SENC Summer 2015 by Becky Wetherington

SE Summer 2015

North Carolina

HOLLA

hollerin’ is heritage in spivey’s corner

steeplechase

Frontstretch Fest touts horse racing tradition

Ferry tales

Water travel, done the old-fashioned way

Jake’s chop shop

Ever seen a couch made out of a Chrysler?

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

What they said SE 5

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Sprin

North

Carolin

Letters

lina Carowcraft Bre tHe t aS ging Brin and ye HOpSn eaSt dOW

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Editor’s NotE:

Best batch yet

iled Unvesneak peek at ns lusive fashio An exc wedding spring

Kinston transplant likes what she sees Just saw a copy of your Spring edition with the story on Mother Earth Brewery. Me and my husband just moved to Kinston and have been there several times now. Great job on the photos and story! Kathy Goldman Kinston

Nice mix Nice new magazine you guys have got going. Really like the mix of stories covered. Keep it up. Richard Everington Newport

Eager for more Thank you for coming out with SE North Carolina. A very nice looking, professional magazine. I look forward to reading future issues. Amber Wilson Fayetteville

Praise for derby, brewery stories Wow! Very cool photos and stories, loved the roller girls piece and the brewery stuff. Phillip Pullman Pink Hill

Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits. Here it is, the third edition of our grand experiment in high quality entertainment, thought-provoking journalism, and general Southern eccentricity. Though my pride argues otherwise, I’m not about to tell you it was easy. Working through some of the hairiest dog days of summer, our staff battled the 100-plus degree temperatures and molasses thick humidity to bring you what we think is the finest issue of SE North Carolina we’ve conjured up yet. We turned our veteran travel reporter Jackie Hough loose to explore the annual Spivey’s Corner Hollerin’ Heritage Festival, a celebration of bellowing, blowing, and big-time braying that, odd as it may appear to outsiders, actually supports a great cause—the town’s volunteer fire department. We’ve also explored another often misunderstood subculture — the colorful and ever-changing world of tattoo artists. Through the eyes of the creative minds at Hardwire Tattoo in Wilmington and Jacksonville, we delve into the stereotypes and realities of an underground profession that’s slowly moved into the mainstream of public acceptance. Ever driven onto a floating parking garage and watched the shore slowly slip from view? Travelling by ferry is a trip like no other and we honor both their utilitarian importance and romantic aura in this issue with a look at three of our regions long-running river transports. What else do we have in store for our loyal readers? A celebration of ridiculous hats, strong liquor and tiny men astride gallant steeds? Check. A gentleman Java master who battled a deadly disease and came through against all odds? Absolutely. How about a seven foot shaggy man beast that smells like moldy garbage? Believe it. So kick back, grab a cool beverage and enjoy a journey into the sublime and the seriously absurd. See ya in the fall.

FEEDBACK: Got something to tell us? We want to know. Send comments or suggestions to SE North Carolina editors, P.O. Box 69, Kenansville, NC 28349 or email senc@nccooke.com 4

SouthEast North Carolina

North Carolina

Todd Wetherington, Editor Summer 2015

Mystery Photo

Where in SENC is this? Where in Southeast North Carolina is this? A quick explanation, in case it’s needed: Every quarter, SE North Carolina includes a croppeddown version of a landmark or scene in one of SENC’s many signature communities. Try and guess which city we took this photo in—hint: it’s a popular coastal resort town. The city is known for its abundance of public beaches and a military fort that dates back to the early 1800s.

See page 65 for answer

This summer in SENC! These local areas are featured in this edition of SE North Carolina.

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Goldsboro ................. 63 Benson ...................... 63 Kinston................ 27, 62 Fayetteville ..... 44,60,63 Spivey’s Corner ......... 32 Warsaw...................... 27 New Bern ...... 21, 27, 63 Kenansville ....... 9,47,63 Chinquapin ................. 9 Minnnesott Beach ... 14 Rose Hill..................... 60,63 • Jacksonville......................... 54 Atlantic Beach........................ 65 Beaufort ...................................... 9 • • Raeford............................................ 40 Angola Bay ....................................... 24 Snead’s Ferry ........................................ 63 Kelly / Carver’s Creek ............................... 18 Delco.............................................................. 61 Wrightsville Beach ......................................... 62 Wilmington ...................... 9,27,47,54,60,61,62,63 Belville ................................................................. 63 Carolina Beach .............................................. 9,57,61 Fort Fisher ................................................................ 16 Southport.................................................................... 16 Oak Island..................................................................... 60 Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

SE North Carolina www.sencmag.com

Staff / Credits / Contributions PUBLISHER Gary Scott EDITOR Todd Wetherington ASSOCIATE EDITOR Trevor Normile PRODUCTION/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Becky Wetherington CONTENT & PHOTOgRAPHy Jacqueline Hough Nadya Nataly Trevor Normile Gary Scott Todd Wetherington CONTRIBUTINg WRITERS Elizabeth Myers Cheryl Serra CONTRIBUTINg PHOTOgRAPHy Jason Barnette Peter Doran Ivey Tanner ADvERTISINg Becky Cole Alan Wells Evelyn Riggs Gary Scott CIRCULATION Debby Scott SUBSCRIBE: Four issues (one year) $19.95 plus tax dscott@ncweeklies.com

Source: 2013 Munich Re: Report . Based on premium and loss data. Nationwide and the N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. We Stand For You is a service mark of Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company. c2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Products underwritten by Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, Farmland Mutual Insurance Company, Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Company and AMCO Insurance Company. Home Office: 1100 Locust Street Des Moines, IA. GPO-0171AO (09/14)

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Summer 2015

CONTACT senc.ads@nccooke.com senc@nccooke.com 1.910.296.0239 Every effort has been made to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this magazine and we assume no responsibility for errors, changes, or omissions. Inclusion should not be construed as a recommendation or endorsement.

SE Table of Contents

In Every Issue

Summer 2015

Features

Tidal Trails

12 Ferries of SENC

Congregation

52 Tattoo Community

Rollin’ on the river Trent River Coffee Company New Bern’s java king Bigfoot Myth or hairy hybrid?

9 Britt’s Donut Shop

Handmade, deified delectable doughnuts Our Picks: Sweet Treats

27 East Carolina Food

Ventures Incubator Kitchen Space & support for food based businesses Our Picks: SENC Chefs

Ink and skin alliance

57 Jake’s Chop Shop

And Hot Rod Couture

60 People Profiles

SE-Snapshots

Interesting individuals of SENC

47 Micro Wrestling Federation Pint-sized powerhouses gain popularity in SENC

Our Picks: Super Humans

40 28

Jamboree

Fashion

The latest in wearable technology

32 Hollering Contest

N.C.’s shoutin’ shindig

40 Stoneybrook Steeplechase Horses and high spirits 44 Marquis Poetry Slam War of the words

Murmurs

“Lost Dogs” Todd Wetherington

Events

Check out Play Dates for upcoming events in Southeastern NC

Humor

The wonderful, unusual people we meet Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

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Summer 2015

SE Snapshots

SE PICKS: Sweet Treats

North Carolina

Britt’s Doughnuts regarded as #2 in the nation Handmade doughnuts worth the wait

ot doughnuts are an easy crowd-pleaser, that is until you get picky and have to go the distance to find the perfect doughnuts to curb a nagging sweet

tooth. That’s where Britt’s Doughnuts on the boardwalk of Carolina Beach comes in. Britt’s proudly displays a sign that proclaims them the #2 best small doughnut shop in the country; patrons will even attest, the world. Divine, lush, moist, heavenly, mouthwatering doughnuts have been served there for the last 80 years, since 1935 to be exact. Bobby Nevins and his wife Maxine took over the shop in 1974 and since have tightly guarded the secret recipe. When driving to Carolina Beach, a Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme are conveniently located on the same road in Wilmington that eventually leads to the promised land of doughnut heaven. Other shops are there to tempt and entice, but Britt’s handmade glazed doughnuts are worth the wait and the drive. People travel from as far as Asheville, Fayetteville, New Bern, other parts of the state and even beyond North Carolina’s borders seeking a made-to-order delight. Drooling doughnut connoisseurs line up outside of the quaint

shop waiting up to an hour or more just to sink their teeth into heaven. In one sitting, people can be seen gobbling down six doughnuts and washing them down with a cool glass of milk. Britt’s doughnuts are seasonal, and are only available from April 1 to the end of summer.

The Tipsy Bee The little dessert shop that could now has two locations in Duplin County to serve their loyal band of sugar fanatics - the original shop in Chinquapin and a new location in Kenansville that opened in June. Come for the brownies but stay for the cupcakes.

Kilwin’s Wilmington’s premier chocolate shop, Kilwin’s has been a celebrated part of Americana since 1947. The store’s methods of making candy haven’t changed since that time, whether it’s the Mackinac Island Fudge made from the original recipes of founders Don and Katy Kilwin, or their hand-crafted selection of delicious apples, rich ice cream and crunchy brittles.

The Fudge Factory The master candy makers at Beaufort’s The Fudge Factory still prepare fudge the old fashioned way - by hand. Each batch is individually cooked in a large copper pot and poured on a cool marble table. It’s then paddled by hand and, while still warm, formed into loafs and sliced. Amazingly enough, the decadent delight is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Who knew? Photos / Nadya Nataly

Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

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Summer 2015

SE Tidal Trails

North Carolina

Ferries

Despite the march of time and technology, ferries remain an increasingly rare but still essential mode of transportation for many coastal residents. Just ask the hundreds of passengers who board the Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach, Southport/Fort Fisher and Elwell ferries each day. When cars and bridges simply won’t get the job done, ferries toss travellers a unique and scenic lifeline.

Trent River 21 Coffee Company Ed Ruiz, New Bern’s low key java master, offers customers an alternative to the stale corporate brews that live outside the door of his brick and mortar coffee shop. They returned the favor by saving Ruiz’s beloved business as he fought for his life.

Bigfoot

Spring 2015

Rumors of a large, humanlike ape creature have haunted the rural landscape of southeastern North Carolina for decades. Are these creatures myths, nightmares, or a forgotten and curiously hairy and odiferous branch on our ancestral tree of life? What if?

se • tidal trails

To get to Story: Todd Wetherington Photo: Jason Barnette Ferries are the workhorses of water travel in Eastern North Carolina. Barring heavy winds and rain or dangerous tide conditions, they provide service 365 days a year on all routes. For many residents, the ferries are a necessity of everyday life, offering the only available transportation to school, work, and other needed services. Each year, North Carolina ferries transport nearly 1 million vehicles and more than 2 million passengers across five separate bodies of water — the Currituck and Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers. In honor of that history and their continuing importance to the residents of Southeastern North Carolina, we’ve chosen to highlight three very different but equally important ferries — the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach Ferry, which operates on the Neuse River; the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry, which crosses the Cape Fear River; and the odd man out, the Elwell Ferry, another Cape Fear craft. While both the Cherry Branch-Minnesott and Southport-Fort Fisher ferries are modern, spacious vessels that transport thousands of vehicles and passengers each year, the Elwell Ferry is a throwback to the days when horse-drawn carriages and farm animals made up the bulk of the cargo being transported across the state’s rivers. While bridges have replaced most of North Carolina’s inland river ferries and budget cuts threaten year after year, today’s ferry system allows direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels. For now at least, the mode of transportation that may date back as far as the 4th Century (apparently Roman literature from that period mentions oxen propelling a ship with a water wheel) remains very much a part of our region’s unique landscape. 12

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the other side . . . Three SENC ‘ferry tales’ • MINNESOTT BEACH-CHERRY BRANCH • SOUTHPORT–FT. FISHER • ELWELL

Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

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Minnesott Beach - Cherry Branch COMMUTER FERRY SERVES FARMERS, MARINES, SCHOOL KIDS, EVERYDAY WORKERS . . . AND A FEW TOURISTS Story and Photos: Jacqueline Hough

fter a somewhat dreary Saturday morning, Steve Mardis watches the sun came from behind the clouds as he rides the Thomas A. Baum ferry across the Neuse River. Mardis, of Wichita, Kan., snaps photos of birds and the coastal landscape as the boat heads to the Cherry Branch side of the river. “It’s kind of amazing that everyone is sitting in their cars listening to the music and reading books,” he observes. “We are out on the water. What more could you want?” On this day, like every other, the 14

SouthEast North Carolina

Thomas A. Baum makes the run between Cherry Branch and Minnesott Beach with its sister ferry, the Chicamacomico, heading in the opposite direction like a ghost twin. For 12-18 hours each day, the two ferries travel the 20 minute, three mile route transporting up to 28 vehicles at a time across the Neuse River to either Cherry Branch or Minnesott Beach. Cherry Branch is home to the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, the town of Havelock and the community of Cherry Branch. Minnesott Beach is a small town known as a golfing, sailing, and retireSummer 2015

ment community. It’s just a short drive away from Oriental. Venturing out for the day with his wife after a stay in New Bern, Mardis says he made the trip to Oriental to check out a boat. “We wanted to experience the ferry and get out on the water,” he says. That’s a desire familiar to Roger W. Whitehurst, operations manager II for the N.C. DOT Ferry Division at Cherry Branch. “The ferry here is 95 percent local and the other 5 percent is tourism related,” he said. Primarily a commuter ferry, about

400,000 people and 200,000 vehicles travel on the ferry each year to go to and from work and school. The Thomas A. Baum and Chicamacomico were built to carry anything that travels on the highway, from cars and trucks to school buses and 18-wheeler trucks. On any given trip, a variety of vehicles need a lift across the river, be it a farmer needing a piece of work equipment or a bus full of Marines from Cherry Point trying to get back to base. The Cherry Branch ferry is located five miles east of Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station and many of the government workers live on the Minnesott Beach side. The Marines have used the ferry since its inception in the 1970s to travel back and forth to work, saving 40 to 50 miles a day in driving. Depending on where they live, a commuter can get to work in 30 to 40 minutes. “But if you had to drive around, it could be anywhere from 50 minutes to a hour,” notes Whitehurst. Not only does the 15 minute jaunt across the Neuse save time, it might also save your bank account— the trip is free. As a daily commuter, Captain Marty Wing, pilot of the Chicamacomico, knows the value of the ferry service. “I live in Oriental,” he explains. “If I started (the day) on the Cherry Branch side, it would take me an hour to get to work and 15 minutes to get home.” To commuters, saving time is a big deal. But to tourists like Linda and Brad Robinson of Chapel Hill, the trip is a relaxing moment away from the stresses of everyday life. “It is nice to be out in the air with the birds flying over,” says Linda, explaining that she and Brad are on a day trip to Oriental. For 37 years, Captain Alex Moore

has listened to similar stories from his passengers. On this particular day he’s in his office, located in the pilot house of the Thomas A. Baum, looking out at the Neuse River. “The view is beautiful,” he marvels. “It is a pretty river.” Moore started working on the nowdefunct Emerald Isle ferry in1964. He continued at the MB-CB ferry until he retired in 2000. He now returns parttime whenever he’s needed. “I love the people and the passengers on the ferry,” Moore remarks. The schedule for the ferry stays the same throughout the year. The first run starts each morning at

5 a.m., with the last ferry departing at 12:30 a.m. All of this is done with three crews, who work on staggered 12-hour shifts. The crews work seven days on and seven days off. According to Whitehurst, the morning schedule is set to accommodate people going to and from work and school. Around mid-morning, he shifts gears. “We go on a little bit of a delayed schedule,” Whitehurst explains. “Once

11 a.m. comes around, the ferry runs pretty much every half hour until about 6 p.m. in the evening. Then it runs about every hour.” The ferry will run unless there is bad weather—snow, ice and high winds. Whitehurst says wind speed and direction determine when they have to suspend operations. “The water levels can get so high that the boats can’t get under the ramps to off load traffic,” he says. “The water levels can also get so low that rope from the ramps can’t go down low enough to off load or load traffic. So when we get to that point, we have to stop. And if the wind gets to a certain point, it becomes dangerous to operate the ferry.” At least one time per shift, Whitehurst rides the ferry to make sure the vessel is in operational order and crews are doing their jobs. We don’t have to worry about that,” says Whitehurst, “because we got a good bunch of guys.” But there are times when the routine is changed. Due to Minnesott Beach having three camps and numerous boat owners, mishaps can and do happen on the water. “It’s not a common occurrence,” Whitehurst says. “Once or twice a year, we have to go into rescue mode.” In March of this year, the crew of the Thomas A. Baum added rescue duty to its 2 p.m. run. They came to the aid of a New Bern man whose sailboat had capsized in the Neuse River. Crew members launched the ferry’s small rescue boat and brought the man onboard. After the rescue boat returned to the Baum, the ferry completed its scheduled run to Minnesott Beach. Jacqueline Hough is a staff writer for SE North Carolina.

Above, clockwise: A view from the crow’s nest shows vehicles exiting the ferry after crossing the Neuse River. Ferry captain Alex Moore and 1st Mate A.B. Johnson are perfect hosts to passengers. Linda and Brad Robinson enjoy a misty view while riding the ferry. Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

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Southport - Fort Fisher SALT WATER LIVING GETS IN YOUR BLOOD Story: Cheryl Serra Photos: Cheryl Serra, Jason Barnette

Peter Doran

arybeth Ray’s primary goal during her three-mile-each-way job is to not hit anything, including boats, the river bottom, debris or the occasional deer swimming in the Cape Fear River. Ah, the perils of a ferry captain on the Southport to Fort Fisher Ferry. The ferry is not only a practical way to cross the Cape Fear River without the hassles of on-land traffic; it’s also scenic, convenient, and a good value. There are more than a dozen ferries making the run daily. For pedestrians, the cost is $1 each way, for bicycle riders, $2, and $3 for motorcycles. Costs for vehicles range from $5 up to $15. According to Timothy Hass, North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division communications officer, the Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry was established in 1965 to send passengers to tourist attractions like the beaches and the aquarium at Fort Fisher. It’s the second most popular ferry route in the state, with 489,000 passengers a year based on a threeyear average. This compares to the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry, which has 706,000 passengers a year. The difference between the two routes is that there is a way to travel by land from Southport to Fort Fisher whereas the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry provides an integral link for Ocracoke Island to the rest of the Outer Banks.

Salt Water in Her Veins Marybeth Ray has been with the ferry for 17 years. Before that, she lived on an island in the Bahamas. “I’ve got salt water in my veins,” she says. She speaks more seriously about her job, saying she’s on constant roaming patrol to ensure the safety and security of the boat. Ray was born in Beaufort, South Carolina. Her father’s work as a Marine Corp officer eventually landed her and her family on Andros Island, the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands, for most of her growing-up years. She worked as a civilian contractor at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center on the island, running boats for the U.S. Navy. She’s been sailing and driving boats ever since. Ray even brings her passion to her Southport home, rationalizing the “just

four” boats she has in her yard by saying, “If they don’t have to be registered, I don’t have to count them.” She also has a “dinghy garden” and random kayaks and paddleboards. Ray met her husband, George, through a shared passion of the water that began at an emu roast in town (you read that right, an emu roast). The Rays have subsequently started several businesses related to Southport’s prime location on the Intracoastal Waterway and Cape Fear River. Southport Paddle & Sail offers standup paddling and will soon offer charter sailing. They soon plan to put their gaff-rigged steel schooner, the S/V Kitty Hawk, into charter. On a recent lovely spring day, Ray had others who shared her love of the water with her as she made the trek, one of several that day, to Fort Fisher. Coby Benson is in training to get his Mate’s

Above: Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry Captain Marybeth Ray chats with retired ferry captain Harry D. Sell while Senior Able Seaman Coby Benson takes the helm. 16

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Summer 2015

license and Harry D. Sell is a retired captain who worked the Southport-toFort Fisher ferry for much of his 37-year career. Also along was John Muldowney, who’s been with the North Carolina ferry system for eight years. They chat about all things Southport, all things related to the water, and about the extensive training, study and sea time required to make your living on the water, particularly as a ferry captain with a 1,600-ton Master’s license. Ray says Southport’s proximity to the river, the waterway, and the ocean is perfect for recreational pursuits. When she lived in the Bahamas, says Ray, she never thought she could recreate the life she loved there once in the states. Passengers similarly enjoy the ferry. Beth Price moved to Southport from Virginia a year ago. She and her husband, Glen, take the ferry about once a week to go to the beach and take advantage of the areas shopping and restaurants. Sometimes they take their motorcycles over to go riding. The ride is peaceful, she says, and she loves seeing the dolphins and

the occasional alligator. Claudine and Jim Clarke are ferry “diehards.” Jim was a computer science professor in Georgia, where they lived before moving to Southport (in the same development as Ray) two years ago. The couple purchased an annual ferry pass and uses it two to three times a week. They live near the ferry landing and often take their bicycles onboard to ride to Kure Beach. They also take the ferry to reach other destinations. Often when friends or family fly into Wilmington International Airport, the Clarkes put their car on the ferry and pick up the guests for a relaxing and scenic start to their vacation. There are some jobs you couldn’t easily come by living in Boise, Idaho —jobs allowing you to be on the water all the

time, for instance. And then you’d miss the things that Ray experiences each time she takes the helm. For instance, there are some of the most spectacular sunrise and sunset photos to be had. She recently watched a three-and-a-half-year-old girl dance her way through the entire ferry ride. She can watch the migration of the snowbirds (boaters who head south for the winter and north in the warmer weather) on the waterway and be made nearly breathless when the classic yachts go by. And there’s the wildlife, including the deer she saw swimming in the river, and the eagles, dolphins, jumping manta rays and, occasionally, an alligator. And it’s an honor to be ferry captain when the Wounded Warriors, the national veterans service organization, board the ferry for a day of festivities, she says. Ray’s schedule is one week on duty for 12and a half hour days and one week off. Even on her off days, though, you’ll likely find her on the water. Cheryl Serra is a freelance writer from Southport.

Top: The Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry prepares to depart. Bottom: The ferry’s deck offers passengers a chance to sit down and take in the scenery or get an up close view of local wildlife. Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

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Elwell (on the upper Cape Fear) BLADEN COUNTY’S RIVER LIFELINE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY Story and Photos:

The Elwell Ferry, which transports a mix of locals and those seeking an interesting and unique mini-adventure across the Cape Fear River, has been a cherished tradition in the Kelly and Carvers Creek communities for 110 years.

Todd Wetherington

n Greek mythology, a ferry shuttled the souls of the newly deceased across the river Styx, which divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. Though the job of the Elwell Ferry, one of the last remaining inland river ferries in North Carolina, is somewhat less glamorous, it serves a function every bit as important to its few but frequent travelers. And unlike the mythical Greek ferry, Elwell offers toll-free service, seven days a week. Located in southeastern Bladen County between N.C. highways 87 and 53, the Elwell Ferry crosses a short span (approximately 110 yards) of the Cape Fear River, connecting the communities of Carvers Creek and Kelly. The ferry dates back to the early 20th century, when brothers Walter Hayes Russ and John Roland Russ petitioned the Bladen County Commissioners for permission to operate a ferry at the site. Service began in 1905, with Walter Russ and later his son, Lee Roy Russ, operating the ferry. (The Elwell name apparently comes from a family that resided in the area.) At the time, Elwell was one of numerous river ferries in the state operated by residents to connect local farms and villages. Until 1952, the ferry was the only way across the Cape Fear River between 18

SouthEast North Carolina

Wilmington and Elizabethtown. The original ferry was little more than a wooden raft: until the first motor vehicles arrived in Bladen County in 1916, mules and wagons made up a large part of its traffic. Though paddles propelled the first 33foot Elwell ferryboat, in the 1930s a cable system was installed to help pull it across. In 1967, the first Elwell diesel powered steel flatboat went into service. That very boat is still in use today, ferrying commuters and tourists back and forth across the tea-colored waters of the Cape Fear River, year after year. The cable is still there also, though it now acts merely as a guide for the rudderless craft. “The ferry just has a propeller on the side; the cable is basically used to keep it in line,” explains Ken Clark, of the Bladen County Department of Transportation. Forward motion is controlled by the operator’s throttle. Since the ferry can’t turn around, each end is equipped with a ramp. “It’s pretty simple. The biggest thing is the landing; other than that, you Summer 2015

just let it go.” The current Elwell Ferry, with its mix of modern and horse-and-carriage-era technologies, resembles nothing so much as a hybrid machine out of the movie “The Road Warrior,” or a Civil War-era barge, compared to today’s sleek, multilevel passenger vessels. Despite appearances, the ferry remains important, in a practical as well as emotional sense, for local commuters and community members. “People want to know the ferry’s open; they get really passionate about it,” Clark stresses. “There’s a real sense of pride in the Kelly community about the ferry. We also get a lot of people who just want to ride; it’s amazing.” Clark says the Elwell Ferry runs about 1,400 cars a month on average, though it’s been known to work double-time in emergency cases. “A few years ago the bridge on Highway 11 was hit by a truck and closed. While it was down the ferry was running 200 cars a day across. They were busy, boy.” According to Clark, the county DOT

Above: The Elwell Ferry in Bladen County carries one or two vehicles per crossing. Below: Ferry Operator Cody Norris readies for the next passenger; a sign warns of unexpected wildlife in the river; the ferry makes its way across the Cape Fear River between N.C. highways 53 and 87.

took over operation of the ferry in the 1940s. Due to budget cuts and lack of manpower, however, that service was recently bid out to a local independent contractor. “The DOT still does the maintenance on the ferry,” notes Clark. “It costs about $90,000 a year to operate, which includes upkeep and fuel.” The ferry takes approximately five minutes to shuttle vehicles from one bank to the other. It runs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in spring and summer months, and between sunrise and sunset the rest of the year, except Christmas Day. There are no set departure schedules—if the ferry is on the opposite shore, just pull up to the fence and honk for service. One of the ferry’s current operators, Cody Norris, says the hours he spends on his small portion of the Cape Fear each day are among his favorite. “I love this job, just how peaceful it is. I get in touch with myself out here,” he explains, as he secures the tires of a Ford F-350 truck that’s just come onboard. While running the ferry is a normally

uneventful job, conditions on the Cape Fear can change quickly, says Clark. Pointing to a series of white lines painted onto the trunk of a cypress tree near the water’s edge, he explains that the ferry isn’t allowed to operate if the river rises above the six foot mark on the tree. “It starts to get squirrelly if it gets higher than that. The current gets rough and you get side sway and it pulls on the cable hard. It’s not worth it.” Too much water can cause other problems as well. “The currents can get horrific, but the big problem is the trees taking out the cable. It’s not uncommon for whole trees to come down the river,” says Clark. “We get what the locals call a ‘spring freshet’ after the winter, and the water really comes up.” Over the course of the Elwell Ferry’s history, a few unlucky individuals have found out just how dangerous the ferry business, and the Cape Fear River, can be. In March 1942, Walter Russ, Elwell’s original operator, died in an explosion blamed on poorly ventilated gas fumes

igniting in the ferry’s bilge. In 1967, two people jumped off the ferry and drowned, apparent suicides. And in 1994, two other men drowned while trying to load an oversized vehicle onto the ferry. These days, the ferry receives regular maintenance overhauls and has a four-ton weight limit. Mishaps are rare. With the advancement of time and technology, nearly all of Elwell’s sister inland ferries have been replaced by bridges or abandoned altogether. Highway officials, however, have said it’s unlikely the service will be replaced any time soon. A new bridge would be expensive and ferry operations are relatively cheap. But more than that, says Clark, the loss of the Elwell Ferry would remove something vital from the community, something that can’t be measured in dollars and cents. “It’s a part of history. It’s a really unique operation and the kind of thing you just don’t see anymore. I suspect it’ll be around for a while yet.” Todd Wetherington is the editor of SE North Carolina magazine.

No matter how you slice it...

Still Beulaville’s Favorite Restaurant! •Pizzas • Subs •Burgers • Appetizers •Lasagna • Spaghetti •All You Can Eat Salad Bar!

PIZZA VILLAGE

Daily Lunch Buffet, Monday ~ Saturday

811 W. Main Street (N.C. 24 West)

910-298-3346

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

A A

s late afternoon sunlight spills over the artcovered brick walls and scarred concrete floors of the Trent River Coffee Company, Ed Ruiz nods his head in time with the soft jazz coming over the building’s speakers and expounds on the secrets to brewing a quality cup of joe. “First, you have to find a good roaster that you can rely on, and get coffee as soon as it’s roasted. Then you use filtered water and brew it at the correct temperature. The rest of it is rotating and cleaning out your stock. There’s no need in keeping your jars full just so they look good, which is why we change coffees every day.” Chatting amiably with a customer over the hum of a latte machine, Ruiz—an engaging mix of quizzical college professor and Beat generation Zen poet— seems remarkably relaxed for a man who, only seven years ago, was on the verge of losing not only the business he’d worked so hard to establish, but his life as well. A California native, Ruiz opened the Trent River Coffee Company in 1993, shortly after moving to New Bern with his wife and six-year-old daughter. In 2008 he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. “It was pretty dire,” he admits. That Ruiz, and by extension the Coffee Company, survived that near-death sentence is a testament not only to the man’s tenacity and unique life philosophy, but to the bone deep community ties he built among customers and friends searching for something beyond the mass produced products and soul-deadening service of corporate-run America.

se • tidal trails

Zen and the Art of Coffee

Story & Photography by Todd Wetherington

Ed Ruiz, owner of Trent River Coffee Company

Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

se • tidal trails Besides being a poet and a philosopher, Ruiz is also something of an existentialist. “I live one day at a time and every day is a blessing. I know where I’ve been and I can tell you my plans for the next couple of hours and maybe a day or so, but after that…” he explains, reflecting on the attitude he believes helped him recover after a lengthy and exhausting dance with cancer. But that recovery, he understands, would never have been possible without the help of those who kept his business running when he was no longer able to. “One day a week I would get my chemo and come back and fill in at the shop. My friends kept things going when I just couldn’t,” he remembers. “It really speaks to the heart of this community, to the spirituality of people.” Long before Ruiz ventured east, the building that now houses Trent River Coffee Company was already a vital part of New Bern’s historic downtown. The long brick structure at 208 Craven Street dates back to the earliest years of the 20th century, beginning life as a blacksmith shop and in the intervening years housing everything from New Bern Ironworks and Craven Foundry and Machine Company to, most recently, an auto repair garage. Remnants of the building’s past have been repurposed to compliment the local art that decorates the coffee house’s walls. Wooden forms once used to make castings for steamships stand near the front window and hang above the shops coffee grinders, like giant snowflakes suspended in time. Thick steel ceiling beams, which were once used to roll lengths of iron pipe, now serve as a base for overhead lights and fans. Ruiz sees the coffee house as part of a larger cultural renaissance in New Bern, one that encompasses local theater compa-

nies, restaurants, and art galleries. “Here we are living in a small town with access to just about anything a bigger city could have. We’re two blocks away from an Indian restaurant, we have some really nice grocery stores in the area; the Farmers Market is three blocks away and we have painters and sculptors...so that’s an indication of a certain amount of vitality the downtown has begun to show.” According to Ruiz, the Coffee Company acts as a gathering place for artists, musicians, and others who have little use for the big box franchises that have taken over and shuttered many independent businesses in small towns across the region. “I’m from the Bay area, so I grew up with small coffee houses. I remember as a kid taking the train up to the city, and things like Jack Kerouac and Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Beat poets in the late 50s and early 60s were of interest to me,” says Ruiz. Like those bohemian hangouts of his youth, Trent River Coffee Company hosts regular music concerts by folk, blues, and jazz musicians from across the country, as well as local poets. “We’ve been doing the music for about 18 years. We’ve brought in some very, very good talent,” says Ruiz, who has somehow found time to become a musician himself. “The Folk Art Society books the talent from all over the United States. On the second Tuesday of the month we also have Irish music. Then about a year ago we started with open-mike poetry.” But all the entertainment and goodwill in the world wouldn’t mean a thing, Ruiz knows, without his ability to brew up a potent jug of jitter juice. •••

Local art work, concert posters, and remnants of the building’s past decorate the Coffee Company’s walls and front window. 22

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

“It’s the best coffee in town.”

“It’s the best coffee in town.” So say Carl Hammerle and his son, Kyle, of New Bern, who have stopped by to sample the day’s special: Trent River Coffee Company’s signature ice cream drink, Gritty Kitty, a milkshakelike concoction with espresso beans, chocolate, and Irish cream soda. “One thing I like about the coffee here is it’s not like Starbucks coffee,” says Kyle. “All my friends make such a big deal about Starbucks, but really the local guy has the better coffee.” ”When you drink coffee or drink tea, it’s non-generational,” Ruiz explains, as he mixes the Hammerles’ thick, syrupy concoctions. “For children, the Coffee Company is a place to learn how to interact with something that isn’t a franchise.” Ruiz is especially proud of some of the political events and personalities the Coffee Company has hosted. He says workers with former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gant’s campaign office frequently met there during his U.S. Senate run against Jessie Helms in 1996, while now disgraced presidential hopeful Jonathan Edwards stopped by briefly while campaigning in 2008. “When Bill Clinton was running (for president), one afternoon I noticed this African American woman coming in and I said, ‘I know you, you’re Alfre Woodard, the actress.’ She was out campaigning for Clinton. Also, when Obama ran, the Democrats set up campaign meetings here.” “It’s not that I have anything against Republicans, they just haven’t asked me,” he says with a grin. Ruiz says his taste in coffee matches his preference in politicians: up-front with a minimum of BS. “I like a medium roast that exemplifies the soil where it’s been

grown. I’m not crazy about over-roasting, it disguises the real taste of the coffee, whether it’s bitter naturally, or smooth, or has an acid level; you can tell that better with a medium roast.” ••• Whatever else he may be, Ed Ruiz is ultimately the keeper of a spiritual home away from home for his customers. Listen to Shirin Vazin, who came to New Bern from Switzerland in 2000. “It was a big culture shock. When I discovered the Coffee Company, it wasn’t a chain and there was something very special and familiar about it.” In 2008, Vazin helped out at the store while Ruiz was sick; now she comes once a week “just to chat and tell him things I wouldn’t tell my best friends.” “People come in, you ask them questions and you see the world through their eyes,” says Ruiz casually, as if it’s simply another service he’s required to provide. The disease that he says he fought to a standstill with yoga, exercise and the right foods is, for now, in check. “The last year or so has been very, very positive. The cancer’s gone and the doctor’s very optimistic. I still have my port and get checked every month.” Business, for now, is satisfactory and holding. And for now, that’s good enough. “You don’t do this to get rich. I think my success is a modest success. I’ve been here 20 years and it’s still a nickle and dime business. But like Jimmy Stewart said, ‘No man is a failure who has friends.”’ SE

Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

WHAT WAS THAT DID

COMING FROM DO DON’T KNOW, se • tidal trails

JUST DRIVING ALON COULD BE STARING AT ME I F Story/artwork: Trevor Normile

Just as Charles Darwin’s mockingbirds differed from island to island in the Galapagos, perhaps the strangling, silent forests of southeastern North Carolina are islands unto themselves, giving courage for strange, new forms of life to bloom inside. It’s not so far-fetched—fossil evidence of yet another proposed human ancestor, Australopithecus deyiremeda, was just announced in late May. The remains were found near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Most importantly, archaeologists view the remains, which they believe to be more than three million years old, to be proof that more than one humanlike species coexisted in the same area. They believe deyiremeda lived alongside

Australopithecus afarensis, the species of the famous remains of “Lucy,” discovered in 1974 just 22 miles away. Exactly where we hominins came from is a source of great heartburn and perturbation, within the scientific community and without. But still, it’s not such a flight of scoff-worthy pseudoscientific fancy to wonder, “what if?” “I had noticed the smell of what I thought was stagnant water right before I seen it,” reads a report filed to the Bigfoot Field Researcher Organization’s database. The BFRO, like many of the research organizations looking for something... else... out there, ear-

nestly logs reports of ape-creature sightings across the country. That sighting was near the Angola Bay game land that sits on the border of Pender, Onslow and Duplin Counties. According to the report, an off-duty law enforcement officer spotted something unsettling near the game land near the Northeast Cape Fear River while deer hunting in 2011. The following report has been edited only for brevity and punctuation: “I was walking through the woods by the [river] and observed a red-tinted figure approximately eight to nine feet tall. It looked like it was taking a drink of water. I was so frozen by what I was

Photos/Todd Wetherington The thick underbrush of the Pender County area is host to many creepy crawlies, but a Bigfoot? For example, the Angola Bay game reserve (left, right) provides substantial cover and resources, such that it’s conceivable a person could conceal himself and hide indefinitely. So why not something a little larger? While many don’t believe in the existence of such a creature, they often concede, “could be anything out there.” And they don’t go into the woods at night without a flashlight. And a firearm.

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

D YOU SEE THE EYES

O YOU HEAR IT TOO ANYTHING

NG AND IT RAN OUT OUT FELT ITSTHERE EYES AS I seeing, I couldn’t move from the shock. It took a drink and looked up and I believe it seen me. [It] got up and just walked off in the distance over a hill and it was gone,” the report reads. “Needless to say, I ran hard for at least two miles and haven’t been back since then.” So, two points. To begin with, the witness is alleged to be a credible observer and knower of wildlife, with a law enforcement background and experience in the woods. However, the sighting occurred late in the day, in a swamp—hardly the best conditions to observe. Or perhaps the best conditions to be observant? Reports of large, hairy ape-like creatures have streamed into the

database of the past few years however, and it’s all eerily similar. It often begins with a smell, a musty, sewage-like odor, or perhaps a guttural grunt. Then they see the thing. A large, hairy bipedal thing, it’s supposed to be—much bigger than a man. Here’s another report from fall 2011, this one from N.C. 53 near Jacksonville, about a “bipedal creature” that ran across the highway in front of a driver. “The creature was at a dead run and didn’t look towards the cab. The creature was a crimson rusty brown in color with matted hair, very muscular, six and a half to seven feet tall and approximately 400 pounds,” the witness wrote. “The arm facing the cab headlights hung knee length or longer, had human hands and black fingernails. The creature took about four strides to cross the highway. It seemed to have no neck, just a head; sort of like a caveman.” That wasn’t the end of the bizarre experience, either. The unnamed witnesses live just five miles away from the sighting area and have reported strange howling noises from every direction around their trailer. They’ve had mulch piles ripped up and the fish carcasses buried inside as fertilizer have been taken. Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

D YOU SEE S se • tidal trails

Once, something moving around outside bumped the trailer, shaking it and greatly disturbing the witness’s dog. According to the report, BFRO investigators found the witness to be seemingly credible and even found a possible footprint in the woods nearby. Of what, it is unclear. And then there’s David’s story. David, an electrical line worker based out of Wilmington, was working on the same highway when he spotted something not quite human. We reached out to David through an acquaintance in the surveying trade, though scheduling restrictions didn’t permit a proper sit-down interview. What he was able to describe in preliminary conversations over the phone was similarly unsettling however. While working with a crew on the highway, David says he happened to glance into the brush off the road and saw something staring back at him. The creature, he said, appeared to be a large manlike figure... just standing there. Peering. “There’s plenty of guys who won’t go back into those woods,” David explained, speaking of the unknown number of timber and utility workers who have seen things in that wilderness they can’t quite explain. It’s not as though this is a new phenomenon. In the Southern tradition, we know Bigfoot by other names— “Swampsquatch.” “Skunk Ape.” “Ol’ Stinky.” But these sightings happened very closely together and have an even eerier connection than what appears in the reports. Fall of 2011 wasn’t just a season of the Bigfoots. It was also a season of recovery for the Holly Shelter game land, also on N.C. 53. The area had just experienced a massive wildfire that caused evacuations in the nearby Maple Hill Community. The fire, said forestry service members, was aggravated by dry conditions and the ladder effect of fire jumping from thick underbrush into the treetops. Ignited by a lightning strike, the fire burned 31,000 acres and drove people from their homes in nearby Maple Hill. And what of the man-ape purported to live in the woods themselves? Where might he have gone? The common narrative among skeptics is that, in a modern age when the common people, the post-Darwin people, can use easy, advanced methods to catalogue the life around us, why hasn’t a body turned up? Not a cell phone photo? No nothing? But where was proof of Australopithecus deyiremeda when Darwin and the crew of the H.M.S. Beagle set off in 1831? Buried in the Ethiopian desert, that’s where. Ask most folk about the wildlife of the creeping pine forest thickery of Pender County, and they’ll say, “DON’T KNOW, COULD BE ANYTHING OUT THERE.” SE

Pender County Habitat

DO YOU OO WHAT WAS THAT DID COMING FROM DO Bigfoots aside, the Angola Bay region is breathtakingly beautiful, in a very Southern, very haunting way. Above, a Google Earth photo shows the gameland from the air. Bordered by N.C. 53 in Duplin and Pender and Interstate 40 on the other, the Pocosin forest is home to a plethora of deer and black bears, as well as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the Venus flytrap (right). According to the North Carolina National Heritage Trust Fund, which provided the funding for the state to purchase the 14,000 acres connecting the Angola Bay and Holly Shelter Game Lands about 10 years ago. Bigfoots or not, it’s one of the state’s natural treasures.

JUST DRIVING ALON STARING AT ME I F D YOU SEE S

DO YOU 26

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

SE Snapshots

SE PICKS: SENC Chefs

North Carolina

Incubator Kitchen helps food entrepreneurs dish out success Provides space, support for food-based businesses

hat do you do if you have a great idea for a food business but have no equipment or space? The Eastern Carolina Food Ventures Incubator Kitchen could be the answer. The regional, shared-use commercial incubator kitchen is designed to help food entrepreneurs create new businesses or to grow existing food businesses. It is the collaborative effort of James Sprunt Community College, Duplin County and Pender County. Located at West Park Industrial Park in Warsaw, the goal is to help a new business to make and package foods for a fraction of what it would cost for a business to have its own kitchen. The equipment cost for a basic commercial kitchen can range from $25,000 to $100,000. Currently, there are 15 food entrepreneurs in the 5,260-square-foot

facility with three distinct processing areas, separate dry storage areas and a walk-in cooler and freezer. The businesses have access to the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We are currently full,” said Teresa Davis, commercial kitchen technician. But users come and go. A variety of products and services are being offered. They range from Tastin’ Jamaican Caribbean Salsa, Ginny O’s cheese straws, Ezzell’s Delightful Designs and Funky Fresh Food Truck. Starting a new business can be a challenge but those involving food have their own hurdles. Owners must meet a variety of state and federal regulations along with having the proper equipment and enough funding to cover the expenses of running a new business. Davis said other resources available include wireless Internet access throughout the facility, a computer lab, business-and food-related seminars and free individual counseling to assist with marketing, business plan development, financing and more through JSCC’s Small Business Center. For more information about the Incubator Kitchen, call Davis at 910-2932001, visit www.EasternCarolinaFoodVentures.com and like them on Facebook at Eastern Carolina Food Ventures. SE Summer 2015

Vivian Howard Deep Run native Vivian Howard is the star of “A Chef ’s Life,” the PBS show that documents her work as owner of Chef & The Farmer restaurant in Kinston. She’s won numerous accolades, including her selection as a James Beard semi-finalist.

Gerry Fong Since opening Persimmons restaurant in New Bern five years ago, Gerry Fong has won The Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” and bested 81 other chefs in the “Fire on the Dock” competition in Wrightsville Beach. Fong specializes in “global cuisine,” incorporating fresh, seasonal vegetables, meats, and seafood with his staff’s local knowledge and his own flair for uncommon combinations.

Keith Rhodes Rhodes, the owner of Catch restaurant in Wilmington, serves only locally caught fresh seafood day in and day out. He has appeared on Bravo’s “Top Chef” program and was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Southeast Chef. He’s also been voted Wilmington’s best chef for three consecutive years. He’s a stickler for sustainably-raised seafood with a passion for modern cuisine.

SouthEast North Carolina

se • fashion in technology

FASHION Story: Nadya Nataly

Over the years, science fiction movies and cartoons have been able to predict the future of some of the present day technologies. Think back to the 1980s—Inspector Gadget. Cue cartoon theme music. Before there was a MacBook Pro or touch screen Windows 8 laptop, Inspector Gadget’s niece, Penny had her very own computer book that synced seamlessly to the sophisticated wristwatch she used to communicate with her dog, Brain. It helps that the kid was a professional hacker, but that’s a different story for a different day. Her watch alone could detect radiation in the air, video chat, fire a laser that could cut through metal and was even completely water proof. Based on recently accomplished technological advances, in the future people will be able to charge their phones with clothes they are wearing, track diabetes with a secretly inserted contact lens or wear a personal air purifier as a necklace. While jet-packing through glass tubes to get to and from work. Hey, it could happen. That sweet helicopter that popped out of the cyborg Inspector’s hat would be cool too, but would probably be a tragic accident waiting to happen. Mr. Gadget didn’t have the best luck with it either. SE North Carolina looked into some of the latest techie fashions that could make us feel as if we’re hanging with the Jetsons, or living our very own James Bond adventures. Still, we’re holding out for our own “Go-Go-Gadget Copter.”

Baubles and Bangles

If air pollution continues to be a problem in the future, the Electrolux Design Lab competition may yield a solution. Electrolux (yep, they’re still a company!) has unveiled a new line of jewelry called “OZ-1” that also works as a personal air purifier. Created by Alexandr Kostin and still in the developmental phase, this new invention be worn on the wrist or around the neck. The purifier has a refillable carbon filter, a rechargeable battery, and an organic light-emitting diode screen. The design sucks up and filters polluted air, recycling it back into the atmosphere. It’s easy to use too—wearers only have to insert a HEPA filter into the device cover with a casing of their choice, turn on the device, and wear it. The OZ-1 also has a soft finish, combining Santroprene and a silicone strap to make it resistant to perspiration, heat, water, and oil. The design is comfortable when worn and suitable for all conditions. The designers of OZ-1 say the integrated fashion piece will also serve as a stress reliever and gives users the experience of breathing in clean air like never before.

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

Solar Power Backpacks “No sleep ’til Brooklyn” doesn’t have to be the case when powering up electronic devices. Brooklyn-based company Voltaic Systems has created a solar panel-lined backpack for users who may find themselves hiking, camping or doing anything that takes them away from the power grid, really. It’s built for extended travelers. The solar-powered backpack comes in various sizes and styles. Instead of being stranded on top of a mountain with nowhere to plug in, the backpack can easily charge cell phones, tablets, DSLR cameras, laptops, GoPros, and more. Powered by the sun, these speciality backpacks guarantee compatibility with their systems: in other words, charging without pit stops to juice up. It’s designed to be durable, lightweight, and the same size as a standard backpack. Whether hanging out in Central Park, New York or the hiking the banks of the Nile, staying connected just got easier and more efficient. Backpack prices range between $99-$389, depending on the size desired.

TECH Apple vs. Samsung

The Apple Watch has been causing a sensation with consumers. But let’s be realistic, how many people have you actually seen wearing an one? The watch itself is available in three different models: sport band, stainless steel band, or an 18-karat rose gold case with sport band. The watch comes with a sapphire crystal display, fine leather durable fluoroelastomer, and polished steel bands. Apple promises an innovative way to communicate with friends with their latest “Tap” technology, which sends silent gentle tap patters another person with an Apple Watch on their wrist can feel. In addition, the watch connects with the iPhone’s contacts and calendars, and serves as a fitness buddy that encourages the wearer to keep moving. Samsung has launched a full line of wearable devices for any preference. The Gear S provides the user with a 2-inch curved super AMOLED display with rich notifications and news briefing. The device is able to connect with select Android phones, has 3G speed, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, voice control, GPS tracking, email and keeps the user in touch even if the cell phone is not available. Gear S also has interchangeable straps that allows users to personalize the watch to their taste. One of the highlights of the watch is the fitness companion application that tracks heart rate, sleeping patterns, exercise and also even works as a pedometer. Picking a favorite essentially comes down to preference of a smart phone operating system that will by default pick the type of watch on one’s wrist. However, for $329, Gear S wins this round. Plus, even if you sweat, Gear S does a better job than the Apple Watch at tracking your heart rate. And while FitBit (another watch that tracks only fitness and health rates) is cool, the Gear S gives users an all-in-one use.

Google X Smart Contact Lens Currently in development, the smart contact lens is a hair-thin electronic circuit and low-powered microchip in the shape of a traditional contact lens. This type of technology will be used to manage human diseases. It will be able to measure a person’s blood sugar levels from tear fluid on the eyeball. The lens will then send the information to the person’s mobile phone and other devices. The smart contact lens is a joint effort from Google and pharmaceutical company, Novartis. The two corporate giants intend to resolve lingering medical needs.

From concept to reality, let our jewelry designers craft a piece of jewelry that will be cherished for generations! Full Retail Jewelry Store • Custom Designs • In House Jewelry Repair

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Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

Restaurant Hours

Gift Shop & Bakery Hours

Thursday-Friday 4:30-8:00

Thursday-Saturday 12:00-8:00

Saturday 4:00-8:00

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The Barn offers seating for up to 200 guests. 

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Full catering available

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Outdoor ceremony locations

Additional Banquet Room with seating for up to 100 guests

Wedding photos courtesy of Dara Bass Photography 30

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

SE Jamboree

North Carolina

Hollering Contest

Whether calling out a message to a neighbor or just whoopin’ it up for the pure pleasure of it, hollerin’ has been a part of rural life for generations. At Spivey’s Corner each year, that tradition is honored by men, women and children from across North Carolina. Close your eyes, throw back your head and let it rip...loudly!

Steeplechase

Bourbon and horse racing go together like....well, bourbon and horse racing. Mix in some freakishly large head gear, live music and cheering crowds and you’ve got the Stoneybrook Steeplechase, an annual celebration of all things four-legged, fast and free flowing — Southernstyle.

Marquis Slam

Spring 2015

Poetry slams combine verbal showmanship, writing, theatre and stand-up comedy into a fast-paced literary showdown. Fayetteville’s Marquis Slam brings that big city concept down-home each month for a celebration of rhythm, rhyme and wordplay. SouthEast North Carolina

se • jamboree

HOW - DEE

LIVE FROM SPIVEY’S CORNER

er approach to the hollerin’ contest is simple. “I’m Casey Clark and I’m here to teach y’all how to holler,” she said to the audience gathered for the annual Hollerin’ Heritage Festival in Spivey’s Corner. Clark explains how back in the days before cell phones, her grandpa had a farm. On that farm with no cell phones, they had to holler—it was the only way to get the message across. The annual Hollerin’ Festival seeks to preserve that tradition. As Clark starts her entry, a dog in the audience begins barking along with her. She demonstrates a distress call to show what it would be like to call for help. It sounds like a modern ambulance siren. Seventeen-year-old Clark hopes to keep this form of long distance communication alive. After participating in the Hollerin’ Contest for three years, she’s optimistic about her chances for a win. “I holler all the time at the house,” she says with a laugh. “Why not here? It’s a good way to bring back heritage and tradition around here and remind everybody where we came from.” Her strategy to win the crowd over with her southern charm pays off: later in the day she walks away with the 2014 Teen Hollerin’ trophy. For the benefit of the novice, hollerin’ is not the same as hog calling or even

SouthEast North Carolina

“hollering.” It’s an art form that uses the voice to convey various pitches and volumes, much more nuanced than a simple shout. Before telephones, neighbors needed a way to communicate across acres and acres of farmland. Hollerin’ was the only way to convey these long-distance messages. And for 45 years, it has been celebrated in Spivey’s Corner in Sampson County. Thousands in the past have descended on the small community at the crossroads of U.S. 421 and U.S.13 on the third Saturday in June. But through the years, interest in the event, and in hollerin,’ declined. Organizers decided to combine the National Hollerin’ Contest with the Hollerin’ Heritage Festival and move it to September in 2013. The festival added other usual event fare—a barbecue cook off here, a car show there, and various living history demonstrations. Visitors could even learn how to make their own homemade sausage. But that was merely the appetizer leading up to the various Hollerin’ Contests held later in the evening. Waiting patiently for the start of the event, Casey Clark’s mother, Dianne, recalls attending her first Hollerin’ Contest in 1969. “I’ve been to a lot of them,” she says. “It is a lot of family fun and a lot of entertainment.” And like most spectators, she doesn’t let a little rain stop the contest. “It won’t melt me,” she jokes. After her win, Casey Clark

Summer 2015

se • jamboree

“Hollerin’” is a skill tha have practiced and cult

46th Annual National Hollerin’ Contest And the winners are:

Men’s National Hollerin Contest Tony Peacock champion Larry Jackson runner-up

Ladies’ Callin’ Contest sheiLa Frye champion ivy hinson runner-up

Whistlin’ Contest Mike Johnson champion

Conch Shell Contest Brian BuLLard champion

Junior Hollerin’ Contest cage BuLLard champion JarreTT FarMer runner-up

Teen Hollerin’ Contest casey cLark champion sarah haighT runner-up

thanks the audience with a “HOWDEEEEE!” “I’m happy for everyone because everyone did their best,” she says. “To be quite honest, I didn’t think I was going to win. I had plenty of doubt.” She tells the crowd that, although she practiced what she was going to do onstage, she’d forgotten it. She was distracted; she was thinking of her grandmother, Frankie Smith, who had a mild heart attack days before the event. “My mind wasn’t here,” Clark admits. “This is for her.” Clark explains she plans to be at the 2015 Hollerin’ Heritage Festival but not to defend her title because she will soon be 18 and no longer eligible for the Teen Hollerin’; she’ll have to participate in the Ladies Callin’ Contest for the first time. Aaron Jackson, Spivey’s Corner volunteer fireman and Hollerin’ Heritage Festival Committee chairman, says he doesn’t recommend coming to the event and entering the contests on a whim. “A lot of people do but then they have a misconception of what hollering really is,” he says. “They just come and scream. They think volume is what we are looking for.” According to contest judges, they look for people who could have communicated a message to another person through hollerin’ back in the days when such things were commonplace. If a family with a pregnant mother needed a midwife, they would simply holler for one by calling to their neighbor to get the midwife there. “It was the first form of long distance communication,” Jackson says. “It’s all about getting a message from one person to another over several miles.” It is a skill that many of the contestants 34

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have practiced and cultivated over many years. “They compete every year and get a little better every year,” he says. That’s evident in the contestants at the 2014 event, many of whom are previous winners. The 2014 National Hollerin’ Contest winner, Tony Peacock, has won six times total, placing first each of the last three years. Due to rain and thunderstorms throughout the day at the 2014 event, the contest moved from the stage to the covered outside patio of the fire station. Most of the faithful, however, stay for the big event to see 18 contestants compete in six categories. It starts with the Whistlin’ and Conch Shell Blowin’ contests. Mike Johnson, of Dunn, who competed in the Whistlin’ contest, says he has never done anything like this before. “I’m not scared to death to try anything at one time,” he explains. Brian Bullard of Faison entered the Conch Shell Blowin’ for the first time, competing against the three-time champion. “I’ve never done this before and might not do it again. I’ll see how this goes,” he says before starting. Bullard demonstrates the call used by steamboats crews, who blew on conch shells in times of distress. Afterward, Bullard explained that his sons, Ben and Cage, decided to enter the Junior Hollerin’ contest and he wanted to participate as well. “I think it is really neat that people get together and celebrate heritage and history,” he says. As it turns out, Bullard pulls out a win in his category. His son, Cage, also wins the Junior Hollerin’ contest. As those winners are announced, the Ladies Callin’ Summer 2015

t many of the contestants tivated over many years

sheila Frye

casey clark

contestants wait patiently to perform. Shelia Frye of Wilmington is the last of five contestants to compete. She says that, once upon a time, ladies needed to know how to holler just as loud as men. Frye demonstrates a dinner call

Mike Johnson

Brian Bullard

and a distress call once used to let a midwife know a baby was coming. “They had ‘good morning’ calls to check on family and community,” she relates. “Then they listened for a call back to know all was well.”

Jessica Masters

To commemorate the 46th Hollerin’ Contest and the second Hollerin’ Heritage Festival, Frye demonstrates a variety of tunes and hollers made popular years ago by woman and men. Her versatility earns Frye her ninth win in

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se • jamboree The 2015 Hollerin’ Heritage Festival is scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Spivey’s Corner Volunteer Fire Department in Sampson County. When the rains came at the 2014 Hollerin’ Heritage Festival, the competition moved inside the Spivey’s Corner Volunteer Fire Department, which hosts the event as a fundraiser each year.

the contest. 13 years later,” he says. “But it did. And Four male contestants are also feafor that wonderful blessing, I try not to tured during the The National Hollerin’ holler at her, but for her.” Contest. They demonstrate an array of He then demonstrates a courting hollers, from distress and functional to holler. expressive and communicative. In addition to keeping the tradition The defending champion and evenalive, the festival is the only fundraiser tual winner, Tony Peacock of Siler City, for the Spivey’s Corner Volunteer Fire starts with a “good mornDepartment. And while the ing” holler, but uses it to fire department gets money say “good afternoon” to the from taxes, the fundraiser crowd. supplements that income And then he erupts with and allows them to purchase a holler to answer it. needed equipment. “Now when people heard The contest will return that, they knew you were up this year on September 12 and about and feeling well,” in Spivey’s Corner during Peacock says. “You had to the third Hollerin’ Heritage be to be able to do that.” Festival. “I don’t think the old Aaron Jackson of Spivey’s timers sat around saying Corner VFD encourages ‘I want to sound like this people to mark the event guy,’” he says. “I love all of on their calendars. A holthose old hollers but this is lerin’ lesson for those less Cage Bullard was my signature ‘good mornschooled in the art is always the Junior Hollerin’ held by the previous year’s ing’ sound.” champion in 2014. Peacock’s morning greetchampion before registraing call was influenced by tion ends around noon. old hard shell preaching rhythms and For more information about the tobacco auctioneers. Peacock notes not contest, visit nationalhollerincontest. all hollers were done to impress. To com. demonstrate, he produces a distress call. Admission is $5 per person with kids “When I started entering the contest 12 and under admitted free. Coolers more than 16 years ago, I had no idea aren’t allowed, but lawn chairs, blankets that it would help me to meet my wife and umbrellas are welcomed. SE 36

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1st runner up Larry Jackson demonstrates his hollerin’ skills.

Summer 2015

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Hats, horses an

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nd bourbon

neybrook SteeplechaSe

alloping horses racing side by side; hands cradled lovingly around glasses filled with whiskey, Mint Juleps and Bloody Marys; and, most importantly, bizarrely oversized hats decorated with enough neon-bright exotic foliage to induce an epileptic seizure—the Stoneybrook Steeplechase may just be the closest thing to the Kentucky Derby this side of the Cumberland River, or at least in North Carolina. Since its first running in 1949, the event has continued to be a time-honored tradition at the 250-acre Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, a city in Hoke County with a population just shy of 5,000 souls located along the Upper Cape Fear Valley. For this year’s 64th annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase held on April 4, the Carolina Horse Park hosted the Frontstretch Fest, a Southern celebration of horse racing, quality bourbon and craft beer featuring artisanal food, handrolled cigars, live music, interactive entertainment and art. “Bourbon Bend” and “Craft Beer Boulevard” offered tastings and classes from local and national distilleries and breweries alongside “Cuisine Corner,” which featured a bevy of local chefs and food trucks. Representatives from brands including Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester Signature, Southern Pines Brewery, Dirtbag Ales, and Mash House Brewing

Summer 2015

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Left: Jockeys lead their horses over a shrub covered barrier as they near the homestretch during the 64th annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase at Carolina Horse Park. Middle: The Cross Creek Pipes and Drums perform prior to the beginning of the days first race. Right: Big hats and cool drinks were the order of the day for Frontstretch Fest steeplechase revelers.

Company poured free samples of The Stoneybrook Steeplechase rewarded with free drinks and their Southern suds and spirits food. may just be the closest thing to while Durham’s The Mint Julep Of course, for all the quality the Kentucky Derby this side Jazz Band kept things swinging adult beverages and eccentric of the Cumberland River, or at for the roughly 10,000 festivalregional fashions on display at goers at this year’s steeplechase. Carolina Horse Park, the main least in North Carolina. “We see an opportunity to draw was that renowned equine create something truly unique,” sport, the steeplechase, a dissaid Brian Bauer, agency director at Rockhouse Partners, tance horse race with Irish origins that features competithe company that founded Frontstretch Fest. “Horse ractors jumping diverse fence and ditch obstacles. ing, bourbon, and craft beer all have a natural home in our Under a canopy of cloud-filtered early fall sunshine, region, and we’re thrilled to present an exceptional comspectators gathered at the fence surrounding the track as bination horses and their riders plunged over a series of obstacles of these and raced to take the lead. And if a horse occasionally experiences came around the homestretch minus its rider, well, that’s for fans.” all part of the horse racing experience. Carolina “It’s all about the Horse Park hats and the horses. neighbors Fort I mean, where else Bragg, the are you gonna see world’s largest something like U.S. Army this in our part installation. of the state?” For the 2015 said Fayettesteeplechase, ville resiFrontstretch Fest dent Mary partnered with Team Latham, Red, White & Blue, a nonas she profit organization focused watched on veteran reintegration, the jockeys As a thank you to memand horses bers of the U.S. armed warm up for the first forces, Frontstretch Fest race of the day. “It’s attendees who presented just a darn good their military IDs were time.” SE 42

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Summer 2015

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Slammers in action

Fast-paced poetry performance competition brings ‘big city’ fun to southeastern N.C.—and the opportunity for winners to compete nationwide Story: Nadya Nataly

Photos: Ivey Tanner and Nadya Nataly The competitive art of performance poetry, or “poetry slam,” became popular in the mid-80s, heightening the interest of poetry readings in urban cities like Chicago and New York City. Over 30 years later, slam events have be44

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come an international art form advocating freedom of expression and creativity through original poetry in spoken word. Fayetteville’s Marquis Slam has become the premier spoken word event in southeastern North Carolina, welcoming poets of all ages,

se • jamboree

Fayetteville ‘slam team’ places 12th out of 38 teams in its first national competition in Little Rock, Arkansas in June lifestyles, and ethnicity. Poetry enthusiasts and performers visit downtown’s Marquis Market Cafe at 116 Person Street to admire witty wordplay, rhymes and creative perspectives. The poets pull no punchlines as each poem stems from a personal experience on politics, religion, racial topics, drug addictions, parenthood, sex, love, incurable diseases, or even the weather. As each poet stands before the audience on the first Saturday of each month, the expression of raw emotions and poetic epiphanies resonates through the cafe. Audience members snap in approval as the poet delivers a threeminute piece. The slam is a fast-paced competition with a limited amount of time to impress judges traditionally selected randomly from the audience. –Poets must follow a series of rules in order to participate in the slam. The poems must be the poet’s original work, no props, costumes or musical instruments are allowed, and if the poet goes over the time limit, points are

deducted from the score. That three-minute time limit does come with a 10-second grace period, but the skill needed is undeniable. Poets use all the tricks of storytelling, song writing, theatre, stand-up comedy and cold hard poetry to wheel and deal points out of the judges. The point system at the slams range from 0.0 (terrible) to 10.0 (perfect). During the slam, in addition to the judges, other audience members are encouraged to participate by cheering, snapping, or whistling to encourage the poet or lusty booing, mildly heckling the hosts or judges. “I started this team (Marquis Slam) three years ago because Fayetteville never really had a team to go to nationals; we were never represented. So if we (local residents) wanted to go to a nationals team we had to go to Durham, Charlotte, or Asheville to make one of their teams and then slam for them. I had to make sure we had a team here to represent the area in the nationals scene,” said Eean Tyson, organizer of the slam and owner of Enfinite

Faces of Fayetteville’s

Poetry Slammers Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

“This is definitely my passion. My day job fuels me to be winning a national title. But Tyson feels confident his team able to do this.” will not only fiercely compete, but represent their town with Tyson moved to Fayetteville in 2010 from Auburn, Ala. passion and honor. after he graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Alice Miko, also known by her stage name, “Reminiscriminology/criminal justice. Upon arriving in Fayetteville, cent,” said she was excited to finally get a chance at nahe initially immersed himself in the growing poetry scene. tionals. Although she and her husband/fellow teammate, Eventually recognizing an opportunity to expand the Stefen Miko, live in Durham, they wanted to be a part of a scene on a more national level, Tyson started the Marquis groundbreaking scene that welcomed them with open arms. Slam three years ago and took the first team to the National “People are starting to pay attention (to the Marquis Poetry Slam in 2012. Since then, Tyson and four more team Slam),” said Miko. members have raised money to travel to nationals every year. “I chose to go to Fayetteville because I believed in those The slam on May 4 intropoets and I had to be a part of duced this year’s new team the growth I knew was going to comprised of Eean Tyson, happen. Fayetteville has welAyinde Simpson, Alice Micko, comed me very warmly and supKisha Sandidge, and Stephan ported me more than any other Micko. community in North Carolina.” The National Poetry Slam In early June, the Marquis will take place in Oakland, Slam team participated in the Calif., Aug. 10-15. Each year Southern Fried Poetry Slam in the competition is staged in a Little Rock, Ark where they different city and has emerged placed 12th out of 38 teams as slam’s highest-profile with Stefen Miko placing in showcase. Teams from various the top 20 individual poets in parts of Europe and the U.S. the overall slam. According to will participate, allowing the Fayetteville’s Poetry Slam, held monthly at the downtown Miko, though the team may Fayetteville team to go headMarquis Market, offers opportunity for reciting poetry and appear young to fellow comto-head for five days of gruel- adding demonstrative performance art at the same time. petitors, they accomplished ing competitions with over what they set out to do and 70 teams from around the world—battling for the reigning surprised many with what the Marquis team had to offer. title of national slam champs. When asked why she slammed, Miko smiled and timidly In the months leading up to nationals, the team continuresponded, “I wanted to push myself because as a writer, ously hosts fundraisers, showcases and community service you don’t often get to see how your work impacts people; events to raise awareness about their status as contenders that’s what slam allows. I still have a long way to go. for a poetry slam title and to lower the costs of their trip’s “Slam has made me a better writer and a performer. I expenses. never was before, and a more empathetic and patient huNo team from North Carolina has been recorded as man being. I slam to be a better person.” SE 46

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SE Snapshots

SE PICKS: Super Humans

North Carolina

Pint-sized powerhouses pound the east coast Micro wrestling gaining in popularity in N.C.

icro wrestling is sweeping the state, with the compact brawlers of the Micro Wrestling Federation popping up at events along the coast and across the southeast. Micro wrestling mixes the high-impact stage theatrics of professional wrestling with men and women of a shorter stature—midgets, dwarves, little people, as they call themselves. Based in Chicago, the MWF is a real-life wrestling organization that brings the best of theater and athletics from its performers—and has been featured on Fox’s “Bones,” Animal Planet’s “Pit Boss,” TruTv’s “Full Throttle” and Country Music Television’s “Strangest Ways To Make A Buck,” according to its online materials. More locally, the group has performed at venues such as Ziggy’s By the Sea in Wilmington on June 30 and the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville last August. The MWF’s schedule varies and the group doesn’t maintain an events calendar on its site, but the group is available for hire and events are showcased often months in advance—especially in the coastal region. According to the group’s biography on social media, the MWF was founded in 2000. The group says that while the novelty of midget wrestlers may bring in the crowd, the professionalism of their performers teaches that stature doesn’t matter so much. “Midgets (dwarves, little people)

have been used in many different forms of entertainment for years, often as a comedic aspect. Our event showcases the athletic skills and entertainment value of our performers,” the group writes. “Many people come not knowing what to expect, often thinking it will

Dean Karnazes Part of a breed known as “ultramarathoners,” Karnazes has completed a 350-mile run and once ran 50 marathons in 50 days. Legend has it that his body doesn’t produce as much lactic acid from heavy exercise as the average person, which defies reason.

Nancy Seifker San Francisco resident Nancy “Inka” Siefker, 26, holds the world record for farthest arrow shot... with her feet. Siefker, a cirque performer, holds the Guinness World Records-verified record of 6.09 meters (20 feet) with an arrow drawn and fired from her toes. The record requires the archer to hit a target 12 inches in diameter. Siefker hit a target measuring just 5.5 inches.

Raj Mohan Nair

Photos: Micro Wrestling Federation

Top: Micro wrestler Ricky Benjamin performs a flying assault on his opponent. The MWF is a national act (bottom), but it has performed in SENC several times recently.

be something to laugh at. These people leave our event with an entirely new perspective. They leave entertained, impressed, and as midget wrestling fans.” Learn more about the Micro Wrestling at www.microwrestling.com. To see the group in action, just be patient. Chances are, they’ll be at your local venue soon. SE Summer 2015

India’s Raj Mohan Nair, called “Electro-Man” is known the world over for his unusual tolerance for conductivity. At age seven, Nair is said to have grabbed an electrical transformer—but nothing happened. Nair has shown that he can withstand amperages that could kill others; 0.1 amps is enough to stop a heart, but Nair can take up to 10, often connecting the wires with his tongue.

SouthEast North Carolina

se • murmurs

LOST DOGS Fiction: Todd Wetherington Photo Illustration: Becky Wetherington Would it be wrong of me to admit that the loss of two dogs has done more damage to my soul than the combination of deaths, medical and financial calamities, and professional disappointments I’ve endured over the last decade? Well, I’m going to tell you about it anyway. There is no one else to tell: not my wife, not my co-workers, not the neighbors, or the mailman or the little Asian woman at the pet store, the one who just shrugged her shoulders when I asked about putting up a “Lost Dogs” poster in her window. What’s that you say? Haven’t most people lost a pet at some point? Absolutely true. I can’t even tell you how many bags of kittens my parents dragged off to the river when I was a kid. But I was younger then, wasn’t I? And I was stronger. Never let anyone tell you that adversity makes you a better person, that it builds character. I know the truth, and so do you. I was naked, that was the first mistake. I had just gotten out of bed and I was butt naked, so I let the dogs out and then stood inside the door while they did their business. It was dark, oh yes, but I turned the deck light on so I could see the little mongrels, didn’t I? Why should I stand outside on the deck for the meth head neighbors to see when I can just watch from inside the safety of my own home? 48

SouthEast North Carolina

But I knew Ben. Yes, I knew that deep in his Husky heart the dog was cunning. And a digger. The truth is, Ben has always known to wait until you are at your most vulnerable or distracted before attempting to escape. He’s done it over and over since I brought him home from the pound seven years ago. So I knew what I was dealing with. And I knew Frankie, the simpleminded Shepherd mix we rescued last year, would follow him into the hole and under the fence, just like he’d done half a dozen times before. Yes, it was you, you miserable fool, standing there naked and barely conscious. You did this. .... All right. I’m just talking now, not to you or me or anyone. Just the void. When I finally woke up enough to open the back door, I already knew they were gone. But I stood there calling, looking out into the shadows beyond the deck light, watching hard for any movement. Silence, just the rain, only a light mist but you could tell it was setting in for the day. And I knew, immediately, that there was no chance of finding them, not that day or any other. I made the effort of walking around to the front door, turning on the porch light and calling them, sending my voice out into the shrubs and leaves and empty highway. Nothing. Summer 2015

By this time my wife, Hannah, was up. “I heard you calling the dogs. What happened?” “I don’t know,” I told her. “They’re just gone.” We got dressed and drove slowly around the normal routes the dogs have taken when they’ve broken and run in the past. I could see Hannah’s headlights moving slowly in the opposite direction a block over, the beam from her flashlight reaching out of the driver’s side window, sweeping lawns, porches, driveways. She’s getting wet, I remember thinking. It was truly raining now, big fat drops falling out of the dark and covering the windshield. There was no sign of the dogs, of course. People began peeking out of their windows. Eventually, someone came outside and asked Hannah why she was shining a flashlight in their window. And that’s how it was for the rest of the week: the rain and morning searches and then the posters on the street corners and stores, the ad in the newspaper, the after-work searches, the 2 a.m. searches when I couldn’t sleep for fear that they were just down the street but hopelessly lost because the rain had washed their scent off every bush and light pole they’d marked recently. And there were worse thoughts. Not that they’d been killed, in some ways that would have been a relief, but that they were injured and were

lying in a ditch or a field, scared and wondering why we hadn’t come for them. And then there were the stories we’d heard, and this was the worst of all, of the scum who would round up stray dogs to use as practice animals to train other dogs for fighting. I couldn’t allow myself to think about that too long. I’d already hidden a rifle in the trunk of my car, the one my old man gave me before he died last year. …. Hannah saw the monkey first. It was early fall, a few months before the dogs disappeared, and we were walking them over on Seminary Street, which runs through the kind of pseudo bohemian neighborhood you find in a lot of small southern towns, lined with giant oak, elm and pecan trees whose roots heave up under the concrete sidewalks. “Oh my God!” Hannah nearly screamed. “It moved.” I stopped, stepped out from beneath an overhanging elm branch and looked up toward where she was pointing, at the big, double columned Victorian home set back a few yards from the sidewalk. And there it was, a dingy white mass hunched in the home’s big second story window, its thin lizard’s tail curling across its back, falling over one shoulder, neat as you please. It looked like a stuffed animal from a fair someone had propped up there as a joke. I could just make out its shape through the filmy window, but I could tell its attention wasn’t focused on me or Hannah. Its gaze was turned on the dogs, who were too busy watching squirrels to even notice the thing. It wasn’t exactly big, but it seemed too tall, too muscular to be a pet, like one of those Japanese macaque snow monkeys. Even then, I didn’t like how calm it was, like it was examining the dogs the way you or I might watch ants crawling around on the sidewalk. After that, we’d walk the neighborhood almost every week just to see if the monkey was in the window. It would disappear for a few

days and then it would be right back up there, sitting in exactly the same spot, like it had never moved. You could see the edge of what looked like a big four-poster bed behind it. “I guess he’s got his own room,” Hannah said. Sometimes we’d drive down Seminary Street at night and slow down in front of the monkey house. I don’t see that great at night, but Hannah always swore there was a vague pale shape up there, watching, or maybe sleeping, who knows. What I do know is that we never saw another living soul anywhere near that house. The lawn was always perfectly maintained, but there was no car in the driveway, no eccentric old couple puttering around in the flower beds. Nothing. Unless you count the three or four chickens we saw milling around the backyard one time. “Maybe it’s just the monkey in there, maybe he’s running the whole show” I joked one time. Hannah laughed, but she looked back over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the house, moving across the perfect green lawn and up to the second story window. …. After the dogs had been gone for a week, I called out sick at work for a few days. I was

making decent money doing graphic design work when I met Hannah four years ago, but even then the jobs were starting to dry up. Sign of the times. I managed to get on at a local bookstore but...well, the bills get paid, but that’s about it. During the first few weeks after the dogs were gone, Hannah still held out hope. She spent most of her time on Facebook posting descriptions of Ben and Frankie. Practically every day one of her friends would mention that they’d seen them downtown, miles away, or walking Seminary Street towards the river. I didn’t believe any of it. But I had to be sure. I spent two days driving every neighborhood within a five mile radius of our house, peering past every tree and under every porch until my eyes wouldn’t focus anymore and my head felt like the inside of a pressure cooker. Every time I passed the monkey house I’d force myself to drive by without slowing down or looking. But the one time I did, it was there. That night I laid awake until dawn, thinking about that thing prancing around in its house, like some

I could just make out its shape through the filmy window, but I could tell its attention wasn’t focused on me or Hannah. Its gaze was turned on the dogs...

se • murmurs devious, deformed child. I imagined it sitting in the window, its lips splayed back and its eyes bright with anticipation, tapping on the glass and calling out to two dogs passing side by side on the street below: come in, it’s safe here, come in. …. The next week I didn’t even bother to call out sick. It was for the best; I hadn’t slept in days and my concentration was shot. I would get up in the morning like I was going to work, kiss Hannah goodbye, and then just drive aimlessly, not even really looking for the dogs anymore. I had plans to make, and driving was the only way I could escape the noise, the incessant, high-pitched nattering that would begin when I was alone in the house. Still, sometimes when I was driving I’d catch glimpses out of the corner of my eye: two dark shapes

moving along a fence or beside a garage, looking for shelter. And every day it rained, and rained, and rained. …. It’s been almost a month now since the dogs disappeared. I somehow managed to keep my job after laying out for almost two weeks. I tried to talk her out of it, but Hannah insisted on taking night work waitressing at a new Italian place just down the road, although she still doesn’t have the stamina to be on her feet that long. A year and a half of radiation and chemotherapy treatments will do that to a person. With any luck I’ll be finished by the time she gets home tonight. I’ll have to be careful, I know that. I’ll leave the car parked at the end of Seminary Street, but once I’m through the back door of the house the element of surprise will be gone and I’ll have to rely

on brute force. It will be dark in there, so I’m leaving the shotgun at home and taking a big camp knife I bought on a whim a couple of years ago. I’m also bringing an old claw hammer I borrowed from my dad’s storage shed, which my mom still hasn’t had the heart to clean out. I want to do this up close, so the damned thing knows exactly what’s happening, and why. I’m no fool: whatever species it is, it’s bound to be far stronger than I am, strong enough to tear a human limb from limb, to rip your face off. But none of that will matter in the end. I’ll walk out of that house with what’s mine. And everything that’s happened over the past month, all the tears and lies, will be forgotten when Hannah comes through our door tonight. When she sees the surprise I have for her. When she sees that I’ve found our dogs, and brought them home.

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Summer 2015

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SE Congregation

North Carolina

Culture set in ink 52

SE North Carolina looks into the blossoming tattoo culture in the east— from young soldiers to well-traveled people to those of any age and predisposition, tattooing only seems to become more popular as studios have gotten cleaner, more professional and more convenient. We focus on just one of the many respected studios in the area.

Jake Shelton

Furniture shopping doesn’t have to be all La-Z-Boys and distressed mahogany. We interview Carolina Beach’s Jake Shelton, an artist who produces high-octane furniture, sculptures and paintings with hints of hot rod culture, punk rock and Polynesian flavor. Strap in and read on.

People Profiles

Spring 2015

The people in your neighborhood are doing big things, so don’t miss a chance to let the who’s-who tell you what’s-what in this issue’s People profiles. We found prolific cartoonist Joe Martin (pictured) as well as leaders in education, historic preservation, business and more.

se â&#x20AC;˘ congregation

Inked Up

Written by Elizabeth Myers Photography by Trevor Normile

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

Despite its occasionally tawdry reputation, there have been very few traditions that have been as constant across human history as tattoos. Although the methods and meanings vary widely, this art form has survived over the ages, having existed almost as long as humanity itself. Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

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uman remains dating back as far as the 4th century BC have been discovered adorned with carbon tattoos; they were also common on Egyptian mummies dating back to the 2nd Century BC. Their popularity has waxed and waned over the centuries, but tattoos have never entirely left humanity, and their pervasiveness is perhaps now more complete than it has ever been, particularly in Western culture. Polls now show that as much as 40 percent of the adult population of the U.S. is inked, and that number is only growing among each younger generation. Even in more traditionally conservative states, such as North Carolina, the popularity of tattoos is exploding. Towns like Jacksonville and Wilmington, with a high population of military members and college students respectively, are likely to have an even greater concentration of tattooed citizens. Hardwire Tattoos and Piercing on Front Street in Wilmington (Jacksonville location featured in photos) is brightly lit, clean, and inviting. Music plays in the background, and several old arcade games are scattered throughout the establishment. Gone are the days of a man in a smoky room with questionably sanitary equipment — everything from the comfortable couch that dominates the front lounge area to the private rooms belonging to each artist are there to make clients feel safe and at ease. It’s early in the work day, and the artists are mostly relaxing, preparing for the clients that will come in throughout the day. One of them steps outside for a moment, and an entire family stops to talk. The mother, a woman in her 40s, greets the artists like old friends. Tattoos are visible on the mother,

her son and her daughter — this is clearly a multi-generational appreciation. Justin Lanasa is the owner and operator of Hardwire, which currently has three locations, two in Wilmington and one in Jacksonville. Justin was drawn to the wonder of the artistry at an early age, getting his first tattoo when he was only sixteen and living in Pennsylvania. “Up there, you can get it done at an earlier age with parental consent, unlike North Carolina. The laws are different in every state, and up there it just tends to be more relaxed.” After stints in the Army and Coast Guard, Lanasa began his own training to become a tattoo artist. He opened his first shop in Carolina Beach in 1995, then moved to Wilmington’s Market Street, and eventually came to the location he is currently at on Front Street. Early in his career, Lanasa began to go above and beyond to make sure that his shops were clean, safe businesses, and that his artists were properly trained to keep it that way. “I took dental sterilization classes. The health department requires classes in blood borne pathogens every two years,’ explains Lanasa. “These regulations are a good thing, but the health department should do more; but it is a thousand percent better than it was twenty years ago.” Lanasa speaks passionately about the improvements that have occurred in the industry, and he feels that the clean, safe atmosphere coupled with well-trained artists is what has driven the explosion in popularity and acceptance that has occurred over the last two decades. “When I was in Myrtle Beach [years ago], I was in a high-end hotel with my girlfriend…I had tattoos on my arms, and an older lady clutched her purse as we stepped into the elevator with her. It’s not looked at like that as much anymore.” Lanasa continues to work to endorse and even create

tougher regulations for the industry in North Carolina. He has been active in Wilmington politics—he has run for several local offices and hopes to continue up to the state level one day. Perhaps the most visible evidence of this art form’s newfound acceptance in the U.S. is the explosion of television shows based on the industry. The common feeling among the artists seems to be that these shows are both a blessing and a curse. While it’s great to see evidence that their line of work is being celebrated, unfortunately, “reality” TV is rarely couched in actual reality. A tattoo that seemingly takes 25 minutes to complete on one of these shows would, in fact, take hours to finish over multiple sessions in real life. These shows also typically skimp over basic sanitation practices as well as the healing process afterwards. Simply put: thanks to editing, some potential clientele have gotten an unrealistic idea of how the process really works. The greatest irony of the tattoo culture is that the more pervasive it becomes, the less the idea of a collective culture exists. In the past, a tattoo was an identifier that the bearer was part of a particular group. Members of the military could identify one another by their artwork, and know everything from what branch they were in, what rank they had attained, even where they had been stationed. Some tattoos were less savory, such as those that typically adorned bikers or criminals, but they conveyed many of the same messages to those in the know. In modern times, as acceptance has grown, so has the variation among those that choose to get themselves inked. Now, more than ever, a simple enjoyment of the artwork itself is the reason that many decide to get this permanent work done.

Even the artists look different from what was once the stereotype of someone in this line of work – many of the guys at Hardwire could easily slip into a suit and pass as the “typical” businessman. Lanasa, as well as Kamran Goudarzi and Matt Fisher, two other artists at Hardwire, all chuckle at the very idea of tattoos being the center of a culture unto themselves. According to Fisher, who has been doing tattoos here for over four years, the “culture” of tattoos in Wilmington is the same as the population of the town itself, “a mish mash, a little bit all over the place,” though he does see a good number of college students and first-timers. Goudarzi says that’s one of the joys of being a tattoo artist in Wilmington. “We have everything. There’s college students, of course, but there are also people who retire and move here from up north, military members that come to visit Wilmington for the day wanting a chance to get away from the base, tourists from all over the place…we get everything. And all kinds of people want tattoos now.” The artists are, of course, the first to see the rise and fall of any trend going on in the industry, and they have seen great changes over the years. Goudarzi, who has been tattooing for over a decade, feels that Internet communities have helped tattoos become more widespread, but it hasn’t really changed the way things are done. “People used to come in and pick a piece of flash off the wall. Now, they look at Pinterest. It’s not on the wall, but it’s still the same idea.” Despite the changes, none of the Wilmington and Jacksonville artists believe that interest in tattoos has reached its peak. What will always remain are those that truly appreciate the beauty of the art form, as well as the chance to make their own body into a canvas for that art. SE Elizabeth Myers is a freelance writer from Wallace.

Far left, Master Tattoo Artist Nate Dog of Hardwire Tattoo in Jacksonville works on a side piece for a customer named Bryan. A 26-year veteran of the art, Nate is co-owner of the Jacksonville store (for close up, see spread, pages 52-53). Above left, artist Chad Polidore works on a drawing over a light box. Above, a group of young Marines talk as Diquize Johnson (seated, right in photo) awaits his turn in the chair.

IT EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

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252-523-7878

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Summer 2015

HOT ROD COUTURE Story & Photos: Trevor Normile

S se • congregation

ometimes, it’s nice to just sit back, toss your feet up and relax—as your bottom catches fire on a hotrodded (and quite comfortable, really) piece of automobile art. If that image strikes your fancy, Jake Shelton of Carolina Beach can make it happen. Well, maybe without the literal rump-roasting. Shelton can make nearly anything happen, really. He’s the owner of Jake’s Chop Shop in Carolina Beach. His clients include Snoop Dogg and Iron Man. He’s going to SEMA with a chrome-plated couch. He pours ideas onto a canvas one minute and a twisted wreck of a patina’d hot rod the next. In his gallery on Carolina Beach Avenue, Shelton shows off dragster tires—turned into chairs. He displays rusted old business coupes and sports cars—revived as furniture. He even has a name for these things: Hot Rod Couture. Intrinsically American with the unmistakeable vinegar of the lowbrow style with plenty of hot rods, bright colors and enough Tikis to populate a Polynesian island, Shelton’s Hot Rod Couture is sort of, kind of, in a way like a new American folk art. “Folk art.. On steroids. And nitrous,” Shelton concedes with a laugh. In fairness, it’s not clear if that’s even the description Shelton was searching for moments before. You just have to see it. Shelton was born on a Naval base in Portsmouth, Virginia and his family later relocated to North Carolina. His father, Bud, found work as a record-breaking experimental diver at Duke University, while his mother, Nancy, ran a beauty shop. “I was always an artist. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid— at times I would do house designs. When I was real little I thought I would be an architect,” he says. “I drew constantly. I was always drawing Jeeps, helicopters, motorcycles. The first car I always used to draw all the time was the Sox & Martin drag car and I just met Dean (Sox) recently. For me, I’m an aesthetics person. But growing up watching Evel Knievel, I would always take my bikes apart and make them into choppers, which were big in the ... early ’70s.” As he sat in his studio, Shelton talked about what may have been his introduction to car culture—trips with his father to the Orange County Speedway. Truth is, Bud Shelton always wanted to own a junkyard, Jake says. Now his son has one in his gallery, albeit an organized one. Today, Jake produces furniture from wrecked and discarded vehicles for car-minded clients who want something distinc-

SouthEast North Carolina

Summer 2015

tive for their homes. Be it a Lamborghini Murceilago bed or a couch made from a Corvette, Shelton can build it. But that’s not how it started. “I’ve had several different careers, I’ve done some retail shops, restaurants, landscaping, I worked at a lot of nightclubs, I was a bouncer at punk rock shows for a while, then I moved to Baltimore and opened up a cool little retail shop up there,” he remembers. “But I got sick of it, I hated just sitting in the store. I enjoyed building it, it was really cool, it’s an outrageous-looking place. But just sitting behind the counter all day drove me nuts. I’d sit there and do art and sell it. “I had my old ’68 Moto Guzzi [motorcycle] and I took that apart and started painting it inside the store [laughs]. I was so over that store. I moved back to N.C. and got my first job at a body shop. I started off as just prepping the cars and within probably four or five months I was the top body man.” It seems to be a part of Jake’s personality. He sees something he wants to do, and he just does it. It seems his life philosophy could be ‘do what you want, just make it rad as hell.’ It makes for some good stories, too. “I was good at it, I was fast at it. Then the body man who was at the shop I was at got all jacked up on meth while we had a big project going. “I went to the manager, he was freaking out, and said, ‘I can do this. I’ll go across the street and buy a couple tools.’ He goes, ‘Okay, there’s a brand new Mustang with a big dent in the hood and it’s black. You do that, you got the job.’ So I did it,” Shelton remembers. Later, he moved to Richmond and opened his own custom body shop. Then a man named Neon Charley, one of the few bend-it-and-color-it neon tubing artists still around, gave Jake some old car fenders—out of which he made a couch. Shelton then made another, this one out of a Ford Falcon, for the nearby Bandito’s Burrito Lounge restaurant. It all kind of ties together in that Hot Rod Couture spirit; something about a rusty fender from an old sedan just jives with a Tiki head. It’s a little SoCal, but those who know racing history and car culture know North Carolina’s the original home of the bandit hot rods. Since he started with Neon Charley’s donation, Shelton has branched out into painting and sculpture as well—one abstract piece graced the office of Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. Robert Downey, Jr., owns the piece now. The couch he made for Snoop Dogg? Completed in one presumably busy weekend. A spectacular Cadillac-Chrysler hybrid Jetsonian couch? Fender Musical Instruments took an interest in that piece (it’s in private collection now). Jake’s even planning a project for GWAR drummer Gizmak Da Gusha (also called “Brad”) for more hot rod furniture. But it was hungry-broke in his shop in Arizona that Shelton got his biggest client: Joe Polish, owner of Piranha Marketing and the biggest donor to the Make-a-Wish Foundation

At right: Jake Shelton stands with a piece of artwork he produced that was featured in the movie “Iron Man 3.” Far right top: the famous couch Shelton made from parts of a 1961 Chrysler 300, the tail fins from a ’59 Cadillac and feet made from Cat diesel pistons. Far right, below, Shelton shows off his many paintings that feature a blend of Polynesian culture, punk rock, hot rod madness and more in his Carolina Beach gallery.

and Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite. “Joe stopped at my studio in Arizona, and I was building a chair, dead broke, and I just had scraps laying around. So, I was putting together this chair, and he stopped and was like, ‘What are you doing with that?’ I said, ‘Well, I’m building a chair.’ “He said, ‘That’s really cool. How much are you gonna sell it for?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, I mean, I’m not done yet.’ He said, ‘I wanna buy it!’ I forget what I told him. He bought that and in the same couple of minutes ended up buying a ’60 Lincoln bed. All of a sudden, it’s like, I could pay rent, I could buy groceries. Woo!” While other, decidedly less.. erm, boisterous crafts might keep the local Michael’s shop in business, Shelton’s more at home at Big Mike’s Junkyard: If a customer has a specific need, the artist goes hunting. Shelton’s adamant that he doesn’t cut up clean cars either—that ’60 Lincoln bed he mentioned was buried up to its chassis in the desert when he found it. And the artist is expanding. Overcoming personal hurtles has allowed Shelton to become not only a man of aesthetics, but of efficiency as well. “I just started taking Adderall. I’m ADD,” Shelton shares. “That’s completely transformed me, I’m getting crazy amounts done compared to what I used to ... like when I did Snoop Dogg’s couch, they funded me on a Friday and I had to have it at his house on Monday. Normally I don’t do things that fast. That was awesome though, I had a great time ... “... I’ve really struggled through the years at times and other times I’ve done really well. I’ve got a vision of what I want to do and I have confidence in what I wanna do, and I refuse to do it any other way.” Shelton’s attention deficit is a quirk of his personality that he’s actually quite passionate about sharing, in hopes that others diagnosed with the condition will seek treatment. “I don’t feel any lack of passion or creativity [on the new medication]. I’m actually feeling more of it. It’s a very different world for me right now, a way better world. I did this before, but it was

difficult for me to just sit down and think. With ADD, it’s like you think of something, and your brain opens a door to think about it. But all of sudden, something else comes, and your brain opens that door. With ADD, the doors never shut. It’s like opening a bunch of windows on your computer until your computer just doesn’t work anymore.” In other words, Shelton already had talent, but now he’s better-focused, too. The artist also touted a business plan that he thinks will allow him to serve even more clients, by producing “prints” of his original sculptures in fiberglass. Further showcasing his work, Shelton plans to attend the upcoming SEMA auto show where he’ll work with the Chrome Factory of Las Vegas and Cosmic Chrome to produce that chrome-plated couch mentioned earlier. And while the artist claims his favorite piece is always the one he just finished, it’s his next project that could be his biggest yet. Details are a little vague now, but if it happens, the project could pay tribute to one of the most legendary names in drag racing history, he hints. Shelton certainly has the credibility to tackle such a project. When last he spoke about it, Jake was nearly finished building a desk for NASCAR ace Joey Logano. The desk sports a see-through top with a three-dimensional motor layout underneath—and includes real Caddy motor parts. During his interview this past spring, Jake Shelton probably could have gone on talking for hours in his gallery, surrounded by his furniture (Carroll Shelby once advised him to use Goodyear tires exclusively for his drag-slick chairs) and art, including at least one stuffed marlin fitted with exhaust headers. But he was soon back to the hustle, calling clients and chasing opportunities before dinner at a local bar. Over burgers, he talked about his adventures out West, including at least one encounter with a possible Native American spirit. Jake Shelton certainly follows his own path. Perhaps it would be said best in pinstripe, on the disembodied hood of a ’56 Buick: do what you want, just make it rad as hell. SE Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

SE People

North Carolina

Katie Mikos

Leon Sikes

Crown Coliseum promoter Overseeing day-to-day marketing and public relations efforts for Fayetteville’s Crown Coliseum brings Katie Mikos up close and personal with some of the world’s most famous entertainers and acts, like the big Elton John concert in March in which more than 10,000 fans of the English pop singer/pianist were treated to John’s music which spans several generations since the 1970s. Other big shows that Mikos has helped bring to Fayetteville include Disney on Ice and the recent J. Cole concert. She also helps coordinate game schedules for the Fayetteville Fireants, the local professional hockey team that calls Crown Coliseum home. At Crown, a Global Spectrum entertainment property that has 60,000 square feet of exposition space and seats 5,000 for arena events and has 10,000 coliseum seats, Mikos works with national and local tour promoters, leading an in-house marketing and sales team. The Aiken, South Carolina native is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Prior to arriving in Fayetteville as marketing director for Crown in 2014, Mikos worked for four other Global Spectrum venues including Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. “When I came to Fayetteville, I was unsure how long I’d really want to stay here, but this area has captivated me, and I’m in love with my job here. Meeting so many famous entertainers is a real treat but what I really like is tailoring shows to what the people here will Contributed enjoy and photo appreciate.”

SouthEast North Carolina

A historian’s historian

Photo courtesy of StarNews Media

Joe Martin

Prolific cartoonist As a teenager, Joe Martin liked spoofing his teachers and principals in caricatures on his way to being named years later by Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Most Prolific Cartoonist. The 69-year old Chicago native is the syndicated artist for daily newspaper cartoon strips “Mister Boffo,” “Cats With Hands,” and Willy ’n Ethel” and now, with his wife and editor Marie, calls Wilmington and Oak Island home. Martin told the Wilmington Star-News earlier this year, “Once you come up with a joke, you have to start all over again... The best thing I’ve got going for me is that I’ve never in my life had writer’s block.” Marie wryly says of her husband, “He’s very silly and creative, no matter what the situation. He’s good around deathbeds in hospitals.” Martin’s “office” these days is often a folding chair near the dune line outside their beach home. “Whenever I can’t write a joke, I remember something Richard Pryor said: ‘There’s something funny about everything.’”

Summer 2015

Leon H. Sikes of Rose Hill has spent much of his life gathering information about his home county and southeastern North Carolina. His collection has grown to be one of the most fascinating a local historian could imagine. He learned from the best: his next door neighbor, the late Dr. Dallas Herring, an icon in the state’s education and history. Herring’s library of family genealogy and history now resides in the Pender County library in Burgaw. Sikes has written genealogical publications and contributed to several other authors’ historic books about our corner of the state. He was a prime mover in the recent publication, “The Heritage of Duplin County 1750-2012.” His association with others interested in state and local history is marked by his membership in Preservation North Carolina, and on advisory boards for the Duplin County Historic Foundation, Museum of the Cape Fear, Duplin County Veterans Museum, Moores Creek Battleground Association and as an active member in the Duplin County Historic Society and several other groups. A graduate of Barton College, Sikes served in the Air Force and had a career in public health before becoming the first tourism director in Duplin County. He now writes a weekly history column for the Duplin Times newspaper. Asked how he keeps coming up with topics for his column, Sikes says, “I don’t know. It just seems to find me.” Contributed photo

Six who have distinguished themselves in art, education, history and business Danny Graham

Dr. Jose Sartarelli

Market entrepreneur Danny Graham is a local boy who came back home to the family farm in Delco after a four-year stint in the Marine Corps that led him to serve in Presidential Security for President Jimmy Carter. After working at Dupont in Leland and later restoring historic homes in Wilmington, Graham recently started a new venture on his Livingston Creek Farm along U.S. 74-76 between Delco and Bolton. It’s a Farmers Market, fresh fish market, and a full service restaurant that should be open by September. With his trademark black cowboy hat and boots, and his handlebar mustache, he’s easy to recognize. He’ll also be seen working as hard or harder than any of his employees, which he says he pays above minimum wage to reward their hard work. He has produce suppliers in a four county area, buys fresh seafood from Topsail to Varnamtown, and plans his Livingston Creek Eatery for the bright red building on the property that will feature country cooking. Graham, who gets help from his fiance, Yolanda Chiles from Houston, Texas, when she can get to Delco, also plans a jogging trail and cart rides at the site.

Photo by Gary Scott/ SE North Carolina

New UNCW chancellor

Contributed photo: Carolina Ocean Studies

Sandie Cecelski

Marine sciences instructor Sometimes, a passion leads to great things. That’s the case with Sandie Cecelski, a high school marine sciences teacher at E.A. Ashley High School in Wilmington. She gets co-credit for starting one of only three high school marine science academies along the east coast of the U.S. that provides students the chance to earn college-level credits in marine science and oceanography at UNC Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College marine science programs. A veteran 30-year teacher, Cecelski is active in the Coastal Federation, an environmental group of volunteers, particularly in the organization’s local coast and education outreach programs. She’s a Tennessee native who came to work at the Fort Fisher Aquarium and never left. She and her husband own an eco-tourism business that offers educational programs up and down the N.C. coast. When she’s not teaching or volunteering, she might be found fishing, wading in a tidal pool, kayaking, or working on a boat. “I love everything to do with the local coast and outreach education, so it’s perfect for me,” Cecelski told the Coastal Review last year.

Summer 2015

A new era began July 1 at the University of North Carolina Wilmington with the installation of Dr. Jose “Zito” Sartarelli as the new chancellor of the growing institution. Sartarelli leaves West Virginia University to come lead UNCW. At WVU, he was chief global officer and dean of the College of Business and Economics. In what is likely to be a preview of Sartarelli’s leadership at UNCW, the Chancellorelect said while on campus after the April 10 announcement of his hiring. “We want to make sure we have a vision for the university that is transformational, that’s appealing, that appeals to the emotions of our alumni and in many times non-alumni.” Wendy Murphy, UNCW Board of Trustee member and Co-Chair of the Chancellor Search Committee said, “Dr. Sartarelli impressed me with his passion for making a difference, both at UNCW and in the community.” Dr. Sartarelli is a native of Brazil and has degrees from Michigan State University and Sao Paulo School of Business Administration. He has a corporate as well as educational background, having a 30-year international pharmaceutical industry leadership role, as well as his five years on the job in education at WVU.

UNCW photo

SouthEast North Carolina

Play dates Upcoming things to do in southeastern North Carolina WECT Sounds of Summer Concerts

JUNE 18 - AUGUST 6 Wrightsville Beach Park, 1 Bob Sawyer Drive, Wrightsville Beach Live music all summer long featuring Machine Gun Band, Blivet, The Fury, The Other Guys, Selah Dubb, Jack Jack 180, Bantum Rooster and The Imitations. Free Admission - Call 910-256-7925

Sand in the Streets Outdoor Concerts Series: The Entertainers THURSDAY, JULY 23

Pearson Park, 301 N Queen St, Kinston A staple of the beach music scene, The Entertainers provide an unmatched sound, coupled with high-energy choreography, ultimate sound system technology, concert lighting effects and quality wardrobe design in just one performance. Free Admission - Visit downtownkinston.com

SouthEast North Carolina

Smash Mouth

SE PICk

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 8 pm - Ziggy’s by the Sea, 208 Market St., Wilmington

Smash Mouth is the ultimate summertime party band with jumpin’ songs like “Magic,” “Flippin’ Out,” and “The Game,” Smash Mouth is the perfect soundtrack for your summer fun in the sun. Admission $20 (advance) and $25 (day of show) • Visit ziggysbythesea.com

Summer 2015

Wayne County Jazz Showcase FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

7 pm, The Art Council of Wayne Country, 102 N John St, Goldsboro The monthly concert is held the third Friday of every month and highlights the region’s most talented musicians. Free Admission - Visit artsinwayne.org

The Pajama Game FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 SUNDAY, SEPT. 20

Bernaroo

7:30 pm Fri. & Sat. 3 pm Sun. Paramount Theatre, 139 S. Center St., Goldsboro

Music & Arts Festival July 24 & 25, 2015

Musical about a workers strike and battle of the sexes. Visit goldsboroparamount.com Admission $15-$48.

Admission: $15 per person $25 two-day pass A two-day festival featuring acts from all over North Carolina representing a variety of genres, live paintings, art gallery displays, craft vendors, local N.C. food and beer. Email terencemce@gmail.com

Isacc Taylor Garden, 228 Craven St., New Bern

In the Heights

AUG. 7-8, 14-15 - 7:30 pm AUG. 9, 16 - 2 pm New Bern Civic Theatre 412 Pollock St., New Bern

Piano Masterworks: Norman Bemelmans and Elizabeth Loparits FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

8 pm, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Kenan Auditorium, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington Piano Masterworks includes works for solo piano, including Loparits’ performances of Chopin’s “Ballade #1” and Beethoven’s “Sonata in f minor, op. 57, Appassionata.” Bemelmans performs master works by Schumann and Rachmaninoff. Admission $18 - Visit uncw.edu/arts

The universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood—a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Admission $10-$14 - Visit newberncivictheatre.org

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers AUGUST 21

6 pm - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater Wilmington Spontaneous and creative live performances of jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, and blues. Admission $35-$40 - Visit greenfieldlakeamphitheater.com

SE PICk Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour Miranda Lambert with special guests Ashley Monroe, Clare Dunn, and Courtney Cole

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 7:30 pm, Crown Complex, 1960 Coliseum Dr., Fayetteville Country sensation Miranda Lambert brings her tour to SENC. Visit crowncomplexnc.com. Admission $71.52

Summer 2015

Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival August 8 & 9 • 11 am both days, 126 Park Lane, Sneeds Ferry

Celebration of delicious shrimp featuring Shimparoo shrimp dinner, food, arts and crafts, beverages, games, and contests with live entertainment. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission $5, children 6-12 $3 and children under 6 free. Visit sneadsferryshrimpfestival.org

N.C. Rice Festival • September 19 & 20 • 9 am both days • Brunswick Riverwalk, 580 River Road Southeast, Belville Live music on both days of the festival with activities for all ages, annual rice cooking contest and youth art show. Admission $5. Visit ncricefestival.com

Benson Mule Days • September 24 - 27 • Benson The weekend is packed with rodeos, a mule pulling contest, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, carnival rides, camping, trail rides, parades, bluegrass shows and more. Admission varies. Visit bensonmuledays.com

Eleventh Annual Muscadine Harvest Festival • Sept. 25 & 26 • Duplin County Events Center, 195 Fairgrounds Dr., Kenansville Celebration of the nation’s first cultivated grape, live music, jams, jellies, and lots of wine. Admission $8-$25. Visit muscadineharvestfestival.com

NC Poultry Jubilee Harvest Festival • Oct. 2 & 3 • Sat, 6 pm, Sun, 11 am • Town Square, 510 E. Main St., Rose Hill

Two days of music and fun featuring carnival rides, chicken wing cook-off, live entertainment, and more. Free admission. Visit ncpoultryjubilee.com

River Fest October 2-4 • Historic downtown Wilmington

Celebration of heritage, culture, and beauty on the Cape Fear River. Free Admission. Visit wilmingtonriverfest.com

N.C. Seafood Festival Oct. 2-4 • Fri. 4 pm, Sat. 8 am, Sun., 8 a.m. 412 D. Evans St., Morehead City Celebration of fresh caught seafood and the impact beyond Morehead City. Free Admission. Visit seafoodfestival.org

SouthEast North Carolina

Hellzapoppin’ Circus

Sideshow Revue Photos: Trevor Normile

•

Deejay RyRy the Imperial (Ryan Stevens) at Hooligans Music Hall in Jacksonville always does it big for his birthday. This year’s birthday bash? An evening of heavy metal, risque performances and magnificent deeds that bent the imagination on April 17. First up, local metals bands Killing the Catalyst and Protoform opened for the Rebel Roadshow and their locally-sourced talent. Dancers put on a burlesque show to delight. Yes, it featured scantily-clad women dancing on stage, but it was much more than that. One woman debuted in a gorilla costume, only to reveal she was dressed underneath as comic book villain “Poison Ivy.” In another instance, ringleader Miles O’Toole, in his mustachioed, masked persona joined two female cohorts on stage, in his underpants. Some in the crowd were confused, but all were amused. The dancers then gave way to the birthday show to end all birthday shows—the Hellzapoppin’ Circus Sideshow Revue, a sideshow fitting for a main event. Fire-eating, face-drilling, nail-bed-laying—a very well-trained pug named Mr. Buggles the Wonder Dog (from Kentucky)—it was quite a show. The talented torso of stunt man Short E. Dangerously (bottom right) even performed. To top it off, Ryan got to pull a hair-splittingly-sharp sword from a performer’s gullet on stage (see top). Was it a PG-rated night? No, but it was all in good fun, with more than a few couples and adult families laughing and gasping from the stage’s edge.

•

of Kinston

North Carolina

We offer RV Parts, Doors,Windows, Skirting, Plumbing, Set-up Material & Goodman Units - Package or Split.

Where in SENC is this? Atlantic Beach Causeway Atlantic Beach

This month’s mystery photo: A street sign warns summer tourists to keep an eye out for jaywalking ducks along the main thoroughfare connecting Atlantic Beach, one of southeastern North Carolina’s most popular oceanfront destinations, with mainland Morehead City. The area’s most-visited tourist attractions is nearby Fort Macon State Park. Constructed in 1826, Fort Macon was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War. Today, the park surrounds the United States Coast Guard Base there. In 1996, the remains of The Queen Anne’s Revenge, the pirate Blackbeard’s flagship, were discovered in the Atlantic just offshore. A number of cannons, cannonballs, bar shot halves, iron bolts and grenades have been recovered from the wreck. Known for its abundance of public beaches and friendly people, the town manages to balance the needs of its citizens and visitors with its delicate coastal environment—including its ducks.

Forbes Mobile Home Supply, Inc. 1716 Hwy. 11/55 South, Kinston

252-527-2166

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

www.forbesmobilehomesupply.com

Duplin County’s Original

Farm Equipment Dealer

Count On Us!

...Still Number One For Sales and Service!

KENANSVILLE

EQUIPMENT CO., INC. 110 N. NC 11 Hwy.

●

Bush Hog

Kenansville

910-296-0777

Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am-5:30 pm; Sat. 8-noon

Summer 2015

SouthEast North Carolina

Clegg Grady, Owner

SE Humor

North Carolina

We sipped cola through straws and talked more of the universe

Story and photo: Trevor Normile

ne thing you should know about us here at SE North Carolina is that we’re not what you’d consider a high society publication. Our office is located in a town that shrank by 294 living, breathing human beings in 10 years—to 855. In my beat at the Duplin Times newspaper, I am not summoned to cover murders on every street corner—not that our town has many corners on which to become murdered. Sure, we have our connections and a big headline every now and then, but mostly it’s just covering board meetings, a benefit now and then, or the occasional meth lab explosion. So it’s the denizens of swamp and field, the Real Folk, with whom I like to spend my afternoons, especially when it concerns my other responsibility at the Times—the monthly automobile feature. One such person was called Delmar. At least that’s what I’ll call him here, since I didn’t exactly run this column by him first. Delmar is not the archetype of the easygoing and altogether friendly retired country boy. He very much is those things, but not how they are expected. I met Delmar as a referral from another Car Guy in regards to his pristine 1974 Datsun (Nissan) 240Z. Other Car Guys and Gals will recognize that as the original Fairlady, a car which set out to accomplish so much and yet was so much more. Upon meeting Delmar, a shorter man of perhaps 65 or 70 (I didn’t ask) with a sharp intellect hiding under his red hair, he told me more than once of a stroke he had some time ago that affected his equilibrium. Sitting at the edge of his garage with the orange rump of that old Z catching just a little light, Delmar and I sat down in lawn chairs—he, with a sweating can of diet cola and I, sweating with a voice recorder. And not a minute after reminding me of his stroke, Mr. Delmar changed the subject: to space aliens. Far be it from me, an X-Files-phile and

SouthEast North Carolina

lover of all things paranormal since age seven, to ridicule anyone for their belief in anything, heaven forbid spacemen. I wrote a piece on Bigfoot for this very issue, for crying out loud. But when I glanced up to see a faint smile on Delmar’ face, I did make note that it reached both corners of his mouth. So, being all too happy to engage in the topic, we talked about spacemen first and the car second. Delmar also told me about a man who worked on his family’s farm back when he was young. The man could kill wasps in their nests using nothing more than a broom handle and his own body odor. Anecdotes aside—anecdotes and all—it was a spectacular interview. And Delmar is a spectacular man. His wife, Pam, is a spectacular woman. I visited them again a week later for another cola and more talk of the universe. But sodas and flying saucers weren’t the only reason I returned. You see, I can be kind of an idiot sometimes. As fate would have it, the Z’s 40-year-old clutch had lost pressure for some reason just days before our first meeting. That meant if I was going to get a photo of Delmar and his car, we’d have to push it outside. Not a problem. Delmar steered. I pushed. Getting it back in the uphill garage was a problem. Had I the presence of mind, I’d have heeded the man’s caution about his shattered equilibrium and used a little more caution. But, you know, I’m an idiot. As Delmar steered the car into the garage, I kept pushing, assuming he might let me know before we reached the brick stairs in the back of the garage. Had I just looked up for a second, I might have avoided what came next: “Crunch.” Like a collar bone breaking. I nearly fainted. Big purple blots smothered my vision. My blood pressure is usually low, but my head instantly felt set to burst as the sound traveled through the independent front suspension, the 2.4 liter straight-six motor, the four-speed manual transmission and its worn wooden shifter grip, the tan leather interior, the atomic orange paint, the years of memories of Delmar Summer 2015

and his family and his beloved late son, Daniel, a Car Guy himself with a love of flying—two things the two men shared until Daniel’s death in 1990—after which the car was put away until a neighbor convinced him to bring it to car shows to cheer him up and get him out of the house once in a while, and, and, and, good God Almighty... what had I done? Humiliated in front of my new friend, I had just damaged his pristine, gleaming, cellophane-still-on-the-seat belts 240Z, looking fresh as if from the timeless halls of Sports Car Valhalla. But as I looked under the front of the car, I found... nothing. Just a few soda bottles and a bucket sitting on the garage floor. It wasn’t until later that afternoon, having a Saturday plinking session with some family (it was a Saturday), that Mr. Delmar called me back. When I saw Delmar’s name appear on my cell phone screen, I put down the borrowed pistol and answered it quickly. “There was some damage to the Z,” he said. As it turned out, the front-right turning signal lens, having caught the brunt of the force, was cracked. It must have hit the brick steps. Hidden under the carp-like front bumper, it would have been easy to miss, but Mr. Delmar was sure. I didn’t even ask to see the damage. In the scheme of things, it was my carelessness that caused the accident. I resolved to scour my Internet contacts for a replacement. Delmar agreed, but insisted that he call the number in the back of his factory service manual first. I wished him luck. But as it turns out, not only is that number still active, Nissan still carries the part, 34 years later. The total, if memory serves, was $26.28. I offered to pay, but Delmar only agreed to let me pay half. Days later, I brought him a Diet Coke and my half, $13.14. So, I paid the man. And I don’t remember how exactly, but Delmar found a way to relieve my the pain in my head and the redness in my face from careless thing that I did. We sat awhile and sipped cola through straws. And talked more of the universe.

11th annual

2015 North Carolina

Muscadine

Festival DUPLIN COUNTY EVENTS CENTER 195 Fairgrounds Drive

KENANSVILLE

(Exit 373 off I-40 between Raleigh and Wilmington)

SEPT. 25-26

• 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday • 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday

Join us and celebrate the heritage of the nation’s first cultivated grape and the North Carolina State Fruit.

• Tickets Friday: $8 advance; $10 at gate Saturday: $20 advance; $25 at gate 2-day PaSS: $25 advance; $30 at gate (includes commemorative wine glass)

aSK aBOut MiLitary & GrOuP diSCOuNtS

• Ages 5 and under free; 6-20 $5.00 ea. NO COOLErS Or PEtS

• Festival ~Wine Tasting ~ Concerts ~Arts & Crafts ~Shag Contest ~Children’s activities

~Cooking Contest ~Wine Making Contest ~Foods From

Around Eastern N.C.

• Bands

• Fri., Sept. 25 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Spare Change 6-9 p.m.

www.muscadineharvestfestival.com

910.305.8752

VOICE OR TEXT Art: Gillian Smith

Over 250 of North Carolina’s best wines...rain or shine! Participating Wineries

Adams Vineyards • Bannerman Vineyard • Bennet Vineyards • Cauble Creek Vineyard • Childress Vineyards • Country Squire Winery • Cypress Bend Vineyards • Dennis Vineyards • Duplin Winery • Gregory Vineyards • Herrera Vineyards • Hinnant Family Vineyards • Lake James Cellars Winery • Locklear Vineyard and Winery • Old North State Winery • Prince Johnson Winery, LLC • Raintree Winery • Rock of Ages Winery • Southern Charm Winery • Stephens Vineyards & Winery • Stony Mountain Vineyards • Vineyards on the Scuppernong • Waldesian Style Wines • Weathervane Winery ... and more! Winery participation may change due to unavoidable circumstances.

• Sat., Sept. 26 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

the Golden Oldies 10 a.m.-noon Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot 12:30 -3 p.m. Shag Contest 3:15-4 p.m. The Fantastic Shakers 4-7 p.m.

• Tailgating

Weekend tailgating packages available! Hurry! Limited spaces will go fast!

Life insurance is more than a policy, it’s a promise. (910)296-1486 www.ncfbins.com Matt McNeill LUTCF Agency Manager roy.mcneill@ncfbins.com

Teddy Bostic

Agent Matt McNeill Kenansville

Dean Johnson

Nick Bell

Agent Kenansville

dean.johnson@ncfbins.com

nicholas.bell@ncfbins.com

LUTCF Agent roy.mcneill@ncfbins.com teddy.bostic@ncfbins.com

An Authorized Agency for

Doug Pierson

David Jones

Agent Agent *North CarolinaBeulaville Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. Beulaville

Agent Beulaville

NCLFNP41000

Lynn Mobley

*Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina,doug.pierson@ncfbins.com Inc. lynn.mobley@ncfbins.com *Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

david.jonesww@ncfbins.com

Duplin County Farm Bureau

308 N. Main Street • Kenansville, NC 28349 151 Crossover Road • Beulaville, NC 28518 THIS ARTWORK CANNOT BE ALTERED, REVISED, RESIZED OR REBUILT BEYOND CHANGING THE AGENT PHOTO OR CONTACT INFO. CONTACT MADGENIUS WITH ANY QUESTIONS AT COOP@MADGENIUSINC.COM

(910) 296-1486 (910) 298-8400

NCLFNP41000

www.ncfbins.com *North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. *Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina, Inc.; *Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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