The Lake Magazine - November 2011

November 2011

A Reflection of Life on Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake

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Letter to the editor...

Broadband @ the lake Dear editor,

A D / C R E A T I V E Linda Foster

Thank you for the article on broadband, I feel the pain ... We have been on the lake since 2000 and the only choice that we have/had for Internet service is satellite.

The problems with satellite is the limited upload and download of large files which must be done between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., and phasing which means no Netflix. We moved from Happy Valley to Hollie Pointe on Little Stonehouse Creek in 2007.

About 2002, before Sprint became Centurylink, we were promised DSL. Well as luck would have it after Centurylink got on the scene in Happy Valley and everyone around us within a mile got DSL. I complained to Centurylink so many times that I lost count and their excuse is, and has been, that the repeaters are maxed out and they have no idea when, or even if I will ever get DSL. So your article gave me a glimmer of hope (I think). Could this be applicable to me? Are there any POCs to find out when and if I will get DSL?

tbritt@rrdailyherald.com (252) 537-2505 Ext. 251

Bill Marshall Littleton

A REFLECTION OF LIFE ON LAKE GASTON & ROANOKE RAPIDS LAKE

P U B L I S H E R Titus L. Workman

publisher@rrdailyherald.com (252) 537-2505 Ext. 248

E X E C U T I V E E D I T O R Stephen Hemelt

shemelt@rrdailyherald.com (252) 537-2505 Ext. 233

E D I T O R Kris Smith

ksmith@rrdailyherald.com (252) 537-2505 Ext. 238

A D E X E C U T I V E Rhonda Irby

rhondairby@thelakemagazine.biz (252) 410-5253

lindafoster@rrdailyherald.com (252) 537-2505 Ext. 224

C I R C U L A T I O N Tammy Britt

Contributing writers Della Rose, Jacqueline Hough, Roger Bell and Matthew Stevens Contributing photographers Jack Milliner and Melissa Teets Designer Kris Smith

Ad Designers Heather Rhea Wade and Hope Callahan

On the cover ...

Roanoke Wildwood Fire Chief Butch Garnett looks over gauges on the company’s newest fire truck. His story is on page 18.

Cover photograph by Della Rose Cover design by Kris Smith & Heather Rhea Wade The Lake Magazine 916 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 P.O. Box 520, Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-410-5253 (LAKE) • info@thelakemagazine.biz Copyright 2011 The Lake Magazine No portion of The Lake Magazine may be reprinted in any form or posted on the internet without the permission of the publisher.

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NOVEMBER 2011 VOL. 5 NO. 5 6 Artist of the Month 10 Daytripper ...

17 Avoiding loss aversion 18 Putting Other Guy First 20 Natural fall decor

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Lake Country Profile Photo gallery Lake Country Living Tailgating recipes Parting shot ...

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Lake Country

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JACQUELINE HOUGH

t s i t rA o f the m o n th WILLIAM WARD MOSELEY

Binding his art to share ake Country artist William Ward Moseley wrote his first book about his love affair with art to share the feeling with other art lovers.

“You get a great deal of satisfaction producing a work of art,” he said.

The book, “An Affair with Art,” talks about his life as an architect and painter with his own paintings used to illustrate it.

With chapters ranging from various places in his life to friends, accolades and disappointments, “An Affair with Art” paints a picture of who Moseley is for the reader.

For instance, a chapter on Roanoke Rapids talks about the area and has paintings of KapStone Kraft Paper Corporation.

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“I am very proud of the book,” he said. “I was concerned about it getting personal. I reveal some things that I had never revealed to anyone.”

Moseley started painting after retiring as an architect in 1990.

“I believe everyone on Earth has a definite purpose in life,” Moseley said. “Whether they achieve it is up to the person.”

A native of Lawrenceville, Va., he splits his time between Lake Gaston and Naples, Fla. He is inspired by landscape scenery and creates art in a realistic, impressionist style.

Moseley said he was influenced by international artist Wolf Kahn, who studied with him in 1993 and 1994.

He has received more than 100 awards for his artwork in various shows all over the country.

In addition to producing his own artwork, he teaches watercolor and pastel classes in Florida and gives private lessons at Lake Gaston.

He enjoys seeing someone who has never picked up a brush but later has a completed work.

Above, the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., is featured in ‘An Affair with Art.’ At left, A 1947 graduate of Lawrenceville High School, William Moseley painted this watercolor of the school for his 50th high school class reunion. Each classmate received a print.

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“Some are hesitant to let it out,” Moseley said. “But most people would be extremely pleased and surprised at what happens with a little instruction.”

He added once a person gets started, the artist inside them will come out.

“It is a great therapeutic exercise because if a person is unhappy or depressed, art is a great way of coming out of that,” he said.

Moseley admitted the book

probably wouldn’t make the New York Times best seller list because it is a more regional book.

“I wrote it for anyone interested in art,” he said.

The book is available at various places around Lake Gaston.

Cost is $59.99 plus tax and handling.

“The easiest way is to pick up the phone and call me,” he said.

Moseley continues to paint, but

It took William Moseley three weeks to write his first book about his love affair with art.

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has found he likes writing. He has three other books with paintings in the works about Brunswick County, Va., the Virginia Tech campus and Lake Gaston.

To purchase a book, call 252586-5342 or email wwmoseart@aol.com.

Samples of his work in watercolor, pastel, oils and abstracts can be found on his website at www.moseleyfineart.com.

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daytripper...

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE FROM FAYETTEVILLE

Valley’s own represents

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WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JACQUELINE HOUGH

t is worth the two-hour drive to Fayettevile to visit the North Carolina Veterans Park. It is something that should be put on all North Carolinians’ bucket lists.

As the first park in the state dedicated to all military veterans from every branch of the Armed Services — Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard — it is a breathtaking sight.

I knew a dedication ceremony was held for it in July.

I wanted to visit it myself and see the bronzed hands from 100 veterans representing each county in the state.

Veteran Dallas Jones represented Halifax County, while veteran Stephen Jackson represented Northampton County.

Upon arrival there is a 3,500 square feet Visitors Center anchoring the park near the entrance.

The Visitors Center includes a Service Ribbon Wall made of fused glass, representing every service medal awarded since the Civil War. The park is made up of three areas that symbolize life before service, life during service and life after service.

The $13 million North Carolina Veterans Park is the first state park in North Carolina dedicated to all military veterans from every branch of the Armed Services.

At right, the Oath of Service Wall has 100 bronze casted hands from each of the 100 counties in North Carolina.

Also in the Veterans Park, vistiors can view these Community Columns, pictured above and at right, which hold casted hands of people in each county in North Carolina.

Each column contains four hand casts of veterans or people who support veterans.

The veterans whose hands are featured on the Oath of Service Wall,left, chose the hands of those who are displayed on the columns, above and right.

The Community Plaza symbolizes life before service. The Oath of Service Wall left me speechless — 100 bronze casted hands from North Carolina veterans from each of the state’s 100 counties.

As I walked among the community columns, I had tears in my eyes and had to remind myself to take photos.

It contains 50 columns with the names of each of the state’s 100 counties adorned with castings of hands from veterans, their families and residents of every North Carolina county.

These hands represent support for veterans as they leave their communities to enter service.

The Service Plaza symbolizes life during service.

The Patriot Wall, with its panels shimmering under a sheet of water, once again rendered me speechless.

The Service Plaza also contains five arches representing each branch of the Armed Forces while providing a literal gateway to life after service.

The Reflection Garden symbolizes the transition from service back to civilian life. This area also gave me a chance to reflect on what I had seen.

Veterans, past and present, have played an integral part of not only this state’s history, but also the nation.

It took me about an hour and a half to go through the park and I could have stayed longer.

The North Carolina Veterans Park is next to the 59,000 square feet.

Airborne & Special Operations Museum — it preserves the extraordinary feats performed by parachute and glider borne troops and their brothers in arms, the Special Operations Forces.

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The Reflection Wall incorporates reflective stainless steel panels that cast images of the people and elements of the surrounding area.

THE PARK IS A PERMANENT TRIBUTE TO VETERANS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING OUR COUNTRY FREE.

There are several statues like this one dedicated throughout the North Carolina Veterans Park.

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If you daytrip to the North Carolina Veterans Park ...

• 300 Bragg Blvd. in Fayetteville • Hours of operation: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday – Saturday and noon – 5 p.m. Sunday • Admission is free • For more details visit www.ncveteranspark.org or call 910-433-1224 or 910-433-1457.

Holiday Gift Guide

2011

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Lots of handy storage options can be found at Flambeau Outlet Store. Great gift for the "organizer" on your list!

If you need a gift with a little "Bling", A Bird's Eye View offers many unique jewelry pieces. Styles to suit any fashionista on your Christmas list!

Give a gift they can use ALL YEAR! Tanglewood Shores Golf and Country Club offers gift certificates.

Golf, sparkling swimming pool...join right now at 2011 prices!

You will find a Christmas Wonderland at Wildwood Nursery! Who wouldn't LOVE this beautiful Santa canvas to hang, or a whimsical snow globe?

A cooker or smoker from Daughtridge Gas Company makes a great gift for anyone! Be prepared for the next power outage!

Winter fashions by O'Neill, Billabong, and ROXY for guys and gals are always a hit! Other gift items and fashions for pre-teens are available at Lake Life Clothing Company.

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New Businesses

At the Lake New proprieters in Lake Country offer products and services to meet the community’s recreational needs

N.C. Boat Brokers owner Becky Ross said her company is Lake Gaston’s No. 1 one source for buying, selling or repairing your boat. ‘We’re getting heavy in the used boat market,’ Ross said. ‘We have 15 (boats) now, and we’re shooting for 30 by the end of winter.’ Ross said she sells Jet skis and ATVs. ‘Our main goal is to help people buy and sell their boats,’ she said. The store offers tubes, wake boards, skis, water toys and other fun items for lake living. Ross invites everyone to drop by 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. N.C. Boat Brokers is located at 1973 River Rd. in Henrico. For more information, call 252-537-7900.

Keith Daniel and Nick DiMarino, owners of Under the Sun, 3410 Highway 903 in Bracey, Va., want to thank the community for all their support since they opened in June. Under the Sun features new and reconditioned golf cars, accessories, parts and service, along with custom golf cars and rentals.

Also offered is a huge selection of lake toys, party floats, wakeboards, kneeboards and accessories. Daniel said now’s the time to stop by Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 434-689-4357.

Poplar Pointe Marine, Highway 903 in Bracey Va., owner Bobby Thompson said he’s looking forward to creating new relationships at the lake and providing the best service possible for his customers. Thompson said he offers Chaparral and Nautique boat sales and service, Yamaha PWCs, boat storage, ATVs, monthly dock rentals, gas and is the home of the Shady Shack Grill. Poplar Pointe Marine is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 434-636-2175 or email service@poplarpointemarine.com.

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If you know of a new business in Lake Country, please contact Editor Kris Smith at 252-537-2505 extension 238, or e-mail ksmith@rrdailyherald.com.

Avoiding loss aversion Special to The Lake Magazine

Like every other investor, you prefer not to see the value of your investments drop. But at some point they will fall simply because of the ups and downs of the market.

In the field of economics, an area of study is devoted to “loss aversion” — the concept that people dislike losing money so much that, given a choice, they’d prefer to avoid losses rather than take gains. For example, if you have a high degree of loss aversion, then you will find greater dissatisfaction by losing $100 than you’d get satisfaction from taking a $100 profit.

The two most common results of loss aversion are: • Seeking “risk-free” investments — When you think of investment losses, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a drop in stock prices. If you’re really loss-averse, you might seek to avoid this situation by simply avoiding stocks and placing all your money in other investments. While some of these investments may seem “risk free,” you must consider factors such as inflation risk — the possibility these investments may provide returns that don’t keep up with the rate of inflation.

• Holding “losers” too long — From time to time, you will own investments that underperform. If you’re highly loss-averse, though, you may have a tough time

acknowledging the losing nature of these investments, so you may be tempted to hold on to them until they “bounce back.” But if the investment’s fundamentals change, or if the investment no longer aligns with your goals, it may be time to sell it and look for other opportunities. Conversely, you may want to hold on to quality investments whose price has dropped in the short term, because these investments may well recover.

In avoiding these types of behaviors you’ll need to recognize the symptoms of loss aversion in yourself, then resolve to overcome them. Accept the fact that short-term losses are part of investing and every single investment carries some type of risk.

One effective risk-fighting measure you can take is to diversify your holdings by investing in a variety of stocks, bonds, government securities, CDs and other investment vehicles.

Bonnie Caudle is a financial advisor for Edward Jones.

She is a board member of the Halifax Horizons Economic Development Committee, Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, Halifax United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and volunteers in economic and social arenas, including the Grassroots Task Force.

shutterbug ...

Here McKenzie Elias, 11, is air born and having fun on Lake Gaston as captured by her mother Paula Elias in July. The girls on the tube, in no particular order, include Madison Elias and Hanna Paul, both 7 years old, Abby Ivey, 6, and Ashley Ivey, 11 .

The photo was taken at the home of Marvin Shearin II, left, at Whit Locke Point. Paula said Shearin has a high dive off the top of his boat house that the children love to climb and jump off when having fun at Lake Gaston.

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Putting the other guy first WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DELLA ROSE

Known to run into burning buildings without hesitation — how Lake Gaston’s ‘energizer bunny’ keeps going

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here are those who do nice things for others. There are people who step up to help people in need. Then there are those who would rush into a burning building to save the life of a stranger.

Butch Garnett, fire chief for the Roanoke Wildwood Fire Department, is all of the above and he bowls.

Garnett came to Lake Gaston from Richmond, Va. He started with the fire department in 1993.

“I worked at Dupont and worked on the fire brigade,” he said.

“It’s nothing like what we do here. It’s not like brush fires or house fires. Two years after I moved here I joined, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Now he manages 30 men and with the help of the community, mans a new fire station. In the day room, he turned the lights on and affectionately referred to it as his “Man Cave.”

He worked a three-day stint of sleepless nights manning the Roanoke Wildwood emergency shelter during Hurricane Irene.

“I came in here Friday night (with two hours notice) and we opened the shelter,” he said, adding he and the other men from the fire department cleared 15 trees off the roads during the storm. “We were keeping the roads cleared.”

He complimented his men for their hard work in keeping up with the storm, adding “we work our men hard.”

Garnett and his men also picked up people who were without power, who were sick or their houses were damaged to the point they couldn’t stay in them.

That included a man on oxygen and two women in their mid90s. While at the shelter, Garnett, members of the department and the auxiliary did all they could to keep people comfortable

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Roanoke Wildwood Fire Chief Butch Garnett cleaning up after the department was turned into an emergency shelter during Hurricane Irene.

st From left, Jim and Joan Layton talk with Fire Chief Butch Garnett from the department’s new office. Jim is vice president and acting secretary and Joan is with the auxiliary. They said they don’t know what the area would do without Garnett.

until they could make arrangements to stay somewhere else or return home.

Because of all the damages, the shelter was called to remain open longer than expected, so it was Monday morning before he could go home.

Then Tuesday he and a crew returned to break down the shelter and prepare for the auxiliary’s bingo later in the week.

Garnett said sometimes being a firefighter is hard. He gets frustrated and sometimes he sees things he wishes he never saw.

“There was a 2- or 3-year-old boy that fell off the dock in Warren County Acres,” he said. “I can still hear his grandma crying.”

He also said there was a Jet ski accident involving a young girl that tore at his heart strings, but there are so many more things he feels good about.

“What has made me feel best?” he said, then rubbed his chin. “There are so many of those. You always feel good when you help somebody. I felt proud of the fellas when we’ve saved houses

and rescued people, you know. I can’t do it by myself. I’m proud of the men who come here and do this stuff. They put in a heck of a lot of time here. A heck of a lot of time.”

One couldn’t help but notice while talking with Garnett that he continually credited his men and auxiliary for the milestones and accomplishments.

But his department and auxiliary had plenty of praise for Garnett.

Vice president and acting secretary for the department Jim Layton has worked with Garnett since 2004. He said Garnett is a valuable teammate and friend.

“He’s the best fire chief I know,” Layton said. “If you’re in a tough situation, he’ll get in there and get it done.

When we worked together in EMS, we were in life and death situations. He always had a cool head and did whatever he had to do.”

Joan Layton, of the auxiliary, said Garnett is beyond helpful.

“We more than appreciate him,” she said. “He’s involved in everything, and

he does a good job at it. I don’t know what this area would do if he wasn’t here.”

Life partner June Sanders said she believes Garnett is one of the nicest people she’s ever known.

“He is very giving,” Sanders said.

“It’s like everyone else seems to come first. He likes doing his job. He’s very responsible for the fire department and in his life — and he’s like this 24 hours a day.”

The trio compared Garnett to the “Energizer Bunny” and said they sometimes find it hard to keep up with him. But they said they have no problems following.

They cited numerous incidents where Garnett, without fail, put himself aside for his fellow man or woman.

“Sometimes he jumps from one job to the next, and it’s all volunteer,” Sanders said.

Garnett said he is extremely satisfied with his life, adding bowling keeps him sane.

“That’s my release,” he said.

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Plants, gourds & more for decor WRITTEN BY MATTHEW STEVENS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TIA BEDWELL

Fall is a wonderful time to decorate inside and outside the house, and there are many plants that provide fantastic visual interest.

Here are a few plants worth a look in the fall.

Pumpkins are one of the first things we think of when decorating for fall, but they often don’t last long.

Gourds have much more reliable staying power and come in colors from orange to yellow to white to green, often with stripes or other unique color patterns.

Use gourds to decorate the front steps, along with some corn stalks and hay bales, or bring a few of the smaller gourds indoors and use them to adorn the dining room table as part of a seasonal centerpiece for Thanksgiving or other gatherings.

Many people like to decorate gourds. In order to do so, they should first be cleaned and cured. Rinse and lightly scrub the surface of the gourd with a non-bleach solution. This will dull the skin color to make it easier to paint on later. After washing, place the gourds in a dry place out of direct sunlight, where there is good air circulation, to allow the gourd to dry and it’s skin to harden. Depending on the type of gourd, this may take up to several months.

Once the skin is fully hardened, the gourds can be painted or decorated as you wish. Once dried, some types of gourds are suitable to make into birdhouses.

Mums are another fall staple that provide a lot of color, but their flowers often brown after the first frost. Luckily the Lake Gaston area often has a much later frost than Roanoke Rapids and the surrounding area because of the lake effect. This means

longer lasting mums. Mums are not only great in the garden, but also make excellent cut flowers for centerpieces and arrangements.

If you are looking to make a fall arrangement, consider using the following: Muhly grass (a pink flowering native grass), fragrant tea olive (a wonderful scented white bloom with glossy green foliage), American bittersweet (yellow-orange fruit) and American beautyberry (pinkpurple berries), along with mums and other traditional flowers. All of these will have long-lasting impact in an indoor arrangement.

Many plants — common and unusual — contribute to the fall color we see in the forest and the landscape. Red maples, sugar maples, sweet gum, sassafras, sumac and dogwood all provide excellent fall color, as do some oaks.

Fall color is not limited to trees, as shrubs like burning bush, viburnum (many types), spice bush, fothergilla, Virginia sweetspire, oak leaf hydrangea and blueberry also have wonderful fall foliage ranging from bright yellow to deep red.

Most of these can be incorporated into indoor arrangements or appreciated outdoors.

Matthew Stevens is the horticulture extension agent for Halifax County Cooperative Extension. If you have any questions about your home gardening, call 252-583-5161 or matt_stevens@ncsu.edu.

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Lake Country Profile WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROGER BELL

Jack Saunders, left, talks with Clarence Drumgoole inside the kitchen and meeting room of the Lake Gaston Community Center.

Jack Saunders: ‘Ambassador of the Lake Gaston Community Center’

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ack Saunders isn’t the kind of man to do nothing with his retirement.

Saunders, originally from Jarratt, Va., but now living on Jimmie’s Creek on the Northampton County side of Lake Gaston, served his country for 24 years in the United States Air Force, volunteering for duty in Vietnam and retiring as a Lt. Colonel serving in Acquisitions.

“I loved it,” Saunders said of the Air Force. “But there comes a time when you go as far as you can, and it doesn’t do you any good to beat your head

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against the same wall.”

A 17-year career with Raytheon in California followed, but Saunders always wanted to return to the lake, where he’d been spending a lot of his vacations throughout adulthood renting houses.

In 2002, Saunders and his wife Anna, to whom he’s been married for 35 years, bought two lots on Jimmie’s Creek and have been living happily on the lake since. However, Saunders said, he wasn’t going to just sit around and enjoy the stillness at the lake. He’s involved with

the Lake Gaston Association, the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council and the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council. But what takes up most of his volunteer efforts is the Lake Gaston Community Center.

The center, located at the intersection of River Road and Highway 46 in Gaston, was built in the 1940s, and was, at one time, a school. It was declared surplus property in 1966 and has, since 1986, been owned by the Lake Gaston Community Center Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

“I spent 41 years away from here,” Saunders said of his activism. “When I came back, I wanted to get involved in the community.”

Today, Saunders is the Volunteer Project Coordinator for the center, and was heavily involved in getting vocational education courses in carpentry, electrical wiring and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in place at the center through a partnership with Halifax Community College.

Saunders also played a critical role in securing a $242,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, which will allow for the building of an addition onto the building.

“The average community center doesn’t attempt this,” said the center’s Finance Secretary Clarence Drumgoole. “They

were skeptical at the community college until Jack talked to them, and now they’re on board.”

Offering such courses, Saunders said, allows residents on the north side of the lake to seek opportunities to continue their educations or just make themselves marketable in the job-seeking world.

“We’re trying to provide people with the skill sets so they can get out and work in their own community,” Saunders said.

Drumgoole said having the center in place allows people who aren’t close to Jackson, Weldon or Roanoke Rapids get educational opportunities, and he hopes to convince the county health department and the Department of Social Services to set up clinics and offices at the site. He said if this happens, he knows Saunders will have

been a big part of it.

“Jack has been the community center’s right arm,” Drumgoole said.

“He’s put a lot of time and energy unselfishly into the center. Without him, it would have been a bigger struggle (to get Golden LEAF funding.) He’s the ambassador of the Lake Gaston Community Center.”

For Saunders, he said giving his energy to the center was a bit of a no-brainer for him.

“We’re trying to bring more community unity here,” Saunders said.

“If we can work as one voice at this end of the lake, we can get things done. If it’s just me or Clarence going to county commissioners meetings, we’re just voices in the night.”

Jack Saunders sits in the Media Education Center inside the Lake Gaston Community Center.

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26th Seafood Fesitival roars at Lion’s Den Another success for the Lake Gaston Lions Club in the form of their 26th annual Seafood Festival Oct.1.

Member Bob Tillison said 2,000 tickets were sold at $30, totaling $60,000 raised, but they are still figuring expenses, so final numbers are being tallied.

He said as of yet there are no concrete decisions on exactly who will receive support from the event.

Usually the funds go to first responder units, Union Mission, the VIP Fishing Tournament and others, but applications have to be made and awards will be given next year.

Tillison said they had a good crowd with very little trouble. “Just a lot of fun and cooperation from the volunteers, their wives and friends of the Lions,” he said.

“It takes a lot of hard work to put on an event like this, but it’s a lot of fun at the same time.”

Here is a photo gallery of this year’s Seafood Festival at the Lion’s Den at 139 Stanley Road in Henrico.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MELISSA TEETS

Seafood Festival customers patiently wait for the two minute bell to ring to enjoy their steamed shrimp feast.

Volunteer Dick McCullough brings out more freshly steamed oysters for a hungry crowd.

Above, Lion Club member Maj. Hassell laughs as Lions Club member Bill Hoofnagle jokes, ‘What are we starting the bid out for this beauty?’

Right, the crowd at the Seafood Festival took in the tunes from The Switch Band.

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Volunteer Bill Watson and friend Jim Teets enjoy oysters.

The Lions Club T-shirts, worn here by Bill Hoofnagle, for the 26th Annual Seafood Festival shows their appreciation.

Bill Chandler, of Virginia Beach, Va., lifting cheers with friends as he enjoys the festivities.

First time volunteer Stuart Saunders looks like a pro doing a two-handed delivery of fresh, fried and hot fish to volunteer Terri Rumpli.

The Switch Band entertains the crowd at the seafood festival.

Frank Brantley, of Raleigh, enjoys the steamed oysters and showing how they should be eaten properly with crackers and hot sauce.

Volunteers Dick McCullough, left, and Bill Hoofnagle, right, bring out the next batch of fresh steamed oysters for the crowd.

Above, Brad Wikle, of Virginia Beach, Va., front, and his friend Frank Buccialia, of Lake Gaston, work hard for those freshly steamed oysters.

Left, The Switch Band was a crowd pleaser at the festival.

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our advertisers A Bird's Eye View Abundantly More ACE Hardware of Lake Gaston Becker Village Mall Brewer Cycles Community Memorial Healthcenter Daughtridge Gas Co. Flambeau Outlet Good Earth Peanut Co. Hardee's Furniture Interiors By Design JuLee's Ladies Fine Apparel Lake Gaston Awning Lake Gaston Flower Shop Lake Life Clothing Co. Main Street Produce Mary Sherwood Lake Living Mr. Sandless Polley Clinic of Dermatology RCS Construction, Inc. Shell Furniture Tanglewood Shores Golf & CC Tar Heel Tire The Bayberry Retirement Inn The Mad Hatters The Quality Shop The 1020 Restaurant & Pub Tillery Designs Touchless Boat Covers Twin City Cardiology Warrenton Furniture Exchange Wildwood Nursery Wood Re-New

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The support from these advertisers make this magazine possible. We urge you to consider their products and services.

For more information, call (252) 410-5253.

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LAKE COUNTRY LIVING

No Place Like Home WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DELLA ROSE

S

he walked up the lane and turned the key. As she opened the door, she said she gets homesick every time she walks into the place.

Henrietta Williams has lived in many houses through the years, but this is the one she calls home.

“I tell everybody it’s the one where I’ll probably retire,” she said. “It’s the only one I didn’t let Johnny sell.”

Henrietta is owner of Waterfront Properties on Lake Gaston. Her husband is John E. Williams, of John E. Williams Builders. He has built house after house for Henrietta, but the house she holds on to is the little house on Shearin Drive in Rochelle Cove, in the Southeast quadrant.

She said it’s the first one he built for her and it’s special.

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“We built what we could afford and made it into what we wanted over the years,” she said.

The rustic cottage has lots of shade from the tall pines that grow down to the water’s edge. There’s a swing down at the waterfront.

“I liked to sit here at night, and the dogs would come up,” she said, adding her lab Gaston and her mixed breed Fred were always welcome in the community.

“People ask me about the dogs when they see me. They don’t miss us, they miss the dogs.” Williams laughed good naturedly.

She said another reason she appreciates the house is because, by her definition, it is a true lake house. “It’s not huge,” she said.

“It’s a good family house with a lot of glass.

When you walk in, you feel it.”

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She said there are a lot of good memories there.

“I guess it’s because that’s where the kids grew up,” she said. “I loved the swing and fishing off that pier. I love to fish. Of course, I spent a lot of time in the water with the kids.”

She said if she had a favorite room, it would be the kitchen and living area, because it was all open.

“So the family is together, no matter what you’re doing,” she said.

Then there’s the English boxwood her father rooted for her.

“I was 27 when he gave it to me,” she said. “It’s huge now.”

And there’s the memories of lots of sleepovers, pig pickings and parties where all the neighbors were invited and everyone enjoyed each other’s company.

“We’d have a pig pickin’ every summer,” she said.

“We used it to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries combined. There was a lot of food and lots of people.”

She said she always enjoyed living in the Shearin Drive house. The neighbors are wonderful, and Williams appreciates how they’ve always looked out for her family.

Family friend Jackie Halls agreed. “It’s a comfortable, family home — warm and inviting,” she said adding that the neighborhood is great. “It’s great for kids.”

Williams shares her favorite home on occasion. Call 252-586-7600 for more details.

Henrietta Williams said one of her favorite things is to sit in the front yard swing and watch the sun set.

Above, it’s a panorama of Lake Gaston beauty, looking out the front door of Henrietta Williams’ Shearin Drive home.

Left, sunlight and warmth flood Henrietta Williams’ Shearin Drive home on Lake Gaston. She said she likes the way her home ‘feels.’

THE LAKE | 31

34 | THE LAKE

Fall is turning Lake Country into many colors with many symbols of the season showing up around Lake Gaston.

Here is just one example, as captured by Melissa Teets at Allen's Pumpkin Farm on Brink Road.

parting shot...