriter, drummer for Birddog, Tim Reynold’s TR3 and Joe Mapp’s Coordinates I hope, as a musician, 2021 will bring the opportunity to tour and play to live crowds in safe venues. I fear 2021 will not bring the opportunity to tour and play to live crowds in safe venues. Not sure I fear this – maybe I’m frustrated by what I think might happen in 2021. Looking at this situation, it may take beyond 2021 to get back to live safe venues. I can see doing more outside events, as I was lucky enough to do a few in 2020. I can see more of us online. I just feel as a society, we may have to be patient and realize this virus must be dealt with. Nothing has ever occurred in our lifetimes like this. There is no normal anymore, so we as musicians have to adapt like so many professions. I have witnessed so much creativity from so many be-

cause we just have to create. Maybe another hope for 2021 is to see and hear more from our musical society, as we had in 2020. It’s there. We might just have to look virtually, but it’s there. The front-line creative soul that makes a musician will never be muted. For that I am grateful. Play on my fellow artist. Play on. Bill Rea, singer, songwriter, patriarch of an Outer Banks musical family On Saturday, March 4, 1933, during his inauguration speech President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said: “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance … .” These words are as relevant today as they were 87 years ago. That being said, it is my fervent prayer that we the people can return to a civil discourse. That the ability to disagree, yet not be disagreeable, becomes the law of the land and that the golden rule is moved to the top of our to-do list. I hope that as a nation we stop dwelling in the negative, diligently seek out the good in our neighbors, and practice fellowship, forgiveness and love.

CONTRIBUTED

Singer-songwriter Norman Harrell.

Norman Harrell, singer, song writer, member of legendary Tidewater rockabilly band, Snuff Thanks for getting right to the point. This question goes much deeper than what we see on the surface,

the product of all the undercurrents, winds and tides as we prepare to jump back into the ocean of reality. Yes, I feel many have not been facing reality and prolonging the strife for all. Truthfully, I have little hope for 2021 as a recovery time, more a time of realization that our actions are the culprit. What I’d love to happen is a vaccine with effective results, laws to protect the smart people from the stupid people and leadership. Then, maybe then, we could put this plague behind us and be happy and healthy again.

of the busiest times of year for me, but like many musicians I know, I don’t have a single Christmas party on my calendar. This has NEVER happened in all my decades of being a full-time musician. This leads to another fear, that my fellow players may succumb to despair and drugs (if they can afford them) or leave the profession entirely. Personally, I can’t leave the profession now; I’ve been in and at it too long to start over in another field. So, I’m trying to play “safe” gigs and hang on until the vaccine comes.

2021, and I hope this is true for the other troubadours who bring music to listeners here on the Outer Banks. Also, I would say that this year has been good in that it has brought a sense of unity and solidarity among the music makers of the Outer Banks.

COURTESY STEVE HAUSER

Outer Banks musician Steve Hauser.

COURTESY PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED

Skip Hancock, of Joe Mapp and the Coordinates.

Blues man Mojo Collins.

Skip Hancock, keyboard wiz, educator and member of Joe Mapp and the Coordinates What I fear is that many venues will be closed for good between now and then. Small restaurants and bars cannot sustain being shut down with no income any more than individual musicians. This may lead to musicians performing in unsafe conditions as the only work available may be from unsafe venues. The venues are desperate to keep open and I understand that as well. What we have to realize is that there is no good answer to the problem, only small choices about economic pain versus safety until the vaccine saves us all. I don’t think that the Outer Banks as a whole will do that well next year as vacationers are able to go to the places they couldn’t go to (because of quarantine restrictions). Right now is usually one

Mojo Collins, singer, song writer, guitarist legendary award-winning blues man (My) 2020 was the best year for me personally. I had eight concerts with my band. I had a few private parties arranged with COVID-19 safeguards. Besides the music, my art has steadily gotten more exposure (in 2020) than last (year). Blessings are flowing, our health is good, and we are living our lives happily with masks and social distancing. As with most artists, there is a huge part of the creative process that requires isolation, so private rehearsals and time at the easel has seemed relatively normal. I do not know what else 2021 will bring. Even though there is uncertainty surrounding venues and familiar haunts, I expect our gigs here locally to be even more successful. I have faith that things will be better in

Steve Hauser, singer, songwriter, guitarist I hope in 2021 I can continue playing tunes for people at some of our most awesome venues. I had gotten used to seeing a lot of people and meeting new ones. It will be nice to see the staff smiling without a mask. I don’t really fear 2021. It is going to be OK. We will get through this!

COURTESY BARRY WELLS

Rodanthe-based musician Barry Wells.

Barry Wells, singer, song writer, bandleader It would be nice to see less division in society. Hopefully, the new regime can bring forth some sort of rest to the political divide. But honestly, they are all puppets up there in Washington, D.C., so I fear that the divide will only grow with the incumbent not See Page 9

Continued from 8

being elected for a second term. We need more “Mr. Smiths” from my generation to start running for office and start to diminish the corruption! Socially, I just hope we do overcome the burdens of COVID-19, but I fear the ramifications have only just begun.

I always strive to keep hope, as opposed to fear. Praying 2021 finds us all healthier in mind, body and spirit, and that gig opportunities are restored and ‘healthier’ than ever!

COURTESY

to be a part of and play music to touch the heart and stir the soul. I have faith all of this will return, and it is my hope that when it does we are all the more appreciative for it. I certainly hope that things will open up more starting around late April, and we can all go back to earning a living in music.

COURTESY ADAM NIXON

Adam Nixon is a Hertford native. CONTRIBUTED

Outer Banks singer Leslie Buck.

Leslie Buck, singer, guitarist I was unable to get any gigs as a soloist this year, Hatteras’ gig opportunities just being so few to begin with and then a virus making things far worse. As I had a day job, I didn’t want to take work from the guys down here, of which it was their only income. Thankfully, I’m also a member of Jeremy & the Generations’ seven-piece band. We lost some work because of the virus, but a couple managed to stick in 2020, and then a couple rescheduled with us for 2021.

Adam Nixon, singer, songwriter As we look at the possibilities that spread out before us, my hope for 2021 is that we continue to rebuild our music community and find a way through this virus. That we return to being able to safely come together and be in close fellowship. That we are soon able to enjoy the embrace of friends, the big family gatherings, the “three people singing harmony at a single mic” that are so simple, yet so profound when they are missing. I can’t wait to be able to safely enjoy the hug of a stranger who has been touched by a musical moment. I look forward to gathering with the bands I am so glad

COURTESY BIFF JENNINGS/ SHOOTERS AT THE BEACH

Old World Glass Byers’ Choice Carolers Possible Dream Santas Ginger Cottages

Christopher Radko Snowbabies Jim Shore Fontanini

Karen Didion Originals Hollywood Nutcrackers Disney Ornaments LED Lights

Chris Sawin is the executive director of Dare County Arts Council.

Chris Sawin, pianist, singer, director of the Dare County Arts Council Hope: A full Mustang Music Festival with perfect weather. Fear: A Bon Jovi reunion album. Edited for space and clarity. Transplanted to the Outer Banks from the wilds of the Los Angeles area, singer-songwriter Scott Sechman has shared stages with Bill Medley, Tom Rush, Al Wilson and the Grass Roots in his ongoing career.

• Remember your visit to the Outer Banks with a personalized ornament • Browse among our Thousands of Ornaments Table Top - Home Decor • Jewelry - Engraved Gifts Halloween Haunted House On the way to the NC Aquarium, Festival Park & Lost Colony. Hwy 64 in Manteo on Roanoke Island

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A conceptualized photo of 2020 by Belinda Lucey.

OUTER BANKS ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS SHOP...SINCE 1967

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DREW WILSON/STAFF FILE

Crew of The Elizabeth II set sail from Manteo to Engelhard in May 2003. A dredging project will clear out the channel into Shallowbag Bay and allow the replica ship to sail to Manns Harbor for drydock maintenance for the first time in nearly four years.

Lost Colony sailing ship replica to be freed at last in North Carolina By Jeff Hampton Staff writer

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A replica sailing ship similar to the one that carried the Lost Colony to the Outer Banks will finally be able to escape the shallow water of the Manteo harbor. Dare County will oversee the dredging of 2.2 miles of the channel leading from the Roanoke Sound into Shallowbag Bay to clear the way for the Elizabeth II, a wooden ship constructed 37 years ago as part of the 400th anniversary of the English explorations to the New World. The 69-foot-long vessel, owned by the state, has missed its annual drydock maintenance for nearly four years and has not been able to sail to other eastern North Carolina ports for educational tours since 2017. “We’re very excited about this project,” said Kim Sawyer, executive director of the Roanoke Island Festival Park, which offers tours of the ship. The $1.8 million project, paid for mostly with state funds, is set for completion by March 1, said Brent Johnson, Dare County

project manager. “A lot of it will depend on the weather,” he said. The English ships in the 1580s struggled to maneuver Outer Banks waterways that shoal quickly in the swirling currents and frequent storms. Modern boats have the same problems without regular dredging. The Manteo waterfront sits along the shores of Shallowbag Bay. The channel from the sound into the bay has not been dredged in 14 years and is less than five feet deep in places, Johnson said. The 100-ton Elizabeth II needs eight feet of water to keep from running aground. Deeper water into the harbor will also benefit Manteo, making navigation safer and improving access to the waterfront, said town manager James Ayers in an email. The project has been in the works for nearly three years as it went through planning and awaited permits from state agencies, Johnson said. A long-armed excavator on a barge will scoop out the channel bottom to nine feet deep and 50-feet wide. The dredged material will be used as covering soil at the

county landfill, he said. Typically each year, the crew sails the ship about 16 miles around the end of Roanoke Island to a Manns Harbor facility where the North Carolina Ferry Division repairs and maintains its vessels. It will be raised from the water so its hull can be pressure-washed, scraped and inspected for damage, Sawyer said. It could take up to a week. Divers looked over the hull under the murky water this summer without finding any damage, she said. The Elizabeth II was named for one of the original seven ships that was part of the 1585 expedition sent by Sir Walter Raleigh, according to NCPedia, an online reference sponsored by the State Library of North Carolina. A ship much like it also brought over the English settlers that became known as the Lost Colony two years later. Nearly 100,000 visitors come annually to Roanoke Island Festival Park for a tour of the authentically built ship. Patrons can speak with crew members dressed in period clothing about how people traveled the seas in the 16th century and how the ship operated.

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NATURE WISE

Thanks to all who help OBX dolphin research By Jessica Taylor Correspondent

As the new year begins, I’m reminded of how thankful I am for the many people who contribute to the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research and make it possible to accomplish our mission to conserve bottlenose dolphinsontheOuterBanks. When I moved here nearly 14 years ago, I never could have imagined managing a nonprofit organization. My passion for dolphin research and love of coastal North Carolina led me to the Nags Head Dolphin Watch, which at the time also functioned as a research center. After my first year as a naturalist and mate aboard the dolphin tours, the owner helped my husband and I get started on creating a nonprofit organization before moving back to Pennsylvania. We incorporated the

Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research in 2008 and received our 501(c)(3) status from the IRS and General Authorization Permit from the National Marine Fisheries Science Center. And, thus, the center’s mission began. Building a nonprofit organization and conducting meaningful research to promote conservation seemed like a daunting task in 2008. It wasn’t long, however, before we gained volunteers to help us in the field. These essential contributors have given their time, talents and insight to make our research, fundraising and outreach programs successful. They are integral to our organization. Each spring, we hold trainingstoteachnewvolunteers how we conduct our field research, refresh veteran volunteers on field protocols, review boating safety,

COURTESY OF THE OUTER BANKS CENTER FOR DOLPHIN RESEARCH

Dennis Silveri, Kaye Lyerly, Jessica Taylor and Dana Thomason look for bottlenose dolphins.

and train volunteers to teach othersaboutdolphinconservation. Over the years, we’ve had overwhelming support for our dolphin surveys, but our volunteers know that one day out on the water is never like another. If the stars align to give us light winds and fair skies, we may see anywhere from 100 dolphins to zero. (Seventy were seen one beautiful summer day in 2019.) Weather can turn fast and there have been countless times of racing back to the dock,fleeingfromwind,rain, or waterspouts, past groups

of dolphins whose members we are longing to see but couldn’t stop to observe. Other times planned excursions may not happen at all due to storms or a boat engine that won’t start. But as anyone who has come out on a dolphin survey and spent time with these truly amazing animals knows, one good day out on the water is worth any number of unexpected delays. Fundingisalwaysadaunting task for nonprofits and 2020 was one of our most challenging years. But thanks to the dedication of

our board of directors and with support from local restaurants and businesses, our largest annual fundraiser, the Outer Banks Shrimp Cookoff, was able to continue. (Congratulations to this year’s winners: Sandtrap Tavern, Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill, Two Roads Tavern and Freshfit Café!) Adopt a dolphin sponsors as well as sales of T-shirts and our illustrated "Onion" books based on the life of an Outer Banks bottlenose dolphin also provided importantfundingforresearchthis year. Outreach is another goal and partnerships with the NorthCarolinaAquariumon Roanoke Island and Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head have helped us with school programs to benefit local Dare County students. Collaboration with the local Coastal Studies Institute has provided us with lab space for our interns to process our photo-identification data and conduct independent research projects that will aid them in accomplishing

their goals in the future. Although 2020 gave us challenges, we have many things for which we are thankful. Going into 2021 and beyond, there is more to learn about the Outer Banks dolphins, more mysteries to unravel, and more to teach others about understanding dolphins and our marine environment. Biologist Jessica Taylor is president of the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research. She has a Bachelor of Science in marine science from Rutgers and master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University. She has participated in field research studies of bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, Steller sea lions and predatory fish in Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, Alaska and Australia. In 2008, she incorporated the nonprofit Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, which is dedicated to conservation of bottlenose dolphins on the Outer Banks. For more info, visit obxdolphins.org.

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

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COASTAL CULTURE

COURTESY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM-ROANOKE ISLAND

Molly the river otter’s painting called “Pink Perfection.” This painting and more is on display at the Nautilus Gallery at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Animals that paint and painters of animals By Mary Ellen Riddle Correspondent

During her lifetime, Molly the river otter was more than a cute, aquarium resident — she was an abstract painter. For seven years until her death at age 18, she experimented with color, reacting differently to each one, until eventually it became obvious which was her favorite: hot pink.

Molly’s work is on display with paintings from five other critters in an exhibit called “Animals That Paint: Paws, Claws, Scales, Tails and Trunks” and can be seen from Jan. 11 to March 31 in the Nautilus Gallery at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Providing enrichment to animals through painting has been going on for dec-

ades across the globe. The artwork has been used to raise funds for aquariums and zoos. Three paintings created by a chimpanzee named Congo sold at an auction for $26,352 in England in the 1950s. While the work is not created to stand up to professional critique, it does supply physical and mental stimulation for the animals, warms the hearts of animal lovers, and sup-

plies precious memories for staff who work with the “artists.” The North Carolina Aquarium has been using animal enrichment since about 2011, according to Elizabeth Huber, the husbandry curator. “We are always looking to meet our animals’ physical, psychological and emotional needs,” she said in a recent email. “Enrichment is anything

that is added to an animal’s environment, which stimulates an animal’s natural behavior or provides variety in their daily routine.” From an art perspective, there is a strong argument that animal paintings fit the description of naïve art, which is defined as work created by someone who has no formal education or training. It is notable for its lack of insincere sophis-

tication and puts Molly the river otter in the company of artists such as Henri Rousseau, Alfred Wallis and André Bauchant. For Molly, in the beginning it was about receiving a treat as a reward for painting. But after a few sessions, she was all in. Just the sound of the paint bottles opening excited her. She See CULTURE/Page 13

was so enamored with the activity, it was hard to get her to leave the painting area, say aquarium staff. Molly died in 2019 and her painting “Pink Perfection” celebrates her talent and memory. Al, a juvenile American alligator, also enjoys painting at the aquarium and is debuting a piece called “Scales and Tails.” During an enrichment session, the large reptile walks through the paint using his tail, body and legs to create his masterpiece. After the enrichment activity, Al gets a bath, so the nontoxic children’s paint doesn’t get into his scales. The quarterly exhibits in the aquarium’s Nautilus Gallery have featured art of the natural world. This includes everything from deep-sea creatures to clouds, in a wide range of mediums, according to

Going? What: “Animals That Paint: Paws, Claws, Scales, Tails and Trunks,” paintings by animals When: Jan. 11-March 31 Where: Nautilus Gallery at the North Carolina Aquarium-Roanoke Island, 374 Airport Road, Manteo Contact: 252-475-2311; ncaquariums.com /roanoke-island What: “Animals in Art” exhibition When: Feb. 1-27 Where: Seaside Art Gallery, 2716 Virginia Dare Trail S., Nags Head; https://seasideart.com /collections/animals-inart-show Contact: 252-441-5418, seasideart.com

Kitty Dough, exhibit media tech. “Contributions have come from different countries and different centuries and, with the opening of ‘Animals That Paint: Paws, See CULTURE/Page 14 Claws, Scales, Tails and

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

Continued from 12

CULTURE

COURTESY PHOTO

Molly the river otter was one of the North Carolina Aquarium's resident animal artists until she died in 2018.

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CULTURE Continued from 13

Trunks,’ from different species,” she said. Animal lovers will rejoice with another dose of critter related art this winter. Just as the aquarium exhibit highlights a variety of species and emanates a love of animals, so does “Animals in Art” scheduled for display Feb. 1 to 27 at Seaside Art Gallery in Nags Head. Like the aquarium exhibit, there’s an altruistic aspect Seaside’s exhibit, which showcases paintings, etchings and sculptures of domestic and wild animals. “A portion of each sale from the show and of any art in the gallery that features an animal will be donated to our local Outer Banks Coastal Humane Society,” said gallery owner Melanie Smith in a recent email. Smith has a warm spot in her heart for the annual exhibit. “I've always loved animals, especially dogs,” she said. “Growing up, we always had pets: guinea pigs, white mice, rabbits, fish, birds and a cat. But it was when I was 6 years old when my parents gave me a puppy for my birthday that my heart was stolen.” Smith has been hooked ever since and understands the value of the animal and caretaker relationship. During the pandemic, pets set an example for us of joie de vivre, Smith says. She created the February exhibit to celebrate the special bond between animals and humans artistically. The entries are submitted by local, national and international artists and can be seen at the gallery or online. Smith says the gallery has been hosting the show for nine or 10 years, and past exhibits have featured oil, acrylic, watercolor and gouache paintings, etchings and sculptures. Think images of elephants, bloodhounds, pelicans and kittens to name a few. One of the artists, Lee Mims, comes to her craft via a childhood surrounded by nature. She was raised on a farm in Raleigh, which instilled a lifelong love of animals and the outdoors. She delved deeper into the natural world by becoming a geologist. By studying the chemistry involved in geology, Mims grew to understand pigments and how to mix them to render lifelike images. In time, she moved from geology to training horses, and an influx of requests to paint horses, pets, and children’s portraits called for opening a studio. Over the years, her oil paintings have appeared in many wildlife and fine art shows in the eastern United States. Mims created a stunning scene in oil for a past exhibit called “Mattamuskeet Tapestry,” featuring two elegant waterfowl flying over water. With two animal related shows on tap for winter, there’s no excuse to be cold or even lonely during this pandemic. Warm the cockles of your heart by viewing in person, or in the case of the Seaside show, from the comfort of your home, artistic love statements from — and to — the animal kingdom.

COURTESY OF SEASIDE ART GALLERY

"Mattamuskeet Tapestry" by Lee Mims.

Mary Ellen Riddle has been writing the Coast’s art column for more than 27 years and brings to her work a BFA in painting from East Carolina University and a profound passion for the role the arts play in society.

How some are shaking off a very bad, no-good year By Maggie Miles Correspondent

Well folks, 2020 was an eventful year. Between a global pandemic, social unrest, isolation, financial woes and a contentious presidential election, we really couldn’t catch a break. We asked locals to describe their year in one word: Agony, exhausting, dumpster fire, fail, awful, cray, nightmare, tumultuous, polarizing, awful. One person just wrote a bunch of symbols: #@*%/&!. Others wrote words like revealing, growth, eye-opening, enlightening, introspective, retrospective, game-changer and transformational. Whether you’d describe your 2020 as a dumpsterfire or transformational, it’s a safe bet we’re all ready to turn the page. New Year’s is a great time to pause, reflect, and give yourself some good, good lovin’. These local experts are showing us how. Shree Fulcher, AscensionStudio:Trycacaoceremonies for renewal “I believe that the whole 2020 experience has been about directing us toward our deepest devotion, directing us back to what brings us joy and what lights us up, rather than doing what we feel we should be doing, or what makes us money, and instead being open to new possibilities. Cacao is a great way to restart.” Cacao — from which cocoa, cocoa butter and chocolate are made — is a huge heart opener, Fulcher says. On a physical level, it’s a vasodilator: It improves the circulatory system and oxygenates blood. On a spiritual level, it opens our heart center, clearing the way for what’s most important to us. You can do this in your home by making a cacao drink. High Vibe Holistic

Co-op, located right beside Ascension at1209 S. Croatan Hwy in Kill Devil Hills, has cacao and recipes. Scott "Pickles" Lawler, Kind Yoga: Stay in the present moment "I know its cliché, but it’s so important. We’re never in the moment. And when we’re not in the moment, we’re not in control because it’s out of our hands. When you are in the present you are closest to your truest identity, and when you are true to yourself you’re always going to be your best, and that’s all (we), or anybody else, would ask of you." Focusing on your breath is a great way to stay in the present moment, Lawler says. And you don’t have to sit cross-legged in the dark with your eyes closed; you can do walking meditations or just sit for 5 minutes wherever you are. Quiet your mind and concentrate on simply breathing in and breathing out. Your other thoughts will still come, but visualize setting them gently on a leaf and sending them down the river – just let ‘em go, he says. Laura Martier, Martier Sound Meditation: Forgiveness and rest "There’s a lot of chaos and a lot of movement and things happening, and I really need to remind myself today to forgive myself for my actions within some of this chaos and forgive others as well. I truly want to cultivate peace and love in this world and at the same time I know I’m a human being and I make mistakes." Martier says try a forgiveness prayer: "Please help all humanity throughout all time. Past, present and future all forgive each other, forgive ourselves. Be at peace with each other, be at peace with ourselves. Now and forever." Write out these words, or ones like them, and recite them to yourself while looking in the mirror, she says, or read

it before you go to bed. If we (mess) up and get real with ourselves and love ourselves regardless, that’s a big step toward tolerance and understanding of others, she says. Martier is also an advocate for rest. Even with the pandemic she sees resistance to slowing down and an urgency to reach set goals. This could be the only time that it’s mandatory to take a break, she says. Amy Landes, Shine on Juicery: Let food be thy medicine "Everyone wants to feel good. Food heals. Tuning into what medicine your body needs and using food as a form of medicine is a powerful practice. It is also a delicious one!" Landes’ favorite way to reset or cleanse is with a cold pressed juice flood. Giving her system a rest from digesting food while flooding her body with nutrients leaves her feeling clearer, lighter, brighter and more connected to her highest self. She says drop the guilt for indulging over the holidays. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Know that you are powerful and can make positive choices for yourself today, she says. Some other tips: Practice gratitude. Smile. Keep breathing. Focus on what you want, adding positive habits that you enjoy. Keep following the things that light you up, she says. Jen Alexander, licensed clinical social worker: Reflect, and keep your eyes on the sunrise "My advice for going forward is to both keep your eyes on the sunrise (the hope of the future) but to also stay focused on today. It can feel overwhelming to think of all that has changed. Notice it. Then bring your focus back to here and now. … Our greatest growth often comes from our greatest upheaval.

COURTESY PHOTO

Shree Fulcher of Ascension Studio in Kill Devil Hills.

COURTESY PHOTO

Scott “Pickles” Lawler of Kind Yoga.

The beauty in that is that we can create a new foundation built on both what was working in the past and new patterns for what we want for the future." Spend less time online and more time outside, Alexander says. Nature is grounding. It reminds us of the ebbs and flows of life and can be a calming peace when we connect to the simple yet profound moments happening right now. She says make getting at least six hours of sleep a night a priority. Inadequate sleep makes us vulnerable mentally and physically. And while it may be difficult to spend time in person with people outside of your home, consider outdoor group exercise or volunteering with organizations that help others. A sense of contribution to our fellow human beings can improve our sense of connection to one another and our mental health, she says. Michelle Lewis, Peace Garden Project and local pastor: Healing for the Black community "Words don’t adequately

COURTESY PHOTO

Laura Martier of Martier Sound Meditation.

FILE PHOTO

Michelle Lewis of Peace Garden Project in Manteo and local pastor.

describe what it is to feel unsafe in the place where you live, or work, and/or serve. Sadly, the lack of safety is a reality for many. People are exhausted. Your Black and brown friends are exhausted. Allies are exhausted. I believe even the people that would never themselves personally utter Black Lives Matter are exhausted. It’s exhausting and traumatizing to watch unarmed people gunned down in the streets. It’s exhausting to watch people who are legally armed gunned down in their neighborhoods, or on the front porch of their grandparent’s homes. As a former law enforcement officer, I am exhausted." For everyone, healing is going to look a little different, Lewis says. She’s found healing in the gardens over the last year as well as through walks on the beach and conversation with friends who share similar beliefs. She’s found healing through prayer and meditation. Lewis encourages people to find a practice and make it part of a daily

COURTESY PHOTO

Jen Alexander, licensed clinical social worker.

COURTESY PHOTO

Amy Landes of Shine on Juicery.

routine. There are people out there who want to help with the healing work, she says, but the first step is recognizing that healing needs to happen in the first place. Lewis says she knows her Black life matters, and it’s not something she needs to prove to others. But you have the right to remove yourself from situations or organizations where you don’t feel welcome or valued, she says, noting she had to do it recently herself. But if you stay, she says, find allies – surround yourself with people whom you know care about your life, and value your personhood. Allies don’t just show up when it’s popular but every day, she says. Lewis notes that Black and brown people don’t get to shed their skin when it’s inconvenient. The community’s cries of Black Lives Matter carries with it the hope that others will begin to love and value them in the ways that they love and value others and are learning to love and value themselves.

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

INNER BANKS

16 Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

Uncorking some iconic wines at The Blue Point Duck restaurant’s tastings open something special By Hannah Lee Leidy Correspondent

Simon Kaufmann takes a whiff of the Champagne in his glass. “Whew!” He exclaims, his excitement palpable. “This one is smokin’ good!” Titters of appreciation and amusement ripple across the porch at The Blue Point restaurant in Duck where a small group of tasters have gathered to tempt their palates with some premium, handselected wines. “Really,” Kaufmann promises. “This winery was a favorite of Winston Churchill, so they started naming their best after him. It’s now one of the two wines considered the ‘house Champagnes’ for the royal family.” Whether sold by his enthusiasm or the opportunity to sample the royal lifestyle, the tasters delicately swirl and sniff the $350 bubbles in their glasses. They barely get their noses past the rim before they exhale and nod approvingly. It’s quiet as they take their first sips and halt as the tingling texture and toasted brioche flavor explodes in their mouths. “Wow,” one woman breathes, and everyone in the room shares her appreciation: This iconic wine is fit for a queen. Kaufmann is the beverage director at The Blue Point. He started hosting the restaurant’s monthly wine tastings during the off season in 2018. The community welcomed the cosmopolitan experience

amid winter’s doldrums; the events also brought business to the restaurant. “And,” Kaufmann adds, “it was definitely driven by a level of self-interest, too.” He originally launched the events after earning his advanced sommelier certification – the second highest of four certification levels available to sommeliers. He’s currently a candidate for the master sommelier certification, the highest title available to beverage professionals and held by less than 300 people worldwide. Kaufmann says the tastings broaden and develop his knowledge of wine varieties, regions and styles. They also help him access hard-to-get products on the Outer Banks. For non-somms, sampling wines alongside an expert presented a sophisticated activity still casual enough to do on a weeknight. Tickets regularly sold out online within days — sometimes hours. Adapting to COVID-19 restrictions forced wine tastings — like so many things — to change. A couple dozen people could no longer cozy together to connect with new wines and make friends. The events needed to scale down in size, which meant increasing ticket prices. Kaufmann decided to experiment: Fewer people and higher prices called for better wines. Drawing inspiration from his studies, he created a series of tastings featuring premier wineries. He selected five or so wines from each that best showcased the winery’s iconic qualities. “I’m figuring out how to pass that masters exam,

and the Icon tastings are a way for me to figure out the iconic producers of the world,” Kaufmann says. The first Icon Wine Tasting debuted in November. Each one was dedicated to a producer that distinguished themselves as a classic example of a particular style or region. “They have to have at least five wines that are the top in their class across that style,” Kaufmann says. “The entry level has to be as good, pound for pound, as their top wine.” He initially worried about the setup. More money for fewer wines; would people bite? But the tastings all sold out within 48 hours of ticket sales going live. Attendance has been scaled back to 10 people. Participants are encouraged to attend as a couple or with a close friend — each duo shares one of the five tables spaced throughout The Blue Point’s enclosed, private porch. Along the way, the kitchen sends out small bites specially designed to pair with each drink. Kaufmann guides the tasters through each wine over the course of the 90-minute tasting, sharing the history, context and significance of each. While fine wine can come across as intimidating or highbrow, Kaufmann’s playful conversation and personable demeanor make these collectible wines casual and accessible. People ask questions, share opinions and “ooo’s” and “ahh’s” fill the room as everyone samples the lineup. After savoring the last sips of delicious wine,

HANNAH LEE LEIDY/FREELANCE

Simon Kaufmann is the beverage director at The Blue Point in Duck. He started hosting the restaurant’s monthly wine tastings during the off season in 2018. As a way to keep the events going through the pandemic and restrictions requiring smaller gatherings, he started a new, more intimate series last year called Icon Wine Tastings featuring premium wines from around the world.

Going? What: Icon Wine Tastings When: 6 p.m. Jan. 5, 12, 19, Feb. 2, 9, 16 Where: The Blue Point, 1240 Duck Road, Duck Cost: $50 per person and available online at thebluepoint.com/reservations Contact: 252-261-8090

tasters leave full of fresh knowledge and perhaps with one or two new favorite bottles they can buy at discounted prices

through Kaufmann. The Blue Point’s elevated atmosphere and Kaufmann’s expertise popularized the restaurant’s

original wine tastings. However, the new direction of the Icon Wine Tastings excites Kaufmann – both for his sommelier pursuits and the quality he’s able to offer the public. “Now, it’s a more curated experience. People are going out less, and they want to make it count when they do. I’m able to offer them an amazing lineup of Champagnes, Napa, Italian and others this way.”

By Sam Harriss Correspondent

A great man once wrote: And Dolphins in Nature are mad, mad mad And Dolphins in Nature are mad, mad mad They’re mad They’re mad They’re mad. mad. mad. How mad they must be How mad they must be That great man is Shea Foreman, owner and proprietor of the Sea Kove Motel, and the poem is “Cockaigne.” It’s this intoxicating, mind-bending thriller that makes me want to pour a nip o’ whiskey and sit around a firewithintellectualsandget to the bottom of what mysteries it holds. It’s one of

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THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

Musings on a Mad Dolphin

those inner voices, like a heart beating under the floorboards that keeps you up at night seeking answers. You see the rabbit hole, and yet you doggedly search. Partofmepicturesabeautiful pod of dolphins, their little rice teeth and long smiles foaming at the lips or laughingtheirFlipper-esque laugh with shrill lunacy. But that can’t be it. Maybe they’re brilliantly mad, rising above the simple mortal concepts of other sea and land beasts. Possibly. Or perhaps dolphins hold the secret key to extraterrestrial lifeforms and the Voyager space probe is aimlessly floating farther and farther from the ones to whom it hopes to give its gift, the Golden Record. Hmmm. Or maybe we’re the mad ones, stuck in a three-dimensional world with only a slim understanding of the myth of space and time. Too many hours dwelling aloneonthismatterissureto cause an affliction of madness. I have found the only cure is a long-distance drive

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THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

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20 Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

A love forged in the flames

History and romance unite for Blacksmith Date Night By Maggie Miles Correspondent

Island Farm is at it again with another fun, unique and COVID-safe series to get us out of our house and into a time-machine back to the 1800s. This time, the focus is blacksmithing, and it’s designed with you and your special someone in mind. In late November, some couples got an opportunity to learn the trade from a skilled expert and create a beautiful horseshoe fish to hang on their wall as part of the farm’s Blacksmith Date Night. “It was the most romantic thing my wife could have done for me,” says Stephen Parsons, 47, from Elizabeth City, whose wife surprised him by signing them up. “For me, it was probably like how it feels when a woman gets a bouquet of flowers.” In 1850, there was one blacksmith listed on record on Roanoke Island: Hugh Gaylord, who was located on the north end of the island. Today Randy Hodges, of Manteo Blacksmith Shop, and Island Farm are carrying on the tradition. The blacksmith shop is designed to look exactly like the one Gaylord would have used. Hodges, 67, and his shop have been a mainstay on the Outer Banks for years. He’s been perfecting his craft since 1980 and has been Roanoke Island’s resident blacksmith since 1999. Children and adults alike remember his shop at the

Magnolia Market in downtown Manteo, and his demonstrations around town teaching this historic craft. His metal art can be seen at KDH Cooperative Gallery & Studios at milepost 8.5 on the bypass in Kill Devil Hills. Hodges credits growing up around metal working in his dad’s machine and fabrication shop for instilling a love of working with his hands, and his family trips to historic sites like Williamsburg growing up as what sparked a love of history. But he credits his wife for stoking his blacksmithing fire. “The truth of the matter is that my wife is the one who cut me loose because she got tired of hearing me say I wanted to try it,” says Hodges. So, for their first anniversary, she got him some tools and a book. “She handed them to me and said, ‘Here ya go, stop talking about it and go do it.’” According to Hodges, the interest in old-fashioned blacksmithing has had a huge resurgence in popularity due to a reality show on the History Channel called “Forged in Fire.” He feels like there are a lot of people out there who feel like he did 40 years ago – they want to learn but have no idea where to start. The answer is Blacksmith Date Night. Not unlike like Hodges, date night participant Parsons had been interested in blacksmithing for a long time and dabbled in different kinds of metal work since he was 12. “It was nice that my wife supported me enough to find something like this and she was interested in it more than I thought she would be. It was nice to be able to do it in a relaxed environment — more than

just needing something to be fixed around the house,” he says. Hodges teaches private lessons but says Island Farm’s workshop offers something different. “The date night experience is more fun and less intense and there’s the concept of couples working together,” he says. “And it’s not just strictly a guy thing, the women really enjoy it. too.” This was true for Candis Stoessner, 33, of Kill Devil Hills. “It was a blast!” she says. Elements to making the horseshoe fish required teamwork between the couples. “One of us made the eye , one of us made the mouth, one of us made the markings on the fin, and so we took turns making different parts. It was really neat, and really fun.” And the couples loved that it’s a practical skill they can continue using. “We would definitely feel more comfortable blacksmithing and feel like it’s something that we could do in the future,” says Stoessner. Ladd Bayliss, executive director at the farm, says it’s easy to read about history but the goal is to provide a hands-on learning experience. “We … try really hard to accentuate and amplify the importance of normal people who lived on Roanoke Island before the first flight and after the Lost Colony,” says Bayliss. “So, I think by providing events where you can bring a partner and learn really simple ways of heating metal and turning it into very practical shapes and artwork is a really great way to understand the history of this place and the people who survived here in really challenging conditions.”

COURTESY ISLAND FARM

Blacksmith Randy Hodges demonstrates his trade.

COURTESY ISLAND FARM

Randy Hodges, of Manteo Blacksmith Shop, walks participants through his trade during a recent Blacksmith Date Night at Island Farm in Manteo.

In late November at Island Farm in Manteo, some couples got an opportunity to learn the trade of blacksmithing from a skilled expert and create a beautiful horseshoe fish to hang on their wall. COURTESY ISLAND FARM

To learn more about Island Farm and upcoming workshops, visit https://obcinc.org/visit-our-sites/island-farm , check out @IslandFarmRoanokeIsland on Facebook or call 252-473-6500.

Racehorse comes first in savior’s heart

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021 STEPHEN M. KATZ/STAFF

Daniela Gaughan cares for a neglected racehorse she recently rescued and brought to her 10-acre property in Camden County.

Former racehorse on the mend in North Carolina after nearly going to meat market By Jeff Hampton Staff writer

Rockstar, the former racehorse, walked up to his new owner and put his head on her shoulder as if to say thank you for saving me from certain death, feeding me special food to help my digestion and making sure I take my ulcer pills. Daniella Gaughan of Camden County reached over the fence and wrapped her arms around him for a big hug. “He loves me, and I love him,” she said. The 8-year-old thoroughbred lives with a gentle horse friend named Pedro. Rockstar gets plenty of hay, green grass to graze, a special food mixture with beet root to help him gain weight and 16 pills a day to heal his ulcers. He gets

regular veterinary care and the farrier is coming this week. Experts rate horse health on a scale of one to nine with a nine being too fat and a one or two being near starvation. Six is just right. Rockstar was a two. “I didn’t realize the extent of how sick he really is,” Gaughan said. “It’s going to take more than I thought.” Rockstar’s care costs several hundred dollars a week. She created a GoFundMe campaign to help her raise money. The mother of four plans to take on extra work, if necessary. Gaughan has loved horses since she was a child when she visited her grandfather’s Arabian horse ranch. “It’s always been my thing,” she said. The beauty of Rockstar’s

long legs and muscular frame is still evident despite his bony angles. His chocolate colored coat and the reddish hue in his dark mane still shines after a good brushing. He just couldn’t run very fast. Rockstar was a racehorse with a track name of Selfish Pleasure. Rockstar was his barn name, she said. On June 22, 2017, Selfish Pleasure lined up in lane seven on a track in Louisiana entering his first and only race, according to equibase.com, a horse racing website. He was a little small and a bit old for racing and it showed. The dirt track was considered fast despite showers during the day. The purse was $8,000. When the gates opened, the other horses bolted away. Selfish Pleasure instead ran “sluggishly” throughout the race, starting and finishing in last place, according to the account of the race. His owners sold him in

January 2019, and he ended up in a kill pen where unwanted, abandoned and discarded horses are held until they can be shipped to a slaughterhouse in Mexico, said Alicia Mahar, executive director of the nonprofit Circle A Home for Horses in Virginia Beach. The horses are loaded from the kill pen into a big trailer for a 19-hour trip south, she said. About 70,000 horses a year go to slaughterhouses where the meat is sold for human consumption in countries around the world. “The whole thing is so inhumane,” she said. Rockstar was kept in a kill pen with a larger stallion who bullied, bit and kicked him causing serious injuries. The stallion had already knocked out the eye of another horse. Mahar has a reputation for saving horses from kill pens. She received a video of Rockstar, saw his terrible condition and decided to save him.

“I’m a person who goes for the underdog,” she said. She paid about $2,000 for the horse including his veterinary bills, a procedure to turn him from stallion to gelding and his care during a required quarantine. He finally arrived at her farm in the fall of 2019. He was underfed, suffered from ulcers and had developed an anxiety to the point he presses his teeth on fence boards, a condition known as cribbing. It can wear teeth down to nubs. She and her staff cared for him until he was adopted. His health conditions kept him from gaining much weight. The new owner could not afford to keep up the regimen of medicines and special foods and returned him still in rough condition. Meanwhile, Gaughan was volunteering at the farm and became attached to Rockstar. She was determined to take care of him. She and her husband, John, a Navy retiree, moved from

Virginia Beach in October to their new Camden County home on 10 acres along a wind-blown rural road. Last week they put up a fence around their pasture. Rockstar arrived on Saturday. “The first day he got off the truck he hugged me,” Gaughan said. “Food and attention, he loves them.” She began the daily, expensive process of nursing him to health and in a few months he could be back to full weight. Rockstar was not such a good racehorse, but he is gentle and will become an excellent trail horse, she said. Mahar was relieved when Gaughan adopted this not very fast thoroughbred horse who suffered so much. “What a great outcome for him,” she said. Jeff Hampton, 252-491-5272, jeff.hampton @pilotonline.com

22 Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

THE

PIONEER THEATER

A CENTURY OF

GOOD MOVIES AND GREAT By JohnHarper

Photosby LoriDouglas

POPCORN T o paraphrase the incomparable Paul McCartney, entering the Pioneer Theater in downtown Manteo takes you back to yesteryear when all our troubles seemed so far away. The 102-year-old theater has survived ﬂoods, ﬁres and recessions. It has debuted movies from local stars and faced modern challenges, like the

move from ﬁlm to digital and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. But movies are still showing in this vintage, family-owned theater. “It’s my favorite place on the Outer Banks,” says Beth Pallett, 46, a wedding planner who lives in Manteo. “I feel like I’m stepping back in time. … It’s just charming.” What makes it that way? For starters, there’s

GOOD MOVIES AND GREAT POPCORN

Opposite page: A close-up look at the Gothic board and batten upper wall siding decorations of the 1874 Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe. James Charlet photo. Above: The old Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, left, inspired the design of the Conner’s Supermarket’s storage building in Buxton. Photos courtesy U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association and John Conner, Sr., respectively.

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

A CENTURY OF

24 Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

the street-front wooden ticket booth (cash only) and candy that sells for $2. Not to mention the $7 admission price. And then there’s the popcorn, served buttered or plain in a red-and-white box for a couple bucks. Owner-manager Herbert A. “Buddy” Creef III guarantees it’s “the best in the world.” “I’ve never had anybody argue that,” says Creef, 53, of Manteo, who took over the family-owned theater in 2012 after his father, H.A. Creef, died. He can be seen most nights standing barefoot at the front door greeting guests, another old-school touch. For the uninitiated, Ye Olde Pioneer Theater has been a cultural and social hub since it opened in 1918 on Sir Walter Raleigh Street in a building that also housed the post office. Silent ﬁlms were the order of the day then, with two Manteo women, Lucy Midgett and Naomi Wescott, often providing piano accompaniment. It opened in its present home on Budleigh Street in 1934. The beige brick building boasted a marquee, but it came down in 1970 when

Tudor-style paneling was attached to the theater’s facade to reflect the strong English heritage on Roanoke Island. It escaped major fires in downtown Manteo in 1932 and 1937 and has survived significant flooding events, most recently from Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Michael in 2018. Not to mention one or two recessions since 1918. Creef’s great-grandfather, George Washington Creef, was the theater’s first owner. His grandfather, Herbert. A. Creef Sr. and father Herbert A. “H.A.” Creef Jr. were also Manteo movie men. Creef’s aunt, Audrey Hawkins, has worked the box office for three decades. “I grew up in the theater,” Creef says. “So, it’s ingrained in me.” Though there are no official records, the Pioneer Theater may be one of the oldest family-owned movie houses in the country. And until 1973, it was the only movie theater in Dare County, so for many years Outer Banks residents headed to downtown Manteo for a big night out. Westerns, war pictures, comedies, dramas and love stories

Herbert A. “H.A.” Creef Jr. pictured inside the Pioneer Theater’s projection room Aug. 25, 1986. Drew Wilson Collection – courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center, State Archives of North Carolina.

25 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

“I like it because you don’t have to take a second mortgage on your house to go to the movies.” - Geno Seay have graced the theater’s single screen. Some were B movies; others were blockbusters. Bobby Owens, 88, Manteo’s mayor, remembers seeing the classic 1940 film “Gone With the Wind” at the iconic theater. “I think it was a Sunday matinee,” he says. “It was a big deal.” In 1957, Andy Griffith, who lived on Roanoke Island, was in the theater for the opening of his debut film, “A Face in the Crowd.” The title was displayed boldly on the theater’s marquee for passersby to see. Griffith, a hometown hero, became well known for his eponymous TV program, “The Andy Griffith Show,” which aired from 1960 to 1968. Thousands of movie fans have flocked to the theater for first dates, The theater’s owner-manager Herbert A. “Buddy” Creef III now runs the longtime family business, which his great-grandfather opened in 1918.

to hang out with friends or enjoy a night out without the kids. It’s been the ultimate escape room for four generations. “You just went to the Pioneer on Friday night,” says former mayor and restaurant owner Jamie Daniels, 50, who grew up in Manns Harbor. “I just can’t imagine life without it.” Though the Pioneer’s exterior and interior have changed little over the last few decades, the surround sound was upgraded in 2012. It was also the year the 35-millimeter ﬁlm projector, which often stopped during a showing, was replaced with a digital system. And though competition has increased over the years with a multiplex opening in Kill Devil Hills, the old-school movie house just off the Manteo waterfront still has a steady stream of loyal fans. Geno Seay, 51, of Manteo says his love affair with the Pioneer Theater began in 2015. “I was just in awe,” he says of that introduction. Seay estimates he’s seen more than 200 movies at the theater since then. “I like it because you don’t have to take a second mortgage on your house to go to the movies,” he says.

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Last year, Creef hosted an opening night party for the premiere of “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” a road-trip style movie co-staring Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen and Shia LaBeouf and set on the Outer Banks. Tyler Nilson, who grew up in Colington, and Michael Schwartz, the film’s writers and directors, were on hand for a question-and-answer session. “The Creef family just cares about serving the community,” says Paul South, 63, a former staff reporter in the North Carolina bureau of The Virginian-Pilot who lived in Manteo from 1994 to 2002. “The place is an institution.” Restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic forced the theater to close in March and for seven months, Creef and his associate Jason Whitley, sold street-side concessions. The familiar and comforting aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the air on lower Budleigh Street for a couple hours every night. Since reopening in October, Creef has been following the governor’s guidelines, limiting seating in the 260-chair theater, requiring masks and changing the start time from the customary 8 p.m. to 7. Since Hollywood has released few new movies to theaters, Creef has featured classics from the last five decades, including “Jaws,” “Jurassic Park,” “Frozen” and “Ghostbusters.” That will continue indefinitely as long as restrictions allow, with the exception of “Wonder Woman 1984,” which debuted over Christmas and runs through Jan. 14. “It’s peace, love and popcorn,” Creef says.

MOVIES AND MEMORIES “Ben Johnson as Sam the Lion (in 1971’s ‘The Last Picture Show’) standing up against bullies. He was the bomb.” – John Railey, 59, High Point “I had my ﬁrst date there ever in 1986. I was a freshman and he was a junior at Manteo High School and my parents said I needed a chaperone. My two girlfriends sat behind me giggling. When I got up to get a drink, I saw my dad sitting in the back seat of the theater.” – Colleen Russo, Kitty Hawk “Calling the theater every week to hear the recording of the owner (H.A. Creef, Jr.) reading what was playing, He always gave more information than (any) other theater tape would.” – Jenn Risko, Seattle, Washington “In middle school, we all walked there to see ‘Ghandi’ (1982). It was a great experience.” – Kimberly Tomlin Wentz, Colington “’Out of Africa’ (1985) was the most memorable. I was working for (longtime Manteo residents) Malcolm and Susan Fearing. The look on Malcolm’s face when H.A. announced, ‘Intermission.’” – Bonnie Lang Hudgins, Manteo WHAT: Pioneer Theater WHERE: 113 Budleigh St., Manteo INFO: 252-473-2216, Facebook page

Left: Andy Griffith, who lived on Roanoke Island, was in the theater July 16, 1957, for the opening of his debut ﬁlm, “A Face in the Crowd.” Aycock Brown Papers - courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center, State Archives of North Carolina. Since Hollywood is releasing few new movies to theaters, Creef has been featuring classics from the last ﬁve decades during the pandemic.

Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

CALL LARRY Economic Development Director Larry Lombardi is always just a phone call away and ready to answer your questions, oﬀer advice or connect you to new opportunities. If you’re looking to start, grow or expand a business, there’s no better resource in the region.

(252) 232-6015 | www.ThinkCurrituck.com | Larry@ThinkCurrituck.com

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF

READY TO START, GROW OR RELOCATE A BUSINESS IN CURRITUCK COUNTY?

Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

FILE PHOTO

Jamie Trent goes fourwheeling on Ocracoke Island in his 2015 Land Rover LR4 with his wife Tammy and the couple’s granddaughter, Kardigan.

area (check with each town for the latest information):

Corolla

Driving permitted after the paved road ends heading north through Corolla. Beach driving is also permitted from Oct1-April 30 at designated beach accesses. Speed limit 25 mph unless otherwise marked.

Duck

Vehicles are not permitted on our beach between May 1 and September 30. Vehicles are permitted during the other months of the year using designated private vehicular access points. There are no public access points for vehicles within the town. Driving on the dunes is prohibited at all times. ■ (252) 232-2075 ■ co.currituck.nc.us

Southern Shores No Driving permitted.

■ (252) 261-2394 ■ southernshores.org

Kitty Hawk

No Driving permitted ■ (252) 261-3552 ■ townofkittyhawk.org

Kill Devil Hills

Driving permitted Oct. 1-April 30 (some areas may be closed to driving due to beach erosion and unsafe conditions). Speed limit 25 mph unless otherwise marked. ■ (252) 449-5300 ■ kdhnc.com

Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Driving an off-road vehicle (ORV) on the beach can be fun and adventurous, but where beach driving is permitted, there are general rules to follow: ■ The standard speed limit is 25 mph ■ Enter and leave the beach only at designated, open ramps − never between or on the dunes ■ Drive only on that portion of the beach which lies between the foot of the dunes and the ocean ■ Proceed with caution and consideration for other beach users; open containers of alcohol are prohibited in vehicles; your vehicle must have a state road registration and valid license plate; the operator must have a current driver’s license. ■ The use of off-road vehicles (ORV) on the beaches along Hatteras National Seashore is permitted yearround, with some limitations. ■ No permit is currently required to drive on the National Park Service (NPS) beaches, but it is advisable to check with a ranger to understand NPS guidelines and assure that you are not entering a closed zone. ■ Driving in the Pea Island Refuge is strictly prohibited. ■ Signs located at the various beach access ramps will state if driving is permitted on that particular area of the beach. Speed limit 25 mph unless otherwise marked. ■ (252) 473-2111 ■ nps.gov/caha/

in Duck

ND SOU UCK RIT

Oct. 1-April 30, a beach driving permit needed ($25) Available at the Nags Head Town offices and many tackle shops. Speed limit 25 mph unless otherwise marked. ■ (252) 441-5508 ■ townofnagshead.net

SHOP PLAY DINE STAY

CUR

Nags Head

WATERFRONT SHOPS

Duck's walkable village has everything you could want or need, from stores to galleries and eateries. Stroll along the boardwalk or the pedestrian path and discover the pace of our coastal town.

WAT E R TOWER

WEE WINKS SQUARE

DUCK ROAD

It’s fun to cut loose and drive on the sand in an off road vehicle — it’s the closest we, humans, can come to feeling like one of the wild mustangs that gallop on the northernmost beaches of Currituck County. But unless rules are followed, driving on the same beaches as those magnificent beasts can be dangerous for the driver, passengers and the horses. It’s important to understand the law — and the unspoken agreement between human and animal. Unless otherwise marked, speed limits are 25 mph and 15 mph or slower near the horses, pets, wild animals, and other people. The speed limit on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands (Cape Hatteras National Seashore) is 15 mph. Here are some other important rules of the off-road world: ■ Watch for fishing lines and children playing. ■ Stay at least 50 feet away from wild horses. ■ Never drive on dunes or vegetation. ■ Obey all posted signs. ■ Park perpendicular to the water in the middle of the beach. ■ Traffic flows near the shoreline and dunes, with parked cars sitting between. ■ Tow straps, shovel, spare tire, jack and jack board are recommended, and sometimes required to be in the vehicle. ■ Open containers of alcohol are prohibited in vehicles ■ Drivers need to have a current, valid driver’s license ■ Avoid driving or parking on the wrack line. The wrack line is a line of accumulated natural debris left by a previous high tide. Wrack lines are an important food source for birds. ■ Pedestrians always have right-of-way on the beach For more information, contact the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau at (252) 473-2138 or visit outerbanks.org. Following are general beach driving rules in each

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

Off roading rules

OUTER BANKS BEACH DRIVING RULES

Please check our website and social media pages for updates about events in Town, including virtual ways to connect with us and learn more about Duck.

DUCK COMMONS

VILLAGE SQUARE

DUCK TOWN PARK

Welcome to Duck. We’re so happy you are here!

LOBLOLLY PINES

OSPREY LANDING

CROSSWALK

BOARDWALK

SIDEWALK

SHOPPING AREA

SHOP

PLAY

DINE

DUCK POST OFFICE SOUNDSIDE SHOPPES SCARBOROUGH FAIRE

STAY

For more information on n businesses, a shopping guide, and special eventts and promotions held by Duck Village Merchants,, visit doducknc.com.

townofduck.com 252.255.1234

SCARBOROUGH LANE SHOPPES

Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

33 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

Follow the Legends to Where the Road Ends.

Find Yourself Here With the new year underway, many families are looking to get outdoors and reconnect with nature. It is nice to know that Historic Corolla Park, The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, miles of remote beaches and the legendary wild horses of Corolla await you here, only a short drive away, in Corolla on the Currituck Outer Banks.

Call 877.287.7488 for more information, driving directions or your free visitor’s guide

Corolla • Carova • The Mainland

Visit us online at CorollaNC.com

Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

35 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Friday, January 1, 2021

36 Friday, January 1, 2021 THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

Discover What’s NEW at the Cotton Gin

A Wide Variety of Unique Styles & Products Apparel • Jewelry • Home Decor, Kitchen • Garden • Toys, Books • Bed, Bath & Beauty

Come Find

Sanctuary

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Free Tastings • Free Tours

Available at Cotton Gin locations in Corolla, Duck & Nags Head.

Find

Something for Everyone! COTTONGIN.COM

POP-UP SHOP

Sanctuary Vineyards. Jarvisburg, NC

Corolla

789 Sunset Blvd., Corolla, NC • 252-453-4446

Duck

1185 Duck Rd., Duck, NC • 252-261-2387

Nags Head

5151 S. Croatan Hwy., Nags Head, NC • 252-449-2387