Outer Banks Coastal Life - 2020 Winter OBX Magazine - Life From The Edge

HAVE A OYSTER REUSE REEF REPLENISHMENT

DARE CARES FOSTER CARE AID

LOST COLONY FOUND? HOLLYWOOD FAME FOR LOCAL ARTIST

COLD ONE ON THE BANKS

POULOS FAMILY CHRISTMAS HOUSE LOVE

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24 38 PUBLISHER // Mary Ann Williams Gene Williams EDITOR // Greg Smrdel

PUBLISHED BY

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE // Dan Banks

Three Dog Ink Media, LLC 111 East Baltic Street • Nags Head, NC 27959 252.261.6490

ART DIRECTOR // Kevin Groat

E-MAIL info@threedogink.com

SOCIAL MEDIA // Savanna Williams

OUR WEBSITE

DISTRIBUTION // Nick Leinweber

GRAPHIC DESIGNER // Johnny Keltonic

20 CONTRIBUTORS

Steve Hanf, Lexi Holian, Nick Leinweber, Rebecca Orr, Greg Smrdel, Tara Turner

PHOTOGRAPHY / ILLUSTRATIONS

Boy Scouts, British Museum, Carson Davis, Duck Waterfront Shops, freepik, High Cotton, Matt Jenkins, Mickey McCarthy, NC Coastal Federation, Reece Newman, Ryan Osmond, Poulos Family, Fenton Rainey, Shutterstock, Jim Vaughn, Savanna Williams, Various contributors of masks pages 18-19.

COVER PHOTO // Ryan Osmond of Real Watersports

outerbankscoastallife.com Three Dog Ink welcomes comments and suggestions about errors that warrant correction. E-mail your corrections to editor@threedogink.com. Three Dog Ink, LLC cannot and does not guarantee the correctness of all information furnished them, nor the complete absence of errors or omissions, hence, no responsibility for the same can be nor is assumed. Three Dog Ink, LLC cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by the advertisers in this publication. Reproduction of any material from this publication is strictly forbidden without permission from the publisher.

2 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 4|

FEATURE// Have A Cold One on the Banks

9|

ENVIRONMENT// Boy Scouts’ Tree Recycling

The winter weather does not stop Outer Banks surfers.

Rockin’ around the recycled Christmas tree.

10|

JUST CAUSES// Restaurant To Reef

15|

TECHNOLOGY// Update Your Website Today

18|

SAFETY// Face Masks

20|

JUST CAUSES// Dare Cares

24|

LOCAL ART SCENE// Carson Davis

Reusing oyster shells to regenerate local beds.

42

Why website updates are imperative these days.

They have become not just functional anymore.

Local nurse fills a need in foster care.

09

Jeweler and artist makes a name for herself in Hollywood.

27|

DO IT YOURSELF// Green Light for Green Thumbs

30|

FOOD// BBQ: East vs. West

33|

PETS & WILDLIFE// Bridger The Cat

34|

RECIPES// Hot Drinks

36|

SHOPPING// Holiday Gift Guide

38|

A LOOK BACK// Lost Colony, Found?

40|

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT// Non-Profits These Holidays

42|

OBX COMMUNITY// A Salute to the Poulos Family

Enhance your yard now during the winter months.

We weigh up the styles of North Carolina barbeque.

The story of one cat who dropped right into notoriety.

33

27

We invite you to cozy up with these belly warmers.

A collection of showcase Outer Banks gift ideas.

Recently, incredible physical evidence has been unearthed.

Our local non-profit organizations need extra help this season.

THE Christmas house that will forever be in our hearts.

15 Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 3

d l o c

a e v ha FEATURE

WINTER SURFING

W

Winter Surfing

STORY// NICK LEINWEBER

hen it comes to surfing the east coast, the Outer Banks has been on surfers’ radars for decades.

Prime surf spots have always existed up and down her beaches, largely due to geographical features, and the consistently active weather phenomena occurring off of the coast.

All summer long, Outer Banks beaches remain wellstocked with surfers of all ages and skill levels. The warm temperature of the ocean allows surfers to require nothing more than their board and swimsuit to enjoy an entire day of catching great rides.

Surfers are not the only people enjoying their summer days at the beach of course, and the waves can get pretty crowded. Swimmers, fishermen, kayakers, and giant inflatable unicorns are just a few of the obstacles surfers have to deal with. Which is one reason why many local surfers get some of their best shredding done in the offseason.

Ask any local surfer and they will tell you that surfing the Outer Banks is by no means, restricted to the summer months. Despite the great summer weather, surf conditions are often at their flattest in June and July. It may come as a surprise, but most regulars to the Outer Banks, “surf scene,” get pretty stoked upon the arrival of the fall and winter months. The hurricane season brings with it exhilarating surf with some of the biggest swells to be found.

Local boy and year-round surfer, Johnny Keltonic, will tell you “Hurricane season is when it’s really good down here.” His board and wetsuit usually live in the backseat of his car, just in case.

The surfer hurricane season extends roughly from August through November, and local OBX surfers absolutely take advantage of the epic conditions.

When hurricane season ends on the Outer Banks, surfing season rolls on.

Throughout the winter, nor-easters are the source of

4 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

. . . e n o

Brett Barley.

Photo by Ryan Osmond REAL Watersports.

Jim Vaughn. some of the most exciting surf to be had. Strong winds attack our shores throughout the winter months creating some of the biggest waves of the year. Every season about 30 to 40 storms occur that produce waves of at least 5 feet. Late fall and winter are when the most exciting and challenging surf conditions bless the beach.

Besides the sheer thrill of it, winter surfing has a host of benefits. People who surf year-round remain physically in shape throughout the year. Once a surfer realizes they can hack it on the harshest, gnarliest, winter days; the spring and summer waves will be a breeze. Winter surfing “ups” a surfer’s skill level, not to mention their confidence level.

For first-time winter surfers, there are just a few things you’ll need to know to stay safe, warm, and comfortable.

Staying as dry and warm as possible before and after getting into the water is huge.

FEATURE WINTER SURFING

Common sense things like remembering towels and warm clothes to wear on the beach will go a long way. Many surfers recommend having two wetsuits: there is nothing worse than putting on cold, wet gear, on a windy winter morning.

Another simple tip is to stay hydrated. This is obvious in the summer when the weather is sweltering, but it is just as important in the cold weather, if not more. Staying hydrated and having some food in your stomach will keep you warmer in the water, and give you more energy and endurance. A thermos full of tea, hot cocoa, or coffee is never a bad idea for warming up on a break.

Anyone hitting the water in the fall or winter will also require some very important pieces of gear once the water temperatures dip low enough.

The most essential piece of equipment for surfing in cold water is a wetsuit. Everyone surfing in the winter water will need a good, proper fitting wetsuit.

Neoprene wetsuits are designed to insulate a surfer’s body, keeping their core temperature up. Wetsuits are measured using numbers that represent thickness in millimeters. The colder the water, the thicker your wetsuit will need to be. There are two (and sometimes) three numbers separated by a slash (4/3). The first number represents thickness around the torso and the second number refers to the thickness around the arms. If there is a third number, it will refer to the thickness of the suit around your legs.

For example, a 3/2 tends to get most surfers through the fall, when the water temp is still in the 50’s. Every surfer has their own preferences, but in general, a 4/3 is what most surfers will need to get through the winter. Picking out a wetsuit for the first time can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. A knowledgeable friend or surf shop can always help steer a newbie in the right direction. Modern wetsuits have become so advanced and efficient; they will keep you warm.

Jim Vaughn is a life-long surfer who has witnessed the entire evolution of the wetsuit. Jim opened up the Whalebone Surf Shop in 1975, when he moved to the Outer Banks from Florida. He and his wife April continue to own and operate Whalebone, from its current location in Nags Head.

Jim started surfing in the early 1960s in Florida. At that time, as he recalls, “we didn’t even know what a wetsuit was, even though we would have liked to have some.”

It was on the Outer Banks, where Jim started to see some of his first wetsuits, “When I moved here the wetsuits in ‘75, were prehistoric.”

He describes those early wetsuits as bulky and rigid. They never seemed to fit well and they were tough to maneuver in. Many surfers chose not to wear them because they were too distracting. Over the decades that followed, suits became

s k n a b e h t on

Cam Richards and Brett Barley.

Photo by Ryan Osmond / REAL Watersports.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 5

FEATURE WINTER SURFING

Brett Barley.

Photo by Ryan Osmond / REAL Watersports.

Jim Vaughn

Jo Photo b hn McDaniel. y Jim V aughn .

6 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

much thinner, and a lot warmer. Perhaps most importantly, they actually stretched, making them easier to get into, and more comfortable to wear.

Today, surf companies are significantly improving their gear each year.

These days, selecting a wetsuit is less stressful. Surfers tend to go for warmer suits, knowing they can still maneuver around in them.

As Jim Vaughn advises, “Now the equipment is so good, you might as well be comfortable. A good wetsuit is worth the money.”

Wetsuits cover most of the body, but in close-to-freezing water, the idea is to cover any exposed parts of the body. Gloves and booties are a must-have. When water temps are in the 40’s, it does not take long for a surfer’s hands and feet to get so numb that they can’t feel them.

A hood is another very essential piece of gear for winter. Just make sure it fits your head nice and snug so that water can’t enter the sides.

Hoods usually come with a bill on the top of the forehead to keep water out of the surfer’s face, particularly while duck-diving through waves.

Wearing a hood in cold water helps to prevent a common condition known as, “surfer’s ear.” When surfers and divers repeatedly get very cold water in their ears, bone growths occur which start to close off ear canals. This can lead to hearing loss as well as ear infections.

Hoods can also help surfers avoid getting “brain freeze.”

Anyone who eats ice cream knows all about brain breeze. This same effect also happens to surfers when too much cold water gets on their heads and face. Almost every cold-water surfer has experienced this effect at least once.

Johnny K. learned the hard way to wear a properly fitting hood after duck-diving through some icy waves and experiencing the “hardcore and piercing” pain that caused him to, “almost pass out.”

Jim Vaughn clearly recalls one of his last brain freeze experiences.

FEATURE WINTER SURFING

Jim was out surfing with a group of friends one day during the month of March, after a particularly cold winter. Jim, of course, had all the right gear and plenty of experience. Even so, when his friends pulled off their hoods, proclaiming, “We’re tough,” and ran towards the surf; Jim reluctantly followed.

Giving in to peer pressure, he caught a few waves but eventually got caught on the inside and was forced to duck-dive about four or five waves. He inevitably ended up with a “blinding headache”, and found himself standing in shallow water; looking towards the beach.

In overwhelming pain and unable to see, Jim stood in place, screaming (mostly expletives), which was all he could think to do, “to do anything to get some adrenaline going.” This sure was a sight to see for the people who happened to be strolling down the beach just a few feet in front of Jim. For anyone planning on hitting the surf this winter: be safe, stay warm, and have a blast!

Just don’t forget to follow Jim and Johnny’s advice. Wear a hood! It will keep you warm, stave off surfer’s ear and ice cream headaches!

Nick Leinweber lives in Kill Devil Hills, where he is a recreational writer and an aspiring surfer.

Johnny Keltonic.

Photo by Matt Jenkins.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 7

CURRITUCK COUNTY Simply Corolla, NC Simply reconnect

Find your family here With a new year upon us, many wise families are planning to gather and reconnect here. It is comforting to know that awe-inspiring remote beaches, legendary wild horses, iconic historical sites and the finest accommodations await you and yours, here in Corolla, NC.

Call 877.287.7488 for information or for your free visitor’s guide

8 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

Corolla • Carova • The Mainland

Visit us online at CorollaNC.com

C

hristmas trees have one sole purpose, and that is to decorate homes for the holidays. Right? Wrong. At least not here on the Outer Banks.

Christmas trees that were once adorned with fancy, meaningful ornaments are now being recycled and returned to their original home - Mother Nature.

The local Boy Scout Troop 117 located in Kitty Hawk are offering to collect and recycle any used Christmas trees as a service to the Dare County community.

The troop uses an inventive way to give Christmas trees a second life, all while serving Mother Nature and her communities. Here is exactly how the process works - Every year in January, the Boy Scouts will pick up trees from local communities at no charge. The Scouts will then clear trees of any and all decorations that may be remaining. Next, the scouts then work with beachfront homeowners that are interested in this service to place trees on their dune lines. This simple act aids in the growth and maintaining of sand dune stabilization and restoration. Seems like such a simple and easy solution to an actual real-life problem!

The Boy Scouts are trained to strategically place and secure undecorated Christmas trees on a dune line, in a position that will trap any blowing sand.

This will also promote the growth of sand dune grass as well. The trees are placed on their sides and are secured to the ground by scooping or shoveling sand on the lower branches, or even by being staked down. Over time, the tree needles become even denser than they already are and can be successfully effective at trapping and stopping the movement of sand. The barrier of trees acts as a natural sand fence. Who knew that Christmas trees could have such an important purpose?

BOY SCOUTS

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STORY// TARA TURNER

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SHUTTERSTOCK

d eed RReeccyyccll

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tt cch hrriis t m aass stm

The stabilization of sand dunes involves quite a few different actions on our part. Wooden sand fences can help retain sand and other materials that are needed for a healthy sand dune ecosystem. But purchasing materials and constructing wooden fences, especially for all of the areas on the Outer Banks that require dune stabilization, can get fairly costly and challenging. The usage of Christmas trees can also be very advantageous for sand dune restoration.

The trees quickly decompose and provide nutrients for their seeds. The seeds then begin to germinate and vegetation takes off.

When we plant vegetation, this can reduce the impact of wind and water. Asking residents to recycle their Christmas trees is a free, do-good kind of service for the local beach communities that Troop 117 has instituted.

It is imperative that we protect our sand dunes from natural disasters.

Sand dunes preserve inland areas from swells, tides, and wind, and a healthy beach dune is a very powerful resolution against coastal erosion. Mother Nature, along with the ocean waters and winds can have an unpredictable force against our coastal environment, so protecting the dunes is crucial to the Outer Banks surroundings and habitats.

So when your holiday season comes to an end this year, before you toss your Christmas tree to the curb, remember that these large pieces of greenery serve an even bigger purpose. They are a critical part of saving the ever cherished Outer Banks sand dunes. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Now go recycle those Christmas trees!

Tara Turner is a freelance writer, a stay at home mom, and an OBX enthusiast.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 9

JUST CAUSES SHELL REUSE

restaurant

to

Reef

W

arning! Reading this article may lead to a drastic shift in your dinner plans.

OK, you’ve been warned…

Folks on the Outer Banks can’t get enough oysters lately. They’re eating oysters in huge numbers. They’re learning about oysters. They’re even recycling oysters.

Oysters have been the talk of the town this fall thanks to a new reef constructed from oyster shells in the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Restaurant to Reef program. The two-acre reef in Wysocking Bay in Hyde County – just off Highway 264 past Engelhard – is made up of 1,200 bushels of recycled shells.

10 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

SHUTTERSTOCK

STORY// STEVE HANF PHOTOS// NC COASTAL FEDERATION

JUST CAUSES SHELL REUSE

As Leslie Vegas puts it, that’s a LOT of delicious dinners, and a LOT of volunteer hours.

“It gets people more connected to their food and sort of causes some excitement about the fact that they’re part of this bigger cycle,” says Vegas, who serves as a Coastal Specialist for the NCCF. “It gets people emotionally invested in their food and where it comes from. And for the Outer Banks with seafood and oysters, if there are any ‘nature nerds’ out there, it’s exciting that that can still happen.”

The NC Division of Marine Fisheries got an oyster shell recycling program going from 2013 to 2018, but cuts in funding killed it. In stepped the Coastal Federation, a well-known member-supported non-profit focused on protecting the natural habitats of the North Carolina coast.

The Coastal Federation launched Restaurant to Reef as a pilot program in 2018 and started collecting shells from restaurants all over the Outer Banks, with the biggest contributions coming from Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar in Kitty Hawk and Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar at the Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo.

Wysocking Bay was chosen as the location for the reef after Vegas and the NCCF consulted with local watermen and fishermen.

“It’s important that people understand that it’s not just, like, dumping shells haphazardly. It’s a thoughtout process to figure out where a new habitat would be the most beneficial,” Vegas explains. “Where oyster populations have historically been lower, an environment that might have poor water quality that oysters could help clean up – and for this particular oyster reef, we wanted to make sure that it would be in a harvestable area, a place where people could eventually go out and harvest oysters from the street, so it had to be an open area.”

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 11

JUST CAUSES

The Division of Marine Fisheries was working on another nearby project and agreed to offload the shells from its barge – “because they’re very nice,” Vegas says – as she and other NCCF officials enjoyed watching the process unfold from their own boat.

The recycled reef now can attract oyster spat – and other marine life, of course – looking for a new place to grow and the cycle continues.

Vegas says the NCCF already is looking at new sites for the next Restaurant to Reef project, hoping to find something locally around Roanoke Island.

These kinds of details prove fascinating to many of the diners who enjoy special lectures during October’s “Oyster Shellabration” week, for instance.

“We’ve had people from states like Ohio and Pennsylvania who came for some of our educational sessions and it was totally foreign to them, but it really made them think about their food and how much work goes into what they’re eating,” Vegas says.

“They’re excited about it, the volunteers are excited about it, the chefs are excited about it.”

One of the biggest ambassadors from the kitchen is Evan Hayes, the executive chef at Blue Water.

Before coming to Blue Water six years ago, Hayes might have enjoyed sitting around a burn barrel in the winter, shucking oysters with friends from time to time, but now oysters are a huge part of his life. He takes part in talks about oysters during events such as Taste of the Beach or the North Carolina Oyster Trail. He strives to buy locally farmed oysters to support local watermen.

And golly does he schlep shells by the bucketload every night.

“I know we are a big contributor because I lug the shells out to the parking lot every day,” Hayes says with a laugh, estimating the Blue Water haul to be in the “tens of tons” each year.

“Any given weekend day, we’ll have 30 gallons of oyster shells at the end of the day. It’s gone up exponentially the last two years with the amount of oysters we’re selling.”

He hasn’t had downtime yet to visit Wysocking Bay to check out the new reef, but is proud that his restaurant helped build it. Recycling oyster shells is a necessity, after all, since it’s actually illegal to send them to the landfill.

“It’s a huge benefit for us. I was really relieved once we found out the program was going to start over again,” Hayes says. “It’s really

12 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM

ALAN SWARTZ

SHELL REUSE

Wysocking Bay reef construction.

JUST CAUSES SHELL REUSE

Oysters don’t just grow on anything. If there’s not that substrate to live on, eventually they just die. It’s really good that we are putting that back into the waters around here. It is a really fragile ecosystem.”

Supporting that ecosystem is why Hayes doesn’t mind hauling those buckets of smelly shells to place next to the dumpster. And it’s why John Thomas doesn’t mind poking around the dumpsters of local restaurants to collect the shells.

There’s nothing glamorous about their work, but Vegas’ “go-to volunteers” – Thomas, Bill Trimyer and Paul Kutsko – are what makes the Restaurant to Reef program so successful, she says.

Thomas is passionate about the environment and has volunteered with the Coastal Federation for about eight years, hauling shells from the annual oyster celebration in Hatteras to Corolla and all points in between.

He downplays his contribution, explaining it away as about four hours of work every other Monday when he makes his rounds. Rather than getting his pickup truck smelly, Thomas hauls the buckets on a utility trailer. On average, he’ll take 15 to 20 5-gallon buckets of shells from Blue Water and a couple of buckets from Sugar Shack each week.

“It’s not difficult. A little weight, a little smelly,” Thomas says. “You know you’re helping somebody, and plus it gets me out of the house.”

Thomas has had people stop him at the dumpsters and ask if they can have the buckets he’s swapping out, or if they can take the oyster shells and use them for things like lining their driveway.

“You have to sort of explain it to people,” he says. “ ‘They’ve found a lot better use for them, helping the ecology. It’s actually against the law for you to take these oyster shells.’ ” Thomas takes the shells to Manns Harbor and washes them before storing them at a location the Marine Fisheries Division lets NCCF use.

Locals also can deliver shells to the Kill Devil Hills Recycle Center, which has a special collection spot.

And while Vegas is happy to take contributions from enthusiastic folks who perhaps had a big oyster roast to celebrate a special occasion, the Wanchese site isn’t technically open for drop-offs, and the KDH center is quite particular about making sure people are careful with what they drop off. Especially at the Wanchese site, she encourages people to contact the NCCF first by calling 252.473.1607.

“We’re always happy to help coordinate drop-offs,” Vegas says. “We really don’t want anything commingled with the shells because that’ll just

From Left: Leslie Vegas, Barbara and Andy DelVillar (volunteers), Greg Allen (DMF staff).

mess up the integrity of the reef and we won’t be able to use them.”

If this current spate of enthusiasm about oysters keeps up, the spat might find a new reef to call home even sooner than the two years it took for Wysocking Bay to be finished.

Clearly, it’s up to all of us to do our part to help replenish the reefs. What’s for dinner again?

“Oh, yeah, I love oysters,” Vegas says with a laugh. “I haven’t eaten as many oysters in my entire life as I have since I started working for Coastal Fed, and I am not complaining about that at all.”

Steve Hanf worked as a sportswriter in North Carolina for 13 years before moving into the classroom in 2010. He currently teaches the journalism classes at First Flight High School.

Winter 2020 // outerbankscoastallife.com 15

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TECHNOLOGY WEBSITES 2020

Understanding

the

importance of an

updated website.

E

very small business faces a myriad of challenges. Marketing, taxes, and payroll just to name a few. While I am not an accountant or a human resource professional, I can help you with your marketing. After all, if you don’t have that, you won’t have taxes and payroll.

In this day and age, how you get your message out to showcase your products or services is tantamount to your success. The most important tool in your marketing toolbox should be your website.

FREEPIK.COM

STORY// GREG SMRDEL According to Gene Williams, owner of Three Dog Ink on the Outer Banks (and the publisher of Coastal Life Magazine), ...just Google it.

“Regardless of your type of business, or the size of your business, a website is imperative. The days of going to your yellow pages to find a business are long gone.”

As we sat in the office at Three Dog Ink, Gene continues,” It is so much easier now to just pull your (cell)phone out of your pocket and search for plumbers OBX, or plumbers Outer Banks. Everyone is listed on the web along with their services, hours, and reviews. It doesn’t matter if you have a candy store, a tire store, or a lawn and garden center.”

Winter 2020 // outerbankscoastallife.com OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 17 15

TECHNOLOGY WEBSITES 2020 In fact, as Williams points out in our conversation, 65% of all searches are done right on our phones.

Ok, so we need a website in order to be successful as a business. So now the hard part. What do we put in it? Again, according to Williams, if you follow the rules that Google lays out for you, you have a pretty good website.

“But accuracy is key!” Cautions Williams. A mantra that he repeated throughout our discussion.

“Google has clear rules to follow to rank in a search, and you always want to rank on the first page,” says Williams.

In fact, the top three listings on a Google search will get 70% of all traffic.

There are several things you can do to rank on the first page and to be amongst the top of those listed.

Again, Williams: “300 words describing your business is the most important factor in your ranking. Make sure you’re describing accurately (there’s that word again) and completely what it is you do as a business.”

Keep in mind the 300 words is just a guideline. Google wants to see at least that, but it certainly can be more too.

“You’ll also want to use SEOs that are appropriate for your business.”

Cautions Williams.

Not being as technology savvy as I would like to be, I had to stop the conversation. SEO, certainly I’ve heard the term. Just not altogether sure what it exactly means.

SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization, which, according to Optimizely.com, “is the art and science of getting pages to rank higher in search engines such as Google. Because search is one of the main ways in which people discover content online, ranking higher in search engines can lead to an increase in traffic to a website.”

So if we go back to our plumber example, you would want to include in your description specific services that you provide, such as sink repair and toilet repair. As Williams explains it, these are secondary words that tie back to the original plumber Outer Banks search.

Another important factor to keep in mind when writing your description is to keep it simple. No need for flowery or technical jargon that only you would understand. Also, keep the writing entertaining so you can engage your audience.

Your description is the first part of your plan in getting your business’s website ranked on the first page of a Google search. After that is completed you want to make sure it loads quickly. Williams and the designers at Three Dog Ink’s goal is to have each of their client websites load in under 3 seconds. Having a site that loads in 6, 7, 8, 10 seconds, just isn’t going to cut it in today’s short attention span theater world.

The speed in which your website loads is really in your control. Lots of photos or graphs will slow the load down. If you do have a photo-heavy site, there are tricks to overcome bogging down your system. According to Williams, “there’s something called a lazy load that will load one photo, and then as you scroll down the next photo will load after that so that not everything is loading at one time and is bombarding the internal function of your phone.”

Google is also going to want to see you engaging from time-totime with your site, so on occasion you’ll want to add or revamp some of your content. It doesn’t have to be extensive each time, but enough to show engagement.

Williams indicates that this is a good time to do some keyword research based on Google Analytics. Three Dog Ink will do this on occasion because Google Analyt-

16 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

SHUTTERSTOCK

ics will tell you exactly what phrases and words people are using to get onto your site. You can take this information and change your business’s description to include this information you are getting.

One of the points that Williams stressed in our conversation was that with “Word Press themes, nearly anyone can set up a decent website. But what sets a great website apart from a decent one are these SEO techniques.”

Another absolute must for any business to take advantage of is the free serGene Williams vice that Google provides to everyone.

It’s called Google Business Listing. This is where your business will show up when a person does a web search for your business type. In it, it should have your address, your times of operation, and the days you are open.

Take the time to always make sure this information is accurate! (there’s that word again).

Williams says the easiest way to lose a customer for life is to have wrong information in your listing. If you’ve got listed in your description that you’re open on Monday, and someone shows up to find your doors locked, well, good luck in getting them back again.”

Truth be told, Gene Williams is a numbers guy. I also wanted to get the opinion of a “visual” person, so I brought Kevin Groat, the Art Director of Three Dog Ink into the conversation. As you might expect, Groat backed up Williams’ earlier thoughts. “Search ranking. That’s the most important thing.”

Said Groat. “But you also want a site that evokes your brand and is visually appealing too. Gone are the days of animations flying across your page.

People want straight forward content that they can find easily. If the customer can’t find what they are looking for in two to three clicks, then your site is confusing and they’re gone.”

Williams chimed in, “If your site isn’t visually stimulating and well organized, it won’t matter what you’ve written. You have to engage them through your site!”

As I concluded the discussion, I still had Williams words swirling around my head, “You can have the worst website out there, but above all else, just make sure: Your hours are up-to-date.

Your telephone number is up-to-date Your contact information is up-to-date And use your FREE Google Business Listing.

And make sure it’s all ACCURATE! Contact gene@threedogink.com for a free assessment of your website.

Greg Smrdel is the editor for Outer Banks Coastal Life and the morning show host for Radio Free Outer Banks. And that is accurate.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 17

SAFETY

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Just a short year ago, no one ever thought that a face mask would be part of our everyday dress. But, it is and we are using this additional piece of clothing in several different ways. Some are coordinating it to be part of their ensemble, matching their mask to their clothes like a belt to shoes. Others are using it in a way that t-shirts are being used; to convey a message or an idea. Whichever way you use your face mask, Coastal Life has put together an array of face masks that anyone of us can use.

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18 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

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Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 19

JUST CAUSES

FENTON RAINEY

DARE CARES

FOSTER CARE BAGS ately, I have noticed a number of “young people” seriously involved in charitable works. As I get older, that category denotes to those folks younger than 30. Somehow we seem to have created a whole generation of individuals who recognize a need in society’s shortcomings and figure out a great way to fill that crack in the floorboards before anyone can fall through again. I am both amazed and delighted when I meet such Generation Z-ers who incorporate charity efforts as a regular part of their own lives. The ones I’ve encountered here on the Outer Banks have hearts as big as the Harvest Moon.

One such person I met recently is Outer Banks’ native, 25 year-old, Fenton Rainey, a pediatric nurse working for Surf Pediatrics in Kill Devil Hills.

20 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

FENTON RAINEY

STORY// REBECCA ORR

JUST CAUSES DARE CARES

FREEPIK

FENTON RAINEY

Fenton has worked with Dare County Child Protective Services foster care department through Dr. Christian Lige and Surf Pediatrics.

North Carolina has a mandatory reporting law (N.C.G.S. 7B-301) that states that any person who suspects that a child or dependent has been abused, neglected, shall report that to the Department of Social Services. This law covers children under the age of 18, who are not married, emancipated, or in the armed services.

While Dare County does not have a lot of children in jeopardy, we do have some of all ages who need care from Social Services while the parents pull their lives together. There are some cases where the risk to children is so high and no safety planning or services can reasonably protect them. In these cases, the agency may file a petition with the Juvenile Court alleging abuse, neglect, or dependency, or ask the Court to protect the child by removal from the home.

Bringing a child into foster care is used only as a last resort to protect children from serious harm. Reasonable efforts to keep children safely at home are first attempted, along with a relative placement if needed. It is believed that children have the right to safety, basic care, and to remain with their families, whenever possible.

Having worked in pediatric nursing for three years, Fenton Rainey was astounded at the things she saw in her dealings with social services. There are courageous families trying to help children in need.

Ms. Rainey created Dare Cares, a charity which, according to its mission statement, “provides underprivileged and foster children with needed personal items”.

Ms. Rainey has structured her charity under the umbrella of Dr. Lige’s Surf Pediatrics Charitable Foundation so that donations are deductible for contributors. She has a presence on Facebook and Instagram, as well. Currently, the direction of this scope creates back-pack diaper bags of supplies for the age group of newborn to 24 months, and are distributed along with the child going into foster care.

It is Ms. Rainey’s plan to expand the involvement of Dare Cares and its Mission Statement as it grows.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 21

JUST CAUSES DARE CARES

FENTON RAINEY

FENTON RAINEY

The Dare Cares baby bags that Fenton Rainey currently distributes contain such items as an outfit, some pajamas, a swaddler, a stuffed animal, a pacifier, a bottle, a sippy cup, medical supplies, and toiletries.

All items a new, rapidly assigned foster parent might need.

Fenton Rainey of Dare Cares would love your inquiries of help and donations.

She can be contacted in the evenings and weekends at 252.256.2220. Her Instagram is @fentonelizabethrainey.

As a further note, Child Services is in need of foster families to provide temporary homes for children who enter the Department of Social Services care. The children who enter foster care are of all ages, from infancy to

Fenton Rainey displays one of the foster care bags full of items she was able to purchase by raising donations through her charity, Dare Cares. age 18. Many of them are troubled and will require services such as mental health therapy, developmental services, and possibly other services as well.

Every foster child is unique and every foster family is unique. In order to have the best child/foster parent matches, Dare County strives to make its foster parent roster as diverse as possible. Families all over Dare County are licensed and even those in surrounding counties will be considered as well, families with children of their own and without, single-parent households and two-parent households, working parents and stay at home parents.

22 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

So, do you think you have enough love to care and strength to share with a child of Dare in need? Please, contact 252-475-5500 to learn more about foster parenting. Fenton Rainey has stepped up to do what she can with her charity, Dare Cares. At least join her! Sponsor a baby bag!

Rebecca Orr, your intrepid author, is an optimistic, transplanted Midwesterner who loves all things Outer Banks. Iowa or North Carolina, we share the same American heart. These are my tales.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 23

LOCAL ART CARSON DAVIS

In creating beauty and works of art, every journey begins with a vision in the artist’s imagination and lots of creativity. Add to that a translation of the vision that lives in the artist’s head, change it into the reality of an actual 3-D physical item and you have a doodad of a fantastic whatcha-macall-it. Voila! In two easy sentences, the millennia of artists’ efforts are condensed into a seemingly simple process of blatant artistic alchemy.

STORY// REBECCA ORR

L

ocal artist Carson Davis remembers blurting out her magical brain tornado of creativity to her art instructor. Her answer for the assigned project of creating a wearable piece of 3-D artwork? “An eyeglass umbrella!” She remembered hearing her own voice. Then she recoiled in a panic it gave her. But her instructor thought the idea was brilliant. So Carson spent the next seven months with three hundred pairs of eyeglasses, drilling and connecting them together with steel wire, to form a dome-shaped umbrella of sparkling optical spectacle. (Yes, I put a dollar in the pun jar!)

This outrageous project changed Ms. Davis’s life. She realized she had enough creativity, imagination, and moxie to become a jewelry artist. To paraphrase Carson Davis: she wanted to create something that was different from what others were making. She wanted to push the limit of what was considered fashionable. And she wanted her jewelry to impart a sense of confidence, be comfortable to wear, have an edgy style, and to be affordable and accessible to everyone. The creation of Dvandva Designs was brought to life.

As we all know, the universe works in mysterious ways, and big rumblings were looming for Ms. Davis’s horizon. During her trial and error artistic experimentation, Carson came across a heat technique to manipulate gorgeous patinas out of her metals. Her work soared in popularity on her Instagram site. Out of the ether, she was contacted by Erryn Moreno of GBK Productions who invited her to participate in a “gifting lounge” for the preOscars event. On a shoestring and some prayers, Carson succeeded in a fantastic launch of her designs for some of Hollywood’s Oscar glitterati, including the living legend, Cicely Tyson, who adored her work.

24 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

PHOTOS // CARSON DAVIS

LOCAL ART CARSON DAVIS Carson Davis is a Manteo, North Carolina girl, born and bred, through and through. For three generations, Manteo Middle School, and then Manteo High School produced the community’s students into citizens. Children’s children’s children passed through the hallways of education there. Carson’s own grandfather began their family’s heritage in the school. To honor that community heritage, Ms. Davis wanted to somehow commemorate the school. She is announcing her most recent jewelry creations of Manteo Mementoes.

Carson says it best from her heart: “More than a school, this building was a character in all of our stories - the good, the bad, and the uneventful. So to commemorate this fulcrum in our community, I have partnered with a local resin artist and Manteo alumnus, Josh Jones, to create a permanent reminder of the ties that hold this community together.” They have mixed bricks with resin and set them in silver to “create the finest pieces of Manteo memorabilia that we could imagine.” Creations include two styles of rings, key rings, pendants, and others.

Great gifts for the holidays!

Dvandva Designs are available at The Gypsy Cupboard and Cloud 9 in Manteo. Or order on the website: dvandvadesigns.com

Carson Davis meets Cicely Tyson (middle)

Rebecca Orr, your intrepid author, is an optimistic, transplanted Midwesterner who loves all things Outer Banks. Iowa or North Carolina, we share the same American heart. These are my tales.

RKOrrWriter@gmail.com

SAVANNA WILLIAMS

OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 25

ALAN SWARTZ

KITTY HAWK CARPETS & FURNITURE

KH CARPETS just a carpet s1tore

We’re more than

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GREEN GREEN LIGHT LIGHT FOFOR R

-

It’s Winter, why are you just sitting there!

There’s Landscape work to get done!

SHUTTERSTOCK

-

GREEN GREEN THUMBS THUMBS STORY// GREG SMRDEL

I

t’s winter. There’s nothing to do but grab a cup of hot coffee, throw on a hoodie, sit on your deck and be happy that you have no landscaping work until Spring. Wrong-O! There are still a few things you should have on your “honey do” list before the arrival of the warm weather in March and April.

That is if you want to have the best yard in the neighborhood. And I suspect, there’s something in each one of us that secretly wants that.

I live in Manteo on a short dead-end street of only nine houses. I decided that this year I would have the best-looking yard since the competition isn’t

very high (four of the nine houses are only part-time residents). So I went to the person who I think has the best landscaping on the Outer Banks. He also just happens to be my brother Todd, the owner of SPM Landscaping. Todd has owned the company for the past 20 years and has a wealth of knowledge of what to do and when to do it to maintain a picture-perfect yard.

In preparation for this article, I went to friends of mine, other homeowners to find out what their typical issues might be. The overwhelming response was the number of sand spurs in their yards.

“The sand spur is actually the seed of the grass, and January and February is the best time to start eliminating these. There’s a product called Balan, it’s a granular that should be put down.” Todd said.

Balan incidentally can be found at places like Ace Hardware and you put

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 27

LAWN CARE WINTER PREP it down with a spreader, like you would if you were fertilizing your yard.

Todd continues. “If you have a lot of sand spurs, this could be a 3-year process. The first year you will eliminate 80% of the spurs, and the ensuing two years would take care of the remaining.”

Since the spur, or the seed, is not a perennial, Balan keeps the seed from coming back each year.

As Todd explains, “in essence you’re putting a blanket on the ground to keep the seed from germinating.”

I wondered if this could be done in either December or March, but apparently, it can’t. “If you get into March, you’re too late,” Todd explains. “December is too early because the ground temperature is too warm.”

Ok. Balan will go down. That will take, what? 40, 45 minutes?

Surely I’m done for the winter now! Wrong-O again.

According to Todd, January and February is also the perfect time to cut back your ornamental grasses.

“Your pampas, miscanthus, and lyrocampas grasses should be cut back to allow for new fresh growth in the spring. It’s also a good time to cut back your lantanas and other perennials. You want to do this no later than early February to ensure that there is no new growth or you’ll damage the tips of the plants.”

Ok. Balan goes down. Ornamental grasses and perennials cut back. Now I’m done. Right? Of course not! Still more to do.

But I think you knew that already.

“Once a year, you’ll also want to cut back your weeping love grass. Cutting that back will allow fresh, green new growth. It also helps it spread out better too, and cuts the windburn off it.”

There are some additional random things to also consider. If you have a sprinkler system that utilizes a well pump, that will have to be drained prior to the freezing weather because the pump will freeze and crack. But winter is a good time to have sprinkler systems installed. The freeze line is only an inch deep, if that. Just don’t use it during the winter.

In the winter the grass becomes dormant, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still lay sod. It will just be dormant until spring. Go ahead and get it done.

Lastly, as you look ahead to the warm weather and the arrival of spring, it’s important to remember to not put down your fertilizer with a pre-emergent until at least Mid-March. Don’t be tempted and do it sooner.

So there you go! The winter is not the time to sit back and watch the grass not grow. There is still work to be done. In fact a good bit of work. I know I said I wanted to have the best yard on the street, but now that just seems like too much work. My neighbor Tom can have the honor.

Greg Smrdel is the Editor for Coastal Life and is a little mad at the estimate he just received for yard work. No family discount?!?!

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DANIELSHOMEPORT.COM Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 29

NORTH CAROLINA

FOOD EAST VS WEST

HIGHCOTTON / FACEBOOK

t t s s a EEa STORY// LEXI HOLIAN

B

arbecue is something that is taken seriously from Texas to Missouri, but North Carolinians have a real rivalry when it comes to Eastern- and Western-style pork.

The origins of slow-cooked meat can be traced back to the Caribbean in the 1500s. Original seasonings came from things like lemon and lime juice and red peppers, but when barbecue later came to North America, it was difficult to find lemons in more northern states. Vinegar was used as a substitute, and the basis for one of the more popular modern styles of barbecue was born.

Different styles would continue to develop across the country after the introduction of ketchup in the 1800s. In fact, some people assume that one type of North Carolina barbecue purely uses a vinegar base while the other purely uses ketchup, when actually both incorporate vinegar to get their distinct flavors.

Today, any type of barbecue evokes visions of picnic tables and – on the Outer Banks – evenings spent grilling out after easy beach days. Barbecue is a Southern tradition that falls right along with family dinners and tailgating before games. But most North Carolinians are diehards for one kind of pork or the other.

Eastern-Style Barbecue The original North Carolina barbecue is Eastern-style. Vinegar-based recipes can be traced back several centuries in North Carolina, to a time when barbecue was first appearing on the East Coast from North Carolina

30 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

v

to Florida. The term barbecue was adapted from the Spanish barbacoa, which even earlier came from the Arawak babacots in the Caribbean.

While some types of barbecue only use certain cuts of pork, Easternstyle uses nearly every edible part of the hog. The seasoning is made using vinegar and peppers, which enhances the flavor of the meat rather than competing with it. There is no ketchup or tomato-based sauce in the recipe. You might use cider vinegar for a base and spices like black pepper, cayenne, crushed red pepper, salt, and hot sauce. Sugar and water are sometimes added too.

After basting the pork in the thin, vinegar-based sauce and slow cooking it, the result is acidic, spicy barbecue that leans much more toward savory than sweet. Both dark and white meat are included, so the barbecue is lighter than many other styles with a lower fat content.

In the age-old competition between East and West, Eastern-style barbecue has an undeniable tart flavor with a little spice. It’s quite different than ketchup-based styles in Western states. Some supporters of the ‘cue will say that even Western-style North Carolina barbeque is too saucy and sweet by comparison. But when you put Eastern- and Western-style sideby-side with barbecues from other states, neither North Carolina variety would be considered sweet.

Western-Style Barbecue

Western-style barbecue originated in Lexington, located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. It’s sometimes called Lexington-style or Piedmont-style. The base of the sauce is both vinegar and ketchup, and it’s that flavor that really separates Eastern and Western North Carolina.

Western pork is sweeter with a sauce that’s redder in color, but the flavor is still tangy due to the vinegar component.

This style of barbecue only uses the pork shoulder, which can be traced back to the five men of German descent credited with creating the style.

The men were inspired by a Bavarian dish of pork shoulder served with a sweet and sour vinegar sauce.

The shoulder generally absorbs more smoke and cooks faster than when all parts of the pig are used, which has made Western-style barbecue a popular choice in cities. Because the meat is all dark, the barbecue is rich and moist. It’s a little fattier than Eastern-style barbecue – but not by much compared to barbecue in some other parts of the country. The sauce, too, is richer, sometimes incorporating butter and sugar into the recipe.

West of Raleigh, ketchup isn’t just used as part of the base in barbecue.

It’s also used in side dishes like the specialty Lexington coleslaw, called red slaw.

Because the Lexington Barbeque Festival is held annually and wellregarded among culinary enthusiasts, some people think Western-style barbecue is the true representation of North Carolina barbecue.

More Barbecues of the Carolinas The rivalry in North Carolina is fierce, but when you throw South Carolina into the mix, you end up with a whopping six popular styles of barbecue to choose from. South Carolina’s four styles are diverse in their own right.

After all, barbecue may be a comfort food, but the recipes are rarely as simple as they seem.

In South Carolina, the barbecues are all about the sauce, with the most unconventional and well-known being a mustard-based sauce. Like North

EAST VS WEST

SHUTTERSTOCK

t s s t s e v WWe BARBECUE

FOOD

Carolina’s Western-style barbecue, the mustard style was inspired by immigrants of German descent. The vinegar-based sauce called Carolina Gold is often served over pulled pork and other cuts of meat in the Midlands of South Carolina. The barbecue sauce is thin with spices added for a bold mustard flavor.

In the northern part of the state, called the Pee Dee region, the barbecue is most similar to Eastern-style North Carolina barbecue. The vinegar and spice recipes are very close, with the main difference being that no sugar is used in the Pee Dee region. The barbecue can be noticeably spicier because of this.

The other two types of sauce are tomato-based. You can find a lighter version of the sauce in the Midlands and Pee Dee regions and a heavier version in the western part of the state. These liken more to what many Americans consider to be the traditional American barbeque sauce.

The thick, sweet barbeque sauce comes from Kansas City, Missouri, and it’s what you’ll find on grocery store shelves and in chain restaurants in every state. The base of the sauce is ketchup and molasses, and ingredients such as brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and Worcestershire can also be used to achieve that signature flavor.

Beyond Kansas, Texas is known for its basting sauces, which are generally a thin glaze of beef stock, Worcestershire, vinegar, and spices. In Alabama, the barbeque sauce is white. It’s made from mayonnaise, vinegar, and pepper and considered to be a wild card among other barbeque styles for its creamy color and consistency.

No matter which style of barbeque you crave in the Carolinas, the vinegar base and variety of sauces and seasonings may mean the states have a step up on the competition.

Along with contributing to the island publication Outer Banks Coastal Life, Lexi Holian has covered everything from Miami food festivals to Antigua sailing for travel and hospitality brands in the United States and Caribbean.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 31

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radiofreeobx.com 32 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

BRIDGER THE CAT PHOTOS// REECE NEWMAN

T

STORY// TARA TURNER

he Outer Banks of North Carolina is home to many, even including some famous celebrities. But did you know that one of our most notorious is actually a cat? Well believe it!

Just for a second, take your mind back to a sunny day in the month of May. The year was 2017.

Reece Newman, who was a North Carolina Department of Transportation Diver, just so happened to thankfully be in the exact right place at the exact right time. Reece was on duty, along with two other NCDOT divers, as they were inspecting some pilings of the Manns Harbor Bridge. As the divers were in full working mode, Reece aimlessly looked around to see something abruptly land in the water. Much to his surprise, it was a defenseless kitten. Yes, you read that right. A kitten, who was thrown 30 feet down off of Manns Harbor Bridge and into the Croatan Sound, from a vehicle that was speeding well over 60 miles per hour. The kitten, and the divers were about a mile out from shore. The divers managed to swim over and rescue the little guy. But that isn’t where the story, nor the rescuing ended. Reece undoubtedly adopted the kitten, only to then name him - Bridger!

A short time after rescuing and adopting Bridger, Reece teamed up with his friend and Outer Banks local Author- Jeremy Bliven, to retell the whole story in their very popular book, “Bridger.” The book has been out for a while now, and in just two short weeks after its debut, it became a bestseller! In fact, it became the number one book in 2019 for Downtown Books in Manteo, North Carolina.

Reece updated us on just how Bridger has been doing over the past few years. “Bridger is just a really happy cat. He loves his two cat sisters Grouper and Florence. They all have quite a good time together.” Reece says, “My wife Marie and I love them all so much!”

This furry little creature has a story that begins with sadness, and ends only to warm your heart. Bridger is famous all across the Outer Banks. So famous in fact that he has his own Facebook page with around three thousand followers! Be sure to follow ‘Bridger Catfish Newman’ and stay up to date with how this little miraculous feline friend spends his days. You know, if you look up the word ‘Fate’ in a dictionary, you may just see Bridger’s picture!

Tara Turner is a freelance writer, a stay at home mom, and an OBX enthusiast.

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 33

RECIPES HOT DRINKS

Get

CozyWith

Hot Drinks STORY// LEXI HOLIAN

W

inter on the Outer Banks calls for long walks on empty beaches and oyster roasts with family and friends. And when the ocean breeze picks up in the evening, it’s the perfect time to warm up with a craft cocktail with some local flair.

Outer Banks restaurants feature fresh, local ingredients year-round, and the cocktail menus are no different. Here are a few recommendations for a winter nightcap from the beach’s most well-known mixologists and bartenders.

Seadog Toddy

- Outer Banks Brewing Station

Outer Banks Brewing Station may be known for its craft beer, but the wind-powered restaurant and brewery is also a destination for cocktails.

The Seadog Toddy is made with black tea and Outer Banks Distilling’s Kill Devil Rum infused with pecans and honey. The rum uses pecans from Manns Harbor and honey sourced in Wanchese for a creamy mouthfeel with butterscotch in the nose. Sip your cocktail indoors or in the OBBS outdoor seating area in the shadow of the windmill.

2 oz. Kill Devil Pecan Rum

6 oz. Black tea (or decaf spiced tea) 1 tsp. brown sugar

¼ oz. lemon juice or squeeze of lemon wedge

Imperial splash of ginger beer (OBBS house soda) 2 dashes cinnamon/nutmeg spice blend (OBBS uses “pumpkin pie”) Lemon wedge with clove spikes for garnish

STEP 1: Put brown sugar in ye ol’ drinking vessel and add rum. (2 ounces is recommended, but true pirates do HWY 12 COMMUTE PHOTOGRAPHY as they please.)

STEP 2: Add a splash of ginger beer, then the hot tea. The hot water and tea bag can be left to sit while preparing the rest of the cocktail – long enough to get some flavor and color but not long enough to get the astringent quality that black tea can have while killing the ginger carbonation bite.

STEP 3: Add the lemon juice and stir, then shake a bit of the spice mix on top for aroma.

STEP 4: Garnish with the spiked wedge for a pirate-ship feel, and drink like you might have to walk the plank later.

RECIPES HOT DRINKS

Spanish Coffee Rendition Mako’s Beach Grille + Bar

A simple spirit concoction that will warm your heart. Curated by Shannon Graf.

STEP 1: Start with your favorite fresh brewed coffee.

STEP 2: Add a small amount of Tia Maria Coffee liquor.

STEP 3: A simple pour of Hennessey Brandy.

STEP 4: Top the boozy blend with whip cream and a maraschino cherry.

Blood Orange Spiked Chai - Mulligan’s As their jingle goes, Mulligan’s is the big yellow building that sits next to the fat sandhill at Milepost 13 in Historic Cottage Row. Long known for their amazing food and fun atmosphere, they are also known for their creativity behind the various bars in (and out) of the restaurant. For those cold winter nights, a new drink is being offered on their menu to warm your bones. Concocted by bartenders Emily and Tommy, it’s a Blood Orange Chai Tea.

1 oz whiskey

STEP 1: Steep cup of chai tea.

1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice

STEP 2: Rim Irish coffee glass with orange wheel, rim with cinnamon sugar.

Cinnamon sugar to rim glass

STEP 3: Combine juice, whiskey and rumchata in glass.

Cinnamon sprinkle

STEP 4: Add chai tea, stir.Garnish with blood orange wheel.

1 oz Rumchata 6 oz chai tea

FREEPIK

Blood orange wheel to garnish

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 35

SHOPPING GIFT IDEAS

2020

Holiday Gift Guide

From,

A

ALAN SWARTZ

B

C D

36 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

E

A. Urban Cottage

Gnome matter where you are this holiday season, these cute little critters are sure to make you smile. theurbancottage.com

B. Nags Head Hammocks

The Double Cumaru Rope Porch Swing is handcrafted in North Carolina and comes in your choice of two synthetic-rope styles, SoftSpun Polyester or DuraCordÂŽ, both made for prolonged weather exposure and resistant to rot, mold and mildew, yet with a softness that rivals cotton and comes in a variety of colors. nagsheadhammocks.com

C. Daniels’ Homeport

Blown-fibre back cushions, foam seating and a pillow-top pad-over-arm will envelop you in softness. Power headrest and recline will smoothly transport you to the perfect position for relaxing after a long day, while a full pad-over-chaise footrest completely supports your legs and feet.

Available in classic Onyx or Putty upholstery and as a sofa, loveseat, recliner or console recliner. danielshomeport.com

F

D. Cozy Kitchens

Snag yourself a Breeo Smokeless Firepit with Outpost Grill Grate & Anchorpoint. Perfect for a simple but delicious fire-cooked meal. The options of food you can cook outdoors are endless. cozyk.com

E. Muse Originals

The OBX Box EXTRAS available at our website in the EXTRAS store, make the perfect OBX Stocking Stuffers! All items are locally sourced and curated especially for each of the quarterly Outer Banks Boxes. The Outer Banks, Delivered. obxbox.com | museoriginals.com

F. Kitty Hawk Carpets

Wall and table art make a great gift for anyone.

Especially at Christmas. They come in an endless variety of artistic shapes, colors and materials to decorate a room, an office or just a wall that needs attention. Unwrapping a piece of wall or table art is always a pleasant surprise. kittyhawkcarpet.com

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 37

A LOOK BACK FOUND COLONY?

BRITISH MUSEUM

BRITISH MUSEUM

Lost Colony

Found?

T

he story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island is one that has been passed down for over four centuries. It is the biggest unsolved mystery of the Outer Banks. It’s a story with differing details, depending on who is telling it. Several theories exist about what happened to the 115 settlers who went missing after landing here in 1587; but until recently, there have been littleto-no tangible clues or physical evidence pointing towards a possible truth.

In 1585, English settlers were attempting to set up some of the first permanent settlements in America. At this time governor Ralph Lane landed on Roanoke Island with a group of settlers. This first settlement failed due to clashes with the local Native American population, as well as a lack of food and supplies.

When John White returned to the area in 1587 with over 100 men, women, and children; they were a bit more prepared. They were able form good relations with the Native Americans, as they attempted to restart their colony.

A year later, John White sailed back to England for more supplies for the colony and when he returned…everyone had disappeared.

Were they attacked by Native Americans? The Spanish? Did they relocate to what is now Hatteras Island? Or did they move farther inland? Did they starve to death? Did they get sick? These are just a few of the countless theories that have been debated for over four decades.

Recently, some incredible physical evidence has been unearthed that points towards one of these theories.

A team from the First Colony Foundation has uncovered evidence which indicates a strong likelihood that a group of people from the colony did, in

38 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

STORY// NICK LEINWEBER

fact, move inland. The team has excavated multiple sites, 50 miles west of the original site of the Lost Colony. They have found a treasure trove of clay pottery that strongly appears to have belonged to the members of the Lost Colony. Evidence from the excavations indicate that roughly 100 people had lived in the area.

The number of artifacts found, combined with their countries of origin, offer convincing evidence that the found objects once belonged to members of the Lost Colony. A map drawn by colony governor John White is one of the main pieces of evidence that led the First Colony Foundation to the site. It is thought that members of the Lost Colony likely teamed up with friendly Native Americans, and migrated to more habitable areas. A wooden sign post was found at the original site of the colony that hinted at Hatteras Island as a possible relocation site as well.

Just a few months ago, archeologists discovered evidence on Hatteras Island that seems to show signs of the Lost Colony’s presence there. It is now looking more and more likely that the Lost Colony could have split up into at least two groups; with one group arriving about 50 miles to the south on Hatteras Island, and another group arriving 50 miles inland.

As artifacts continue to be discovered and analyzed, we are getting closer than ever to having actual proof about the whereabouts of the lost colony. Thanks to the unrelenting efforts of historians and scientists around the world, the Lost Colony may someday soon, be found.

For more information visit nationalgeographic.com/history

HERE COMES THE RIDE!

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info@obxtrolley.com Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 39

ft i G a

t i f o r

n o N

N

P

o question, it has been a tough year for everyone. Including the non-profits in our area that are trying to help those in need. Many of these organizations now find themselves in need to continue helping others. They have had their annual fundraisers canceled due to the pandemic and are finding their coffers drying up. Three Dog Ink, in the spirit of the holiday, would like take a couple of pages of our magazine to list those that can use our help more than ever.

Outer Banks Relief Foundation: Financial assistance is given in the form of mortgage or rent payments, utility bill payments and payment of other critical household bills in amounts generally ranging from $500 to $2,000. We work closely with the other charitable and helping organizations here on the Outer Bank to coordinate and maximize support. outerbanksrelieffoundation.com Community Care Clinic: The Community Care Clinic of Dare provides basic healthcare, medication as-

sistance, and wellness education for financially challenged, uninsured persons living or working in Dare County. dareclinic.org Email: lynjenkins@dareclinic.org

Outer Banks Hotline: Is a private, nonprofit human services organization that aims to promote a safe and compassionate community. We offer crisis intervention, safe house, information and referrals, advocacy and prevention education services to residents and visitors of the northern Outer Banks. obhotline.org 40 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT NON-PROFITS Dare Coalition Against Substance Abuse: We seek to change awareness, attitudes, and behaviors through ensuring access for youths and adults, to a comprehensive array of education, prevention, treatment, aftercare, and recovery resources. darecasa.org Email: info@darecasa.org Kids First: Kids First is on a mission to provide Help, Healing, and Hope to children in northeastern North Carolina who have been sexually or physically abused or neglected. Our comprehensive services address multiple aspects of a family’s need when they come through our door. obxcommongood.org/kids-first-inc

Get Pinked – Outer Banks Hospital: operated through the Development Council at the Outer Banks Hospital.

The campaign raises funds to underwrite those costs for men and women living or working in Dare County without insurance. theouterbankshospital.com Mane & Taill: (Meeting All Needs with Equines & Teaching All Individuals Life Lessons) is a non-profit therapeutic horsemanship academy dedicated to providing educational programs to all people with special needs in northeastern North Carolina. We at MANE & TAILL believe that the power of the horse can change lives. maneandtaill.org

Room In The Inn: Room in the Inn is a non-profit, church-based program that organizes shelter for the homeless in local communities nationwide. The Outer Banks chapter is based at the Ocean View Baptist Church, and it provides hospitality, food, shelter and support services. Email:roomintheinn@gmail.com facebook.com/OBX-Room-In-The-Inn-105301804251431 The Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Community Foundation accomplishes its mission by increasing charitable giving in the area, by managing charitable funds for individuals and agencies, and by targeting grants toward the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities. obcf.org Food For Thought: This unique all-volunteer community non-profit organization, established in December 2006, is dedicated to reducing hunger and academic risk facing elementary children in Dare County by providing healthy meals to build strong minds. foodforthoughtobx.org

Beach Food Pantry: Exists to provide free groceries to individuals and families in our community who have been affected by a temporary crisis or emergency. We offer our commitment - to every Dare County resident - that we will be prepared to do our part should our Outer Banks community ever be affected by a natural event. beachfoodpantry.org Feline Hope: Feline Hope is a 501 (c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization that provides spay, neuter, and medical assis-

tance to our community to enable owners to keep their pets. We sponsor monthly low cost spay & neuter clinics. felinehope.org E-Mail: felinehope252@gmail.com

Coastal Humane Society: The Coastal Humane Society’s Mission is to ensure that all Outer Banks pets are healthy and that no owner is forced to give up a pet because of financial hardship. obxcoastalhumanesociety.org Friends of Felines: Friends of Felines is an all-volunteer non-profit feral cat advocate organization located on Hatteras Island. We are dedicated to improving the lives of feral cats and humanely reducing their numbers over time utilizing the TrapNeuter-Return method (TNR). Email: FOFHI@yahoo.com fofhi.org North Carolina Coastal Federation: For more than 30 years, the N.C. Coastal Federation has worked with people to safeguard the coastal rivers, creeks, sounds and beaches of North Carolina. nccoast.org Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 41

s a m t s i r h C e t u l Sa

a

to the Poulos Family

PHOTOS// POULOS FAMILY

N

o matter how far down the street you had to park, no matter how cold it was, no matter how many times you’d visited before, the magic of the Outer Banks Christmas House brightened your spirit as much as it lit up the night sky.

STORY// STEVE HANF There aren’t enough strands of sparkling lights, though, to fully chase away the shadow cast over this holiday season. The man behind the magic, Jim Poulos, died March 10 at the age of 70 after battling lung ailments for years. He was both mourned and celebrated in the spring, when glowing tributes flooded the phones and social media pages of his children.

“It’s really special to know your father has left an impact on a lot of people’s lives. He’s a great man,” Dianna Mueller says.

Adds Kristy Poulos: “I know my dad touched a lot of people, but the outpouring, the people reaching out, it’s just made us feel really good.”

Whether you called it “the Poulos House” or “the Christmas House,” everyone on the OBX knew exactly what you meant. The home at the end of Ocean Acres Drive in Kill Devil Hills got its first Christmas display in 1980 and became a yearly rite of passage for locals and visitors alike.

Decorations eventually filled every corner of the yard and the house.

And then, the local legend even earned some national notoriety. One of

42 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

OBX COMMUNITY A CHRISTMAS SALUTE

Kristy’s favorite memories of her dad was when she convinced him to enter a contest for “The Today Show.” Poulos won the “Al Be Home for Christmas” prize in 2005 and was featured on the show with Al Roker.

“It was the middle of the night and we were out there in the rain under an umbrella, filming over and over again, but I got it in the mail the next day,” Kristy recalls of the last-second entry. “It wasn’t really for popularity.

It was just to show what he does for people around here. That’s something that I’ll always take with me.”

Jimmy Poulos says regardless of where he was or what he was doing, “It was nothing for me to meet someone and they’d know exactly who my family was. ‘Oh, we’ve seen your house for many years now.’ My mom and dad loved doing what they did at Christmas time and it was so rewarding for them.”

When Ann died in August of 2018, the family was devastated but vowed to keep decorating in her memory. The couple had been married 49 years.

“When you lost Mom, Dad was still here. What do we do now?” Kristy says. “We’re all kind of at a loss. The hope is that we’re going to continue doing what we’ve done all these years because that’s what Mom and Dad would want.”

(Following an inquiry on social media this fall, members of the family announced to the community that they would not decorate the house this year, instead choosing to take a one-year break before continuing the tradition next Christmas).

For decades, Jim and Ann were fixtures outside the house, greeting one visitor after another. Last Christmas was different, though. Jim stayed inside, albeit in a comfy chair arranged just so – affording him the opportunity to watch the scene unfold in the decorated valley below.

“People that I knew Dad had spoken to over the years, I’d send them in,” Dianna says. “His face would just light up, just knowing he was a part of it.”

And Christmas was always on his mind, especially on trips to the store. Another of Kristy’s treasured memories is of one of their final trips together. After a doctor’s appointment, they hit up a Target – and emerged with nine new reindeer for the yard.

“They were Svens from ‘Frozen’ – we went from buying one to four to five to SAVANNA WILLIAMS

Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 43

as I did – I wouldn’t trade anything,” she says.

Jimmy also spent much of that last year at home and also has fond memories of his dad getting out of the house, especially after he got a fast new scooter to use in the stores.

“He did not like to not be doing anything,” Jimmy says. “When he first went on oxygen, he was still out there on the lawnmower, cutting grass with two oxygen tanks strapped down.”

Jimmy especially enjoyed trips to Georgia that just he and his dad would make, to check on the family homestead that used to belong to Ann’s parents. After a memorial service at Ark Church in Nags Head, Jim Poulos made a final trip to Georgia. He was laid to rest at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lenox, reunited with Ann. Their four decades on the Outer Banks will not soon be forgotten. The Poulos House may be dark this year, but the spirit of Christmas will shine on..

“That’s what the house was for Mom and Dad, it was about giving,” Kristy explains. “They didn’t care about what they received. It was about giving to their community. I heard him tell it over and over again: That was the one time of the year they truly celebrated – the birth of Christ, that gift.”

ALAN SWARTZ

nine,” Kristy says with a laugh. “We shoved them in the truck. I told Dianna, ‘I don’t care what happens, I want one of those Svens.’ ” Year after year, new surprises greeted visitors. Ivy Ingram’s children have Poulos House memories that will forever be part of their Christmas memories and traditions.

Ingram fondly recalls chatting with Jim about his expansive train display during one visit.

“Hearing the history about the trains was just cool,” she says. “How he fixes them, how much time he spent – he was always so protective of those trains. And just watching my kids, watching their little faces watch those trains go round and round, that was one of my favorite things.”

Ingram was part of a large group of local parents who made the journey together.

Alyssa Hannon remembers starting the tradition one year – a Potluck Taco Night that opened with a feast and ended with a trip down the road, caroling from the bed of a trailer all the way to the Poulos House.

“He was always super excited to see them when they were little,” Hannon recalls.

“Everybody had a favorite part. It was so natural for us to just come there. It’s what we always do.”

Year after year, the 40 or so people from different families would line up in front of the house and pose for a picture, each snapshot charting the passage of time. Hannon and Ingram agree that they’d love to see the tradition continue, but fully understand the challenges involved.

“You could certainly see why it would be incredibly hard to take on,” Ingram says. “I hope it will go on and I also hope they might reach out to the community and ask for help, because I know there are so many people who would like to help as a way to carry it on.”

Still, Jim Poulos’ life was about more than Christmas. In the weeks following his death, family members heard stories old and new – everything from how grateful a girl was that Jim dissected a frog for her in high school to stories from his old Coast Guard buddies to tributes from youth athletes he used to coach.

“Every day you hear something that you never knew,” Dianna says.

Some of her fondest memories came in the last 18 months of Jim’s life, when she moved into the house to help care for her dad. When he felt well enough, Jim loved heading to Walmart for hours at a time: “I’m honored I got to take care of him for as long

Steve Hanf worked as a sportswriter in North Carolina for 13 years before moving into the classroom in 2010.

He currently teaches the journalism classes at First Flight High School.

44 OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM // Winter 2020

and a happy new year FROM

Three Dog Ink

Gene Williams

Dan Banks

Johnny Keltonic

Greg Smrdel Nick Leinweber Mary Ann Williams

Savanna Williams

Kevin Groat

111 E. Baltic Street, Nags Head, NC ThreeDogInk.com • 252.261.6490 • info@threedogink.com Winter 2020 // OUTERBANKSCOASTALLIFE.COM 45

RSVP for our informal and educational Homebuyers Chat, hosted virtually on ZOOM each Wednesday!

Banks, NC Outer

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Nags Head Oceanfront $1,999,000 – MLS #110748 14 BR/13.1 BA Call Gray at 252-573-9503

UNDER CONTRACT

Southern Shores Westside $499,000 – MLS #110892 3 BR/2.1 BA Call Barry at 252-202-1043

Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront $2,645,000 – MLS #111039 10 BR/10.1 BA Call Barry at 252-202-1043

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Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront $2,495,000 - MLS #91213 10 BR/9.1 BA Call Gray at 252-573-9503

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Duck Oceanside $739,000 - MLS #106911 7 BR/5 BA Call Gray at 252-573-9503

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Corolla Oceanside $799,000 - MLS #109774 8 BR/8.1 BA Call Gray at 252-573-9503

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Powells Point Pondfront $44,000 - MLS #101536 LOT Call Fran at 252-202-8467

Duck Oceanside $550,000 – MLS #111378 4 BR/2 BA Call Gray at 252-573-9503

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Duck Oceanside $1,200,000 – MLS #111101 6 BR/6.1 BA Call Gray at 252-573-9503

Barry Breit 252-202-1043

Corolla Oceanside $724,900 - MLS #107106 7 BR/5.1 BA Call Barry at 252-202-1043

Fran Kapinos 252-202-8467

Stacey Baittinger 252-202-5588

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