Issue 3.3
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Transplants! gokite Watermen! milepost Lend us your ears! We’ve come to bury politics, not to graphiccontent praise them…
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Sign of the times.
Maybe not all politics. If you mean an agreed-upon legislative framework whereby a given populace works together to solve difficult problems and make society better, then — by all means — carry on. But if you mean passionate individuals investing whole identities into lockstep ideologies, creating a vicious cycle of poisonous blamespeech, then perhaps we should stifle this whole idea of an “engaged citizenry.” In fact, it might be time to deep-six our most rigid viewpoints far beneath the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Or at least keep them between ourselves and the voting booth. This might sound like position change for a mag that normally encourages folks to become more invested politically. But in a modern world where posting insults online, ugly words on your bumper and hate signs in your yard equates to informed debate, it can only seep bad juju into an otherwise happy place. And if we’re quoting Shakespearean tragedies, wethinks the time for action is rapidly passing. Just scan the comments section of any news story — or your own Facebook feed — and you’ll encounter some piece of venom designed to antagonize viewers. Often from the nicest folks you’d ever meet in person. And usually about things we can never vote for and with zero bearing on our day-to-day lives. Does bashing Bush’s tax cuts do diddly for Dare County’s budget? Will hating some Hollywood liberal pack houses on Hatteras Island? Hell, we don’t even have a Hobby Lobby! It makes us long for the days when local attitudes were the very picture of “apolitical correctness.” Sure,
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we didn’t care — but we didn’t care about everything equally. Or — more importantly — we cared more about the people we knew than we did about scoring points for some imaginary team. And while the goal now may be to influence public opinion and rally fence sitters for big social causes, when we publicly call people “wrong” or “bad” or “stupid” we’re not just screaming at our laptops. We’re insulting our own friends and neighbors who hold the same views. And on a beach as simultaneously tiny yet diverse as ours, that can only drive us apart.
When we call people “stupid,” we’re not just screaming at our laptops.
And that’s the point of this issue: to remind everyone that beneath every passionate opinion — behind every “teabagger” and “libtard” — there lives a real human being. A person who cares an awful lot about the world around them. They just happen to disagree with you. Just like you do them. And that doesn’t make either one of you a back-stabbing Brutus. To quote Thomas Jefferson, “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” As we race toward this year’s elections, let’s make that statement the cornerstone for all political discourse. Because it’s not just the foundation of a working democracy, it’s the very lifeblood of our community. And to let it go now would be the ultimate betrayal. — Matt Walker
Thank you for reading Outer Banks Milepost. We hope you’ve enjoyed it. If not — before chucking this issue in the nearest dumpster — please consider one of the following equally satisfying ways of expressing your disgust: cut up a paper crown and be king for day; roll into a megaphone to yell at this year’s debates; create a makeshift ball-gag for your politicized grandpa. Or simply add it to that six-month stack of newspapers you’ve yet to recycle. (Trust us: you’ll feel better.) Then, send any and all feedback — positive, negative or just plain confused — to: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com. Or light us up on Facebook with your opinions and ideas. We promise to find some way to re-purpose them.
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editor@outerbanksmilepost.com • sales@outerbanksmilepost.com Outer Banks Milepost is published quarterly (sorterly) by Suite P Inc. All contents are the property of Suite P Inc. and do not reflect the opinion of advertisers or distributors. Nor do their contents reflect that of the creative types (who would never, ever sell out). Comments, letters and submissions are usually welcome. Please include SASE for return delivery of all snail mail, however, Milepost and Suite P Inc. still aren’t responsible for any unsolicited materials. And don’t expect much else to move much faster than IST (Island Standard Time). Oh yeah: if you reprint a lick of this content you’re ripping us off. (Shame on you.) To discuss editorial ideas, find out about advertising or tell us we blew it – or just find out what the waves are doing – call 252-441-6203 or email: editor@outerbanksmilepost.com; sales@outerbanksmilepost.com. www.outerbanksmilepost.com
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gohunt rearview “Hooper’s Store” By John Butler “A lot of my paintings come from old pictures I get from people in the community. Before me, Jasper Hooper had the only store in Stumpy Point. He was a hell of a nice guy. About as good of a person you could ever meet. When I was first getting ready to open, I asked him, ‘Jasper, you think I’ll make any money?’ And he said, ‘You might pay your light bill.’ And he was just about right [laughs]. He lost the store in a big storm in ’93, but he still had some pictures, so I asked him for one. When I was done, he smiled from ear to ear. He said, ‘Yep, that’s the way I remember it.’” — John Butler
03 StartingPoint Silence is golden.
06 UpFront Raleigh bombs, whirling drones and salty characters.
18 GetActive
Rager against the machine.
21 FirstPerson
Meet an Outer Banks rainbow warrior.
26 Hill People
Human portraits of two DC power brokers.
32 Graphic Content
A bumper crop of sticker shock.
34 Strange Bedfellows
Four quirky neighbors from all points on the political compass.
42 GoFish
Two surf tourneys share the shore.
48 GoGreen
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51 FoodDrink
Meals on wheels.
53 ArtisticLicense
Jay Bonneville carves Hawaiian culture.
54 SoundCheck
Ruth Wyand takes us to Storyville.
22 Question Authority
44 GoSail
57 OutThere
Dr. Brendan Nyhan explains why
47 GoBird Bros of a feather flock together.
58 EndNotes
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Triad and Charlotte took the reins of government — it feels like the Outer Banks is again an afterthought to state lawmakers. Some even wonder if the GOP is out to undo what Basnight did for the region.
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Month after month, year after year, as Raleigh wrangled over versions of the 2012 and 2014 budgets, a fog of bad news rolled east: Eliminate funds for Roanoke Island Festival Park! Close the Museum of The Albemarle! Slash programs at the UNC Coastal Studies Institute! Require Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park to be self-sustaining! Fund transportation projects based on population and traffic (uh-oh)!
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Many Outer Bankers feel under attack by decisions in Raleigh. But is it payback — or plain old politics?
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There was a time, not long ago, when political power coursed directly between the Outer Banks and Raleigh. With it came new bridges, wider roads, better schools, classy state attractions and acclaimed environmental protection programs — and Dare County became a
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Barely before Republicans settled in, a bill was introduced to repeal Basnight’s baby, the barrier island’s ban on plastic grocery bags. Then there were plans to toll the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry. More recently, there was a proposal to sell Jennette’s Pier.
tourist magnet that transformed a forgotten backwater into one of the richest counties in North Carolina. But since Manteo Democratic state Sen. Marc Basnight retired in 2011 after serving 13 terms — and Republicans from the
Water quality protection, a big concern of Basnight’s, has been threatened by budget cuts in his signature Clean Water Management Trust Act and Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section. There is also a new push to open the coast to offshore oil and gas exploration, and inland areas to fracking, which could affect aquifers on the coast.
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honestly,” says former state Rep. Tim Spear, a Creswell Democrat who retired in 2012. “When money is short, you start picking the low-hanging fruit . . . Everyone is going to be cut.”
“It’s just a tough time right now. Everyone wants to protect their own county.”
Spear does say that some members had the attitude toward the northeast that — Johnny “you’ve got all Tillett you’re going to get” and “you’ve had more than your fair share.” However, he says he didn’t hear any of that from the legislative leaders.
But political observers say there’s more than payback driving legislators to consider cutting funds in the former Senate president’s home turf; there also just isn’t enough cash for all the state’s needs.
Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis, who is now running for U.S. Senate against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, had been “very supportive” of efforts by him and then-state Rep. Bill Owens from Elizabeth City to restore funds for Roanoke Island Festival Park and the Mid-Currituck Bridge, and to eliminate toll provisions for the ferries. And there is no arguing that Republican Gov. McCrory’s administration has been a strong advocate for projects on N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island and construction of the replacement bridge over Oregon Inlet.
“I think it’s a combination of the two,
Still, Outer Bankers who were here
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during Basnight’s tenure — including his critics — can’t help but notice that things don’t happen here like they did when the most powerful politician in the state was aggressively advocating for our interests.
tourists go home, many people are hurting in the winter because jobs just don’t exist in the off-season. And there’s no denying that Basnight was an effective advocate for his district.
1, 2, 3… VOTE!
As a Manteo native and a lobbyist since 2005 in Raleigh, Johnny Tillett, the son of Dare County Commissioner Virginia Tillett, understands why Outer Banks residents may feel targeted. But, he says, people elsewhere are just as disgruntled by funding cuts and changes made in their backyards. Today, the tension in the divide between rural and urban counties is centered on jobs and the free market, while young people flee in droves from dying rural areas.
“Honestly,” Tillett says, “we were pretty spoiled there.”
First: Same-day registration is no longer legal as of 2013, so if you’re not registered — or have changed addresses — grab a form at the library, DMV or any town hall, fill it out and mail it in postmarked by Oct. 8.
“I hear it everywhere,” he says. “It’s just a tough time right now. Everyone wants to protect their own county.” Tillett, senior vice-president at McGuire Woods Consulting, says that Basnight — who was Senator Pro Tempore for a recordbreaking nine terms — helped a lot of people, a lot of areas in the state and a lot of legislators. While probably half of the people working now in the capital might know of Basnight, he says, they did not know him. So if an anti-Marc contingent exists, he says, it’s not blatant.
As a longtime political observer who worked for former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt, Gary Pearce goes back long enough to remember Outer Bankers’ original complaints of prolonged neglect. Now he’s the co-founder of the blog, TalkingAboutPolitics.com. (He writes from a Democratic perspective, while co-founder Carter Wrenn pens the Republican viewpoint.) While he lives and works in Raleigh, Pearce, who owns a consulting business, visits his Nags Head home whenever possible, where he says he again hears new frustration from Outer Banks residents. “I’m always struck when I come down here,” he says during a recent conservation at a Nags Head coffee shop. “Every day people say, ‘We’re just left out. Raleigh pays no attention to us.’”
“I have not heard one member say one thing negative about the Outer Banks, Dare County or Currituck County,” he says. Or for that matter, about Basnight.
But Pearce notes he hears similar complaints from places like Charlotte, where people are regularly plagued by monstrous traffic jams and resent the money put into our rural road projects.
However, Tillett does say there’s a perception that Dare County does really well because of its robust tourism. He often has to explain to legislators that when the
He also confirms there is still a “sense” in Raleigh that Basnight did a lot of favors for his district that weren’t fair to the rest of the state. (Governor McCrory recently griped,
Everything you need to cast a ballot in three easy steps
Next: Learn about the candidates and issues in one of three easy ways: 1) Turn to NC’s Voter Guide (www.ncvoterguide.org) and stay tuned for televised debates between Senate and House candidates; 2) Look for League of Women Voters (www. lwvdarenc.org) forums throughout the county; 3) Follow the Outer Banks Voice (www. outerbanksvoice.com) for up-to-date election coverage and online debates. Finally: Grab your photo I.D. and head to one of the following sites on Nov. 4 or vote early at any of these four “one-stop” stations starting Oct. 23. SITE #1: DARE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Manteo Mon.-Fri., Oct. 23-31 (8:30am-7pm) Sat. Nov. 1 (8:30am-1pm)
SITE #3: FESSENDEN CENTER 46830 Hwy. 12; Buxton Mon.-Fri., Oct. 23-31 (10am-4pm)
SITE #2: BAUM CENTER 300 Mustian St.; Kill Devil Hills Mon.-Fri., Oct. 23-31 (10am-4pm)
SITE #4: PITT CENTER 5377 N. Va. Dare Trail; Southern Shores Mon.-Fri., Oct. 23-31 (10am-4pm)
For more info, go to www.darenc.com/boe. Got questions about registration, absentee ballots, one-stop voting or other election matters? Call the Election Office at 252-475-5630.
he says, about the current Senate leadership by comparing moves by Sen. Phil Berger to Basnight’s “high-handed” approach.) But Pearce says that sentiment has more to do with who is in charge than any particular politician or region. He says when Democrats had a grip on power in North Carolina, Republicans
accused them of shutting them out of discussions and decision-making. Now that Republicans have power, Democrats express the same frustration. “That’s legislating,” he says. “When you’re inside, you think that’s good. When you’re outside, that’s tyranny.” — Catherine Kozak
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FDR takes the podium. Photo: Outer Banks History Center
HAIL TO the CHIEFS
Remembering the four sitting presidents who’ve paid us a visit If you lived on the Outer Banks in 2003, you remember the First Flight Centennial Celebration. All year long, organizers hustled and hyped to build a special event that would commemorate the Wright brothers’ monumental achievement, drawing aviation enthusiasts from all over the world. On December 17th, hundreds of fans braved a torrential downpour to pay tribute to the triumph of man-over-gravity. In return, they got to witness a replica 1903 flyer take to the air, rub elbows with celebrity aviators from John Glenn to John Travolta and enjoy a special visit from the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, who said a few words before hopping on a helicopter home. As the program administrator of the First
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Flight Centennial Commission, Kim Sawyer still remembers receiving her “4:00am phone call” from the Secret Service. “They needed more umbrellas,” she deadpans. “So we got some at Wal-Mart.” In the excitement, some press outlets reported Bush as the first sitting U.S. President to visit the Outer Banks. But three other leaders of the free world had already set foot on our sandy soil: one for work; one for fun; one for a bit of both. President James Monroe became the first chief executive to tour the region — then known only as “the sand banks” — in April of 1819. When he arrived aboard the steamer Albemarle, his goal was to survey the recently
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closed Roanoke Inlet located south of Jockey’s Ridge. The nation was barely 40 years old, so a route to the ocean remained critical to the development of both the United States and North Carolina. But Monroe still made time for some sightseeing, coming ashore on Roanoke Island to view the site of Sir Walter Raleigh’s ill-fated English colony. It would be almost 75 years before the next president paid a visit — or in this case, several. Grover Cleveland doesn’t just hold the distinction of being the only U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms (1885–1889 and 1893–1897), he’s also our official “tourist-in-chief,” making multiple trips to enjoy the abundant hunting and fishing opportunities. In the days before I-95, D.C.’s ambassadors rode down on government lighthouse tenders, vessels that worked their way along the nation’s waterways taking supplies to the far-flung outposts where the
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navigational beacons aided mariners in their journeys. Roanoke Island native Miles Creef’s great grandfather, John Shannon, was a keeper at the Bodie Island Lighthouse from 1887 to 1897, and played host to Cleveland on one of his trips to Bodie Island — at least according to family lore.
expect another white house visit within 50 years.
Outer Banks, as his New Deal built the dunes that line NC 12, created ditches to eradicate mosquitoes and funded the production of The Lost Colony. In 1937, FDR got to see the results firsthand, as he marked the 350th anniversary of the birth of Virginia Dare — the first child born to English parents in America and namesake of Dare County — by attending the outdoor drama in its inaugural year. In his memoir, My Boyhood at the Beach, George Spence recalls seeing Roosevelt in Nags Head’s historic Buchanan cottage:
“The President came on a lighthouse tour and [ John Shannon] took him hunting in the lighthouse ponds,” recalls the Wanchese waterman with his customary grin. “That was always the story told to me by my momma.” Still, some might argue that Franklin Delano Roosevelt contributed the most to the
“A ramp had been built in order to help him walk up onto the porch and an oak chair was carried inside for him to sit in. I remember sometime after lunch a friend and I went to the beach to see if we could get another glimpse of the president… The president was seated in his chair on the porch looking out on the ocean. There were several Secret Service agents standing guard on the porch
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and out on the sand around the cottage and out toward the ocean. We obviously didn’t dare go close…” Like Bush, Roosevelt made his own quick exit. After attending The Lost Colony, he took a stealth trip back to Elizabeth City through the sultry Albemarle evening, arriving before midnight to board his private presidential train car for the trip back to Washington. According to history, we can expect another visit from the White House within 50 years, to salute our fabled history, take in a show, or perhaps just relax on the beach. Maybe the next chief executive will show off his independent streak and stay a bit longer. — Sarah Downing Sources, “My Boyhood at the Beach” by George Spence, 2013; “President Joins Celebration,” Outer Banks Sentinel, Dec. 19, 2003; “President Shooting Snipe,” New York Times, May 22, 1894; “Roanoke Island: Special History Study” by Brian T. Crumley and the National Park Service, 2005.
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VOTE FOR YOURSELF ON NOVEMBER 4 Vote for your kids, your environment, your security, your rights, your safety and security. Vote for fairness and equality, compassion and opportunity. Whatever your party, know the issues
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New federal rules launch fresh questions about unmanned planes.
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It hovered in midair. Like you always wanted your remote control helicopter to do as a kid. Except this one didn’t fall to the Earth moments after lift-off. The agile, 8-bladed robot glided noiselessly above the inaugural Outer Banks Seafood Festival. Onlookers gasped, “What is that thing?”
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We now know it was an unmanned aircraft — aka a ‘drone.’ But in 2012, the concept of a flying video recorder remained a novelty. In fact, the operator, Rex Peters, believes it was the first time any unmanned aircraft documented a local event.
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Since then, Peters’ Kill Devil Hills company, Air Raid Aerials, has filmed everything from sports games to real estate. The only rules? He had to stay below 400 feet, stay five miles away from airports, and keep the plane in sight — just like any remote control plane.
“There wasn’t anything about anything,” says the lifelong pilot. “It was like a toy. It was pretty much using common sense.” Not anymore. Due to a spike in popularity, drone restrictions are dropping nationwide. On June 20 the National Park Service temporarily banned unmanned aircraft for the next two years. More importantly, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ruling that bans commercial use of any unmanned aircraft while it develops its own official policy. Until they do, only hobbyists may fly drones. According to FAA spokesman Les Dorr: “If photos or videos are being taken as part of a business, that is not considered a hobby.” For Peters, the ruling won’t matter since he’s retired (“I’m just going to fly for the fun of it now”). But for other drone enthusiasts it
threatens to put a chill on their businesses, as well as impact the people who live here.
flights for newer, larger drones at Hyde County Airport.
“What my company is trying to do is to educate the public on the real world uses of drones,” says Rodanthe’s Justin Davis, who owns Drone Camps R/C. “There’s an unlimited number of things that drones can do to help out society.”
Still, to many critics, safety isn’t the issue; what scares them is the idea of flying Handi-Cams recording people unawares. Thomas Zajkowski of NCSU’s NextGen Air Transportation Center admits privacy concerns are definitely valid, but he also cites a host of current and future public benefits.
A lifetime R/C nut, Davis’ company primarily sells personal drones to people who enjoy taking “lifestyle adventure” video of themselves and others — say, charter fishing in the Gulf Stream or kiteboarding in Pamlico Sound. Prices range from $99 to $500, or about $1,200 if you want a built-in camera. The smaller ones, about 1-foot by 1-foot, come with a joystick — you provide the GoPro. But with modern stabilizing technology, the video is clear no matter who’s in control. Even in the wildest conditions. “It’s like driving an R/C car, except it’s flying,” says Davis, who has gathered footage of storm damage and fires. “It’s very, very easy. . . That’s why they’re so popular.” Bryan Harvey agrees. He doesn’t use drones in the U.S., but as a professional filmmaker he’s documented breathtaking locations from Mayan pyramids to Polynesian atolls. When he first started, he says the machines were bulky and “twitchy.” But while modern designs may be smaller and more maneuverable, he says they can still be dangerous in the wrong hands. “If something goes wrong on the way down, they can really injure someone,” says Harvey. “There needs to be professional training and certification, just like any private pilot.” To many in the new drone community, that’s what makes the FAA’s decision so frustrating: it grounds the experts and lets rookies run wild. The big problem is that technology is outpacing laws, but educators are trying to catch up. According to The College of the Albemarle’s aviation program director, Elton Stone, their campus at Currituck airport wants to add an “unmanned aerial systems” certification program. And North Carolina State University is already conducting test
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For agriculture, high-resolution photography can view individual plants in a field of crops. For transportation, bridge inspections are safer and easier. For coastal communities, emergency management is a key issue, as drones can assist engineers and EMS responders in surveying damage in a matter of minutes.
“It’s very, very easy. . . That’s why they’re so popular.”
The potential is limitless — but it is also most likely to spring from the commercial sector. And, as far as the FAA is concerned, for now only flying that is strictly recreational or personal is allowed. The FAA is expected to publish its proposed rule on unmanned aircraft by year’s end. Until then, Dorr says that commercial operators can file a petition with the agency for an exemption. Government entities can get a certificate of authorization “in a matter of hours” for emergency recovery purposes. Meanwhile, two recent court decisions have ruled against the FAA, and others are still in the courts, which only makes the issue more confusing for potential pilots. So, will commercial drones turn this fall’s festivals into flying publicity pieces — just like some did for July’s fireworks? Or will they ground themselves until the legal skies clear? We’ll have to wait and see. But for average citizens, don’t expect the view from the ground to change all that much. As Peters says: “[The laws] are very gray. And there are still thousands and thousands of people doing it.” — Catherine Kozak milepost 11
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TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW Spoiler alert! the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual Cost of Living Index revealed that surviving on the Outer Banks costs more than the national average by about 8.7%. You want details? The price of housing is 12% higher. Food and transportation take about 5% more. Meanwhile, our neighbors in VB and Richmond score almost average — Raleigh even comes in about 5% under. The downside, of course, is you have to live there.
roadmap gokite A cheering, jeering look at recent milepost events and their potential impacts
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STROKE OF GENIUS We’re sure this was one Memorial Day he’d rather forget. A Durham man kicked off the season by smashing his SUV through the gas pump of Nags Head’s soundside Sunoco station. Witnesses last reported him “swimming away” from the crime scene. Luckily, after a three-day APB, someone discovered him hiding out in an empty home, giving exercise enthusiasts a whole new sporting event idea for next fall: the “Smash, Splash and Crash DWIditarod.”
BUT WHAT IF THEY’RE NAMED CHRIS? Turns out the female really is the deadlier of the species — and that includes hurricanes. According to researchers at the University of Illinois, tropical systems named after women kill more people. (And not because of flying frying pans, you sexist pig.) It’s because people subconsciously assume feminine names are less dangerous and don’t take necessary precautions. Clearly these people don’t remember Camille or Emily or Fran or Katrina or Isabel or Irene... ANYONE GOT AN ACME ROCKET LAUNCHER? The vicious critter caught on tape in Nags Head was no chupacabra — it was a wily coyote — creating a quandary for Dare Co. wildlife officials: how do you eliminate one unwanted canine while protecting the endangered red wolf? While various stakeholders chase legal tails, experts say the best way to keep them away from neighborhoods is to remove all outdoor food, keep pets inside and report any sightings to animal control. (Or buy a roadrunner.) LET THERE BE SAND! Hatteras Islanders cried “hallelujah!” in early July over news that the Army Corps and DOT would begin pumping sand at Mirlo Beach in order to build a span over S-Turns. Even more amazing was the work crews started on schedule! Whether or not you like the direction, after 50 years of Bonner Bridge cluster fighting, to see the big tires of government get unstuck anywhere feels like a miracle.
HOME SWEET HOME Welcome Fall
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT And the good news kept piling up for fans of engineered beaches as a three–year study showed Nags Head’s widening project “did no long-term harm” to microorganisms. That’s good news for everything that lives up the food chain, from mole crabs to fish to humans — particularly the pro-nourishment powers that be, who don’t want a speck of negative press to keep them from dumping. IT WRECKS A VILLAGE The Outer Banks weathered its first hurricane of the season — and its least welcome holiday visitor — when Arthur bum-rushed the Fourth of July. The bright side? Locals got three days of dazzling fireworks — some restaurants even saw booming numbers from rainweary visitors. But it’s little solace for folks down south, as the storm cleared out Hatteras Island a day early and left behind $1.9 million in damage — $1,365,500 in Rodanthe alone. SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL THESE REESE’S PIECES? A combination of loud booms and bright orbs had some residents questioning whether our next wave of visitors would look like ET, only to hear it was more strange coincidence. The noise? Navy fighters doing training exercises. The lights? Chinese lanterns in wedding formation. Phew! After this summer’s traffic, our beach can’t handle any more stunt pilots or alien rubberneckers.
IS THE ANSWER BLOWING ON THE GRID? Cue the patchouli-soaked cheers — and petroleum-backed jeers — as two events sparked debate on NC’s green energy future. In June, Currituck approved plans for a 225-acre solar farm that will one day power 1,900 homes. Come July, Dominion Power celebrated a new Microgrid Research Project in Kitty Hawk, where four 65-foot turbines will light up three houses — and hopefully power bigger, cleaner ideas for down the road. ONE SMALL STEP Moon landing! Robot invasion! Pick your metallic metaphor. Better yet, pick up your beach crap, as a record number of leftover tent skeletons prompted Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills to launch educational campaigns to “leave only footprints.” Should that fail, the towns may enact ordinances like Duck, where any pop-up left unattended after 5pm lands in the nearest dumpster. It may not keep space hogs from planting territorial flags each morning, but they might start taking them home at night.
SMART-ASS COMMENT OF THE MONTH “Note that they put the turbines in a wooded area with much restriction on wind flow.” — sshores, “Dominion turns on renewable microgrid in
For detailed reports on these stories and breaking local news on a daily basis, plus page after page of local discussion, visit: www.outerbanksvoice.com and www.islandfreepress.org
Kitty Hawk,” July 27, 2014, OuterBanksVoice.com.
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They came, they saw, they conched. (Actually, they blue-finned.) Whatevs. The important thing is Wicked Tuna kept the Outer Banks’ rumor mill reeling during an otherwise quiet spring. Cast your mind back to March and you’ll surely remember the tales of film crews circling watering holes and cruising high seas while capturing episodes for a whole new season where Massachusetts mariners would face off against three local captains: Greg Mayer of the Fishin’ Frenzy, Reed Meredith of the Wahoo and Britton Shackelford of the Doghouse.
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Well, don’t touch that dial, because this fall we’ll finally see the dramatic results when Wicked Tuna: North vs. South hits the National Geographic Channel every Sunday at 10pm, Aug. 24 to mid-Oct. And according to Nat Geo’s publicity pegboys, “It’s a whole new battlefield” that “promises to be anything but civil.”
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Take that, Captain Ahab! Of course, we all know you can’t believe everything you see on TV. And whether it’s filming multiple takes of cash register purchases ‘til you get the right folksy banter — or post-editing the self-centered a-hole out of Guy Fieri’s personality (That’s right, we said it.) — reality television is notorious for being anything but real. Still, there are a couple frank truths we can count on from this latest visit to fantasy island: another round of sweet-and-sour gossip for the coming seasonal slowdown. And a fresh selection of Hollywood sharks to start circling our shores. With that in mind, we whipped out a week’s worth of locally themed, prime time pitches — perfect for any producer to poach and plunder. Ready... Set... Action! milepost
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COPS: SOUTHERN SHORES Join us for another blistering half-hour of routine traffic stops, 2pm fender benders and 3am breathalyzers. Plus, the Solo cups fly when a high school kegger gets out of hand, sending our officers into a hot pursuit down Dogwood Trail. Channel 12: Sat. 10pm
Fab For Fall!
SURVIVOR: TIMBUCK II Ten New Jersey castaways get stuffed in an SUV and stranded inside Corolla’s most hectic shopping plaza for 30 days of shopping challenges like stealing parking spots, dodging ice cream-toting toddlers and wrestling old ladies for the very last “It’s Wine-30 Somewhere” beach towel. Channel 666: Sun. 9:30pm
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HELL’S KITCHEN: COLLEGE RULES Chef Ramsey’s summer mission to turn 10 slackers into a culinary SWAT team takes a surprise twist when the dessert cook serves up his own specially baked brownies — and a suddenly mellow Gordon decides he’s been taking this whole restaurant business way too serious. Like, so way too serious… dude. Channel 420: Mon. 9pm
REAL FISHWIVES OF WANCHESE Better take off them dangly earrings, duck lips. Hairdos and boob jobs are the least of these ladies’ worries as their husbands’ long hauls at sea, and longer benders at home, lead to short tempers and fewer teeth. Warning: explicit language, graphic violence. Channel 119: Tues. 9pm
THE BACHELORETTE: BEACH BLANKET BINGO
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A single girl with a big heart settles down on the Outer Banks in hopes of finding true love and lifelong companionship in the arms of a cute, blonde beach boy. Our cameras follow her through 18 months of ups and downs, bar tabs and taxi rides before she gives up on surf dogs and gets herself a puppy. Channel 69: Wed. 10pm
EXTREME MAKEOVER: GRAY LADY EDITION Yuck! This knotted pine paneling must be 100 years old. And those cedar shakes are screaming for some South Beach pizzazz! Watch as Ty and company level this turn-of-thecentury Nags Head beach cottage and replace it with 10 bedrooms of bright trim, gaudy fixtures and fake ferns. Won’t the owners be surprised? Channel 5: Thurs. 8pm
HOARDERS: HERE COMES THE HANDYMAN You’ll never know what you‘ll find once you start digging through George’s GMC. Come along as we burrow through palettes of lumber, dozens of drills, nudie mags, burger bags, toilet seats and tackle boxes in the hunt for that most elusive of species: “the Phillips head.” It may take an excavator — and all 52 episodes — but we won’t stop until we see bed liner. Part One: “The Glove Compartment.” Channel 71: Fri. 8:30pm
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Ask not what your fall festival can do for you. gohunt Ask what you can do for your fall festival. Day at the Docks • Oden’s Dock, Hatteras Village • Sept. 19-20
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What it is: A weekend of fresh local seafood, fishing challenges and even the occasional shanty — all to celebrate Hatteras Island’s waterman heritage. What you can do: Help clean up. Or just eat up: Sunday’s 8th Annual Chowder CookOff benefits the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation. (Complete schedule and contact info at www.dayatthedocks.org.)
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Two things Outer Bankers take seriously: having fun and helping friends. Luckily, an endless streak of events stands ready to party down for worthwhile causes. But they can’t do it alone. This fall, consider putting a couple hours of community service between you and the beer garden. Because every little bit makes a difference. And it makes a difference right here at home.
4th Annual Mustang Music Festival • Whalehead Club, Corolla • Oct. 10-11 What it is: Two days of 20 bands — including JJ Grey and Mofro, the New Mastersounds, TR3 and the Tills — jam out for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund and the Mustang Outreach Program to support music education. What you can do: Collect tickets. Sell tees. Carry amps. Screen groupies. ( Just kidding — that position’s filled.) Sign up at www. mustangmusicfestival.com.
What’s in it for you: You’ve not lived, matey, ‘til you’ve seen the survival suit race.
What’s in it for you: A shirt, a shift beer and a poster — plus! — a free ticket for whatever day you don’t work.
Words of inspiration: “The ocean does not belong to man, man belongs to the ocean.”
Words of inspiration: “A horse! A horse! My ear-drums for a horse!”
North Carolina Big Sweep/Trashfest Select Beach Accesses Oct. 11 2 014 NORTH CAROLINA
BIG SWEEP What it is: A morning of gathering cig butts and bottle caps from area beaches — followed by an afternoon party at the Outer Banks Brewing Station. What they need: A few good captains to hand out trash bags and data cards at pre-determined locations — and as many able-bodied soldiers as possible to fill them. (Locations/times at outerbanks.surfrider.org.) What’s in it for you: A clean shoreline — plus free tacos and beer while supplies last. Word of inspiration: “No one loves a dirty beach.” 8th Annual Duck Jazz Festival Duck Town Green Oct. 12 What it is: Each fall the Town of Duck fills the air with priceless music — and doesn’t charge a single penny. What they need: Parking attendants. Sales people. A lucky few even cater the band area. (Sign up for 3-hour shifts online at www.duckjazz.com.) What’s in it for you: A collectible tee, and a rare chance to rub elbows with René Marie, The Legendary Louis Hayes & The Jazz Communicators, Lipbone Redding and the John Brown Quartet. Words of inspiration: “Blow, man, blow!”
3rd Annual Outer Banks Seafood Festival • OBX Event Site, Nags Head • Oct. 18 What it is: Outer Banks Catch’s combo platter of commercial fishing and top chefs piles on publicity for local seafood. What you can do: This a prime chance for local nonprofits to tackle whole categories like offsite parking, set-up or clean-up. (Register at www. outerbanksseafoodfestival.org.) What’s in it for you: Butter up the prep cook, you might score a golden hush-puppy to go with that shirt. Words of inspiration: “I believe I can fry.” The Outer Banks Marathon and Southern Fried Half-Marathon Nov. 7-9 What it is: This annual favorite doesn’t just bring foot-traffic to the bypass and local businesses — it delivers dollars to the Dare Education Foundation and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. What they need: Bib dispensers. Schwagbag stuffers. And those dixie-cups and orange cones don’t pick up themselves.
2014 EDITION
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What’s in it for you: The ubiquitous tee — plus a different pin for every year of service. Words of inspiration: “The journey of 26.2 miles begins with a single step — and perhaps a costume or some body paint.”
Outer Banks Veterans Week • Manteo • Nov. 10 -16 What it is: Dare County Arts Council’s 7-day salute to vets and their families includes a writing workshop and a concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park. What they need: A bit of everything. Sponsors to defray costs. Worker bees to boss around. And social media mavens to “share” the love. (Contact gallery@darearts.org.) What’s in it for you: Do we really have to answer that question? Words of inspiration: “Freedom isn’t free.” milepost 19
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firstperson gobike Profile in courage. Photo: Chris Bickford Makeup: Fay Davis Edwards
gofast gogolf artisticlicense fooddrink endnotes questionauthority upfrontAND JOY PRIDE Pridefest president, David Miller, looks forward to the fourth annual festival.
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In the beginning, we were just a group of friends who wanted to do something fun for the gay community. In a big city you wouldn’t think twice about it. But everyone’s so spread out here there’s not many opportunities to get together and enjoy that camaraderie. And we’ve always been a little isolated — we got our first bridge in the thirties — so I guess we’re catching up with the rest of the world. Now, four years later, the Outer Banks Pridefest has become a tradition.
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Pride and joy on the beach — that’s our slogan. Have fun. Be comfortable. Just be yourself. All the daytime events are family friendly — all the nighttime events are definitely not. That first year, I was a little worried. There were a lot of mean comments online leading up to the event. But then there were no picket signs. No protestors. Instead, more than 1500 people showed up. And all that negative chatter’s died down… I think. I don’t
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check Craigslist’s “Rants and Raves” anymore [laughs]. Our biggest challenge is time. It takes about nine months to plan each event. And of course, long-term engagement is not necessarily a part of the Outer Banks stereotype, so I serve as president and treasurer — and a few other jobs. But we always get plenty of volunteers toward the end, so it always comes together. As a non-profit, part of our mission is to help the community. Last year we donated half the proceeds to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. We always do a special event for the Gay–Straight Alliance chapters at each high school. And, of course, we want to bring in more tourism. We also have a corner with face painting and other activities because we think it’s important for the LGBT community to be able to bring their kids. Because we have children, too.
Ultimately, we want this to be an event that everyone wants to come to. Not just gay people. Not just tourists. But everyone. Could we have pulled this off 30 years ago? I don’t think so. But now, being gay’s less of an issue everywhere — especially for the younger generation. To them, it’s no big deal. That’s really our goal. People always say, “Why don’t you have a parade?” Personally, I’m looking forward to the day we don’t need parades. Yes, we want to give gay people a voice in the community, but it’s not about being in people’s faces. It’s about being normal. We’re your friends. We’re your family. And that’s nothing to be afraid of. Outer Banks Pridefest runs Sept. 12-14 at First Colony Inn. For info on how to volunteer or participate go to www.obxpridefest.com. And for updates follow them on www.facebook.com/obxpride milepost 21
questionauthority upfront soundcheck featuring RENÉ MARIE THE LEGENDARY LOUIS HAYES & THE JAZZ COMMUNICATORS
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LOSE THE BLINDERS
How party politics color debate — and keep voters clueless
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Enjoy a week of jazz-related events throughout Duck culminating in a free day of live jazz in the Town Park on Sunday, October 12. Visit duckjazz.com for more details.
“Get real!” “Get informed!” “Get a clue.” Read the online discussion surrounding any hot political topic, and you’ll see a lot of tense debate over the most basic facts. For every rock-solid stat in one corner, comes a hard-hitting response from the other — often with an insult or snarky comment for extra punch. But the problem isn’t that people come to debates lacking the proper information — it’s that they enter discussions overloaded with passion.
think otherwise. Suddenly, it all makes sense: the college-educated teacher who won’t admit tenure can protect even one bad apple. Or the NRA member who disputes the most powerful gunshot statistics. Just about every foul-mouthed Facebook tantrum to date. But don’t get too smug. Because if you’re motivated enough to join in the conversation, there’s a good chance you’re also engaging in motivated reasoning.
“It’s called ‘motivated reasoning,’” says Dr. Brendan Nyhan, Assistant Professor of Government at Dartmouth College and political contributor to the Upshot section of the New York Times. “So while we like to think people start with facts and then reason to a conclusion, in a lot of cases, the factual beliefs people hold are more a result of the identities they have.”
“This is something we all do as human beings,” Nyhan continues. “You do it. I do it. Everybody does it. But it can become pathological when people come to hold false or unsupported beliefs and aren’t willing to listen to the evidence. That’s what we see a lot in our current politics because it is so polarized.”
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With a lot of election debate on the horizon, we asked the doctor to help us figure out how to stay informed and still stay accurate — and how to best educate others without fooling ourselves.
MILEPOST: How did you end up doing this type of research? DR. BRENDAN NYHAN: It started in 2002 when I was a cofounder of a website called Spinsanity.com. I used to do fact-checking, so I was actively engaged in the project of trying to convince people of the facts, and I saw how hard that can be when people aren’t especially willing to listen. Then in grad school at Duke, I came back to this question of, “Why is it so hard to change people’s minds? And in particular: why do people hold factual beliefs that aren’t factually true?” So forget opinions. Can we just agree on the actual facts in question? And that often turns out to be very hard.
Why is that? You would think certain numbers would be so obvious as “the sky is blue.” There are a couple of problems. The first is that people have very weak incentives to have accurate political beliefs. It matters a lot more that you make an informed choice about which car, house or refrigerator you purchase. But one of the most important factors affecting misperceptions in politics is called “motivated reasoning” — the idea that people are biased toward information that confirms their pre-existing views and biased against information that disconfirms those views. In other words: people would rather be right than be informed. Yes. And there’s a study by a researcher named Dan Kahan that shows this really well. They made a little math problem of “Did this policy work or not?” And they showed people some numbers. And they found that when they described it as “Did this policy work in terms of a sunscreen test?” people performed more accurately. But when they described those same numbers in terms of gun control, these same people reasoned toward their preferred conclusions as Democrats or Republicans. So change the topic to something you’re passionate about, and you’re as likely to flip viewpoints as much as any uninformed voter. Sometimes more likely. Because being more knowledgeable means you have more cognitive resources to defend those views when challenged. So it’s harder to change their minds. That’s why the most open-minded people are often the least interested in politics. But then the reason they don’t have any views is because they don’t pay attention. So they’re also less inclined to vote, too. That’s right. We have this idea of this very committed swing voter who considers both sides and makes up their mind and that’s who determines elections. And it’s not that those people don’t exist, but they are very rare. People who care about politics and are engaged in politics are much more like sports fans than they are the ideal of a rational voter.
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Parties do seem to split people into teams. But if everyone felt exactly the same way on every issue, there’d only be two types of people. So how does that work?
“People who care about politics are much more like sports fans than they are the ideal of a rational voter.”
Well, most Americans don’t have 100% consistent positions. Every view they hold isn’t aligned with their party. But the group to whom politics is a more important part of their life — Dr. Brendan and identity Nyhan — they are the ones who will be more consistent. They’re also the most active and the most vocal. Those are the people who are in the comments sections, who are arguing in letters to the editor of the newspaper, or on social media, etc. So they’re the ones you’re most likely to hear from. And they’re especially likely to engage in the motivated reasoning process. Can you give me a good example of a plain fact that people simply won’t accept? Well, climate change is the issue that’s most salient for any coastal community. Over the past 20 or 30 years, people have said again and again, “The scientific consensus is extremely strong that global warming is real and manmade.” And yet, we’ve actually become more polarized in our beliefs instead of less polarized. So even as the scientific evidence continues to become stronger and more detailed and more elaborate, the public opinion along partisan lines is sharper. Why? Because not believing in climate change — or opposing policies associated with mitigating climate change — has become divided along partisan lines and people take cues from [party] elites.
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questionauthority So do the political parties and decision makers and elites understand this fact? Because you see these attack ads and the divisiveness they create. They have to know what they’re doing, right?
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Yes, the parties are aware of who’s actually involved in politics and what they care about. In terms of misinforming people, we can’t say what they do in private — or what they think — but there are certainly cases where [party] elites say things that aren’t particularly well-supported by the evidence and continue to say them, and it seems to benefit them politically.
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Give me an example.
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Well, the one I often use is “death panels.” It was a myth coined by Sarah Palin. You’d have to pull the exact quote but it describes government panels that will decide if people live or die. And that’s just not the case. But within a few months of her saying it, an overwhelming majority of Americans had come to hear of it, and it’s still echoing today. But it’s not only a function of elites. They do play a key role but I think that our political culture — and especially our journalistic culture — is insufficiently harsh on people who [misinform]. There are very few negative reputational consequences. CNN will still have you on. You’ll still get
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“Liberals and conservatives are never going to agree. What’s more important is agreeing on the underlying facts.”
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quoted in the newspaper. You’re still on TV. So we shouldn’t be surprised when people still push these [unsupported ideas]. So what do left-leaning people cling to that’s not supportable? Well, it’s not as flatly false as death panels, but Obama saying you can keep your health care plan is a dubious claim — probably the most prominent and misleading claim that was made on the Democratic side of the healthcare debate — but people on the left seem to forgive him. Another unsupported claim that was held among Democrats is the belief that Bush was implicated in the 911 attacks — the “inside job” conspiracy theory. And there’s plenty of others, like genetic foods. There’s no data that supports they’re any more dangerous than anything else [we eat]. But Moveon.org — which is a prominent liberal group — just sent out a fundraising email making Monsanto out as the boogey man. But I’m still scared of Monsanto. So even
as you say “there’s no safety issues,” I still don’t want to buy it. In fact, I’m inclined to find research that says otherwise. Right. Motivated reasoning. So knowing this, how do people have a reasonable discussion? Well, that’s hard. We need institutions that facilitate more broad-minded discussion. We need settings where you can engage constructively. So basically the opposite of Internet comment sections [laughs]. And people are trying to figure this out. I know a researcher who’s been working with news companies on how to create more online interactive options. Like using a “Respect” button instead of a “Like” button so people could say, “I don’t agree with that but I respect where you’re coming from.” Is Facebook the worst thing ever for political debate? I don’t think we really know yet. People are still investigating social media and the extent
to which people interact across political divisions. But I wouldn’t say that trying to resolve political differences on Facebook is a constructive way of finding common ground. Most of the stuff I see tends to be cheerleading on one side or the other. But it’s hard. We’re often pretty well sorted by our politics. The danger is being trapped in this monoculture politically where you only talk to people with likeminded views. And there’s some evidence that deliberating with people who agree with you makes your views more extreme. So having heterogeneous groups is important. But that’s easier said than done. Is it at least safe to say that insulting people is not the best way to engage in debate? Or that calling someone a “Republitard” or a “Demoncrat” is not going to advance your viewpoint? Oh yeah [laughs]. There’s all kinds of behaviors that can poison the well. But being respectful certainly helps make for more reasonable discussion.
So how do you get people to agree? I’m less worried about liberals and conservatives agreeing — they’re never going to agree. And I would say the reason we have politics is because we disagree. What’s more important is agreeing on the underlying facts. We need to figure out how to make institutions work when the divide between liberals and conservatives — Democrats and Republicans — is so sharp. And those problems are beyond the scope of any individual, right? They’re really about us as a society. But the problem with this misinformation stuff is when I talk about it people think democracy is doomed. I don’t have quite as depressing a read on it. Because, again, we’ve had voters who aren’t so informed ever since democracy started — and we’re still here. — Matt Walker
The preceding interview was edited for space, flow and clarity. For a transcript of the full conversation, go to www.outerbanksmilepost.com.
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It’s hard to make a politician sound human. Especially our public servants up in DC. They dress differently. Speak differently. Lead whole different lives. They’ve got two homes — one in America’s capital; one in their district. Multiple offices. Assistants and planners (who have assistants and planners). The one thing they don’t have? Time.
Schedule a meeting with a member of the House, you’ll get maybe 30 minutes. Set a sit-down with a senator, you might score 10. But just a few seconds standing face-to-face can fill the room with real moments. Like the gleam in a senator’s eyes as she recalls fond memories from her time in Raleigh. Or the humble sorrow a representative shows while reading aloud from a personal letter. Even their office wall art can throw open a window — be it framed photos of a famous celebrity or a child’s construction-paper state flag — offering a glimpse behind all that polarized messaging that makes every candidate either a selfless hero or a dangerous monster, all depending on which attack ad is occupying your television. With that in mind, we drove up I-95 this May to meet two elected officials in person: Representative Walter B. Jones and Senator Kay Hagan. One’s the long-serving Republican from North Carolina’s 3rd congressional district; the other our state’s Democratic junior Senator. It was just two days after May’s primary where Jones staved off a heavily funded battle from a “beltway insider” and Hagan got word she’d be facing Thom Tillis come November. Both had other, bigger interviews to grant — plus votes to cast and people to meet — yet they sawed off precious slivers of their packed calendars for a picture and a brief pow-wow. Which, at its heart, is the primary purpose of every elected official: to step off the talking-point treadmill for a moment or two and listen to concerns and questions from their constituents.
a plain human being Portraits by Chris Bickford
Island
By now, you’ve already endured hours of paid commercials from candidates, parties and Super PACs. The closer you get to November 4, the more you’ll see. Some will want you to feel disgusted and disillusioned. Others hope to swell you with pride. Not one aims to give you an accurate picture of the person they describe — remember that. But go walk those “halls of power” and you’ll learn more in one sentence than you can from a thousand 30-second spots. You may end up impressed; you may leave disappointed. But guaranteed you’ll get a firsthand perception of the person whose job is to represent you “on the hill.” But you’ll never know if you don’t make the trip.
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MAKING MOVES WITH KAY HAGAN Fast-moving. Fit. Fresh off the Senate floor. Kay Hagan sweeps into the room with seconds to
spare and one plain request: “Where do you want me?” Nevermind that her once squared-up office is now a pile of photo gear, she’s got bigger issues to tackle. After all, the primary just made her race against Tillis the poster child for fall’s party battles. And while on tape she’ll stick to a “Jobs, jobs, jobs” position no voter can vilify, it’s the chatter between flash-pops that proves most enlightening. The self-deprecating jabs about her hair looking “fashionably windblown” from racing down the hall. A funny tale about the time she took Marc Basnight for a surprise Pilates workout. The camera keeps clicking. She keeps quipping. Finally, her press secretary notes it’s time to go. The Senator rises, shakes hands and steps away — then turns to ask us a final question about a favorite staffer: “Do you know Melissa Midgett from Wanchese? She’s been with me forever — she’s the best.” Then she’s out the door and back to business. I grew up in a family where public service was a way of life. My dad was mayor of the community where I grew up. My uncle [Lawton Chiles] was a U.S. Senator for 18 years — he later became Governor of Florida. So I always had trust and faith in this idea of the individual who represented all of us in Washington. I’ve had a town hall meeting in every county since we’ve been in office. I’ll bring a constituent staff member with me because a lot of people need help with a problem, and that’s what constituent staff members do: IRS work. Social Security work. Visa work… you name it, we’ve got experts who come to their aid and I’m extremely proud of my team. Last year, our team in Fayetteville found out that active duty military were going to lose their tuition-based assistance benefit — which allows them to take one college class a semester. Within two weeks, I partnered with Republican Senator Jim Inhofe from Oklahoma, and we added an amendment to a bill that was signed into law within two weeks. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say that again, but that’s what we did. And it makes you realize everything we do in Washington D.C. has an impact in North Carolina.
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I know that people are extremely frustrated that partisan politics are getting in the way of passing legislation and getting things done for our state. And I tell you: I’m right there. That’s why Senator Richard Burr and I have worked with Fish and Wildlife and the Park Service to craft a better plan that helps the residents and visitors gain access to the beach — I think that’s a great example of Democrats and Republicans working together. And coastal residents were certainly facing steep flood insurance rate increases, so we passed a bipartisan plan that delayed these rate increases. We need to get more House members and senators to realize we all represent the same people. And we need to act together. One of the things we do here in Washington is called “Carolina Coffee.” Every Wednesday morning from 9 to 10 we welcome anyone from North Carolina to come and talk. The whole office is available. We meet people in the reception area and walk them through the complex into my office. I can hear issues of concern. They can have a great cup of coffee and a Krispy Kreme donut [laughs]. We take some pictures. Some days we have 150 people; other days we have a dozen. And I know people lead very busy lives. But it’s a great opportunity for anyone to come in and talk and cut through that divide [between the Capitol and our constituents].
“ Everything we do in D.C. has an impact in North Carolina.”
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FIGHTING WARS WITH WALTER B. JONES
Prompt. Proper. And purpose-driven. When Representative Walter B. Jones says, “See you at noon,” he’s on time — and on a mission. Actually, it’s more like a reversal of course. Since 2005, Jones has been making amends for approving the use of troops in Iraq. Not only does he line his hallway with photos of fallen soldiers from the 3rd District, he brings full-sized glossies of grief-stricken family members to the House floor to remind colleagues of war’s human cost. It’s almost enough to make you think this red-state Republican’s “gone liberal” — until he invites us into his office to talk more, where signs of Jones’ conservative pedigree abound: from signed photos of the Duck Dynasty dudes to Air Force planes in formation. And, of course, a Bible. “More than anything,” he says, “I’m grounded by my Christian faith.” And that includes finding the strength to fight for certain views — and the humility to repent for others.
“Shock a member of Congress, jam up their phones… that would be a revolutionary act now.”
Divisiveness is not going to lead to success for the American people. When I changed my party affiliation in 1995 that was primarily from my strong belief that the unborn have a right to live and that marriage is between one man and one woman. But I still believe in working across the aisle for the best interests of the people of your district. Right now I’m working with Jim McGovern [Democrat, Massachusetts] in trying to get our troops totally out of Afghanistan. We don’t agree on much of anything else, but we do agree on the war. I’ve always said that the two worst decisions by the Supreme Court in my adult life were Roe v. Wade and Citizens United. Good people are not going to run when outside groups are willing to spend [millions of dollars] to spread distortions. Then what you’ll have is people bought and paid for by some millionaire or billionaire and the average citizen is without representation. There are a lot of hidden agendas — left and right. But if you go on Opensecrets.com you can see every member of congress and where their money comes from. And you can go on websites to see if someone’s telling the truth, like Politifact.com. It’s a matter of people being better informed on the issues and making sure that they let their voices be heard with any of us that have the privilege to serve them — state, federal or otherwise.
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There just doesn’t seem to be people getting as outraged as they used to. I’m at the age of life where I remember the Vietnam War. I think the Internet, with all its value, has changed individuals to thinking, “I don’t have to protest; I’ll just let my feelings be known on the Internet.” If you really want to shock a member of Congress, get about 50 of your friends and say, “At 2pm we’re all gonna call.” Jam up those phones. The person who picks up will go running into the office of the Congressperson or the Chief of Staff and say, “You won’t believe it! We got 30 calls!” That would be a revolutionary act now. I know people are disgusted with Congress but there are people in both parties who truthfully want to do what’s right for the country and the people we represent. And the issues in Washington are extremely important to our nation but — when you really come down to it — what matters is the person in your district who calls about a veteran’s issue or a disability claim. Did you try and give them guidance? Did you do everything you could do? And I don’t know that we’re always successful in helping people — in fact, I know we’re not always successful — but we’re going to try. And I’d hope most people are drawn to serve for that reason. I’d hope so.
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Our revolutionary forefathers dumped pounds of British tea into Boston Harbor. The Chicago Seven turned a Democratic National Convention into the Vietnam War’s biggest protest. Hell, Woody Harrelson shut down half of San Francisco by climbing the Golden Gate Bridge and hanging a banner. Outer Bankers? We’re far less engaged. You might get us to sign a petition. Maybe attend a meeting. But we’ll slap a political message on our tailgate faster than you can say “Honk if you’re lazy.” With that in mind, we’ve concocted a bumper crop of localized talking points — custom-made for the slackest of asses.
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Southwestern Flair With A
Coastal Kick
They say politics make strange bedfellows. Here, strange bedfellows make politics. It’s a place where retirees can preach progressive views from the reddest corner of Currituck. Hippies can kill animals for a living. And extreme conservatives can promote solar power. A world where nearly every man, woman and child is some sort of whack-job — at least compared to the rest of the country — and yet, somehow, everyone still gets along. In hopes of cutting down on the political posturing of the coming election cycle, we offer three profiles of locals with different beliefs who all do good things for our community. Because, in an age where elephants and donkeys make hay by dividing voters into opposite camps, all you need to do is look at your neighbors to realize that none of us think exactly alike. And none of us should ever have to.
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Stumpy Point Trading Post doesn’t sell beer or wine. But it carries almost anything else one might need in this most isolated part of the Outer Banks mainland: batteries, cigarettes and miscellaneous sundries. The odd nut or bolt. Its three most popular items, however, are not for sale: a color TV that cranks out Fox News; a stout, pot-bellied stove that puts out heat on cold days; and its owner, John Butler, who shares warm conversation with year-round residents — and anyone else who stops by. “I always wanted a hometown store,” says the 67-year-old, glasses perched on the end of his nose and a curly gray mop covering his head. “Growing up, the store was a gathering place for people — it has a sense of community.”
throws out his chest and dares anyone to enter. He’s the alphamale of Butler’s new flock. Red Rooster crows a time or two from his place in the yard. He’s more of a lover than a fighter, surrounding himself with hens of every color.
Surrounded on three sides by Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Stumpy Point doesn’t get much traffic, but Butler’s store draws customers six days a week. Before he sold smokes and made small talk, the former steel man helped construct big bridges and buildings. When it was time to settle down about a decade ago, he moved to the village to find peace and quiet, opening his store at the farthest end of the sleepy sandspit.
“Everyone used to have chickens,” says Butler. “Mine are all mongrels. They are pretty because they are all mixed up — different colors, types and sizes. Everyone gets a kick out of looking at them.”
“I like living on the end of the road,” says Butler, whose former home in Zuni, Virginia, was nearly as isolated. “I don’t have to deal with a lot of people because it is secluded. It’s exactly what I was looking for, even with the storms.” Both hurricanes and strong nor’easters can be punishing. After Irene, more than 80 percent of the homes were substantially damaged. Butler cleaned up and was operating again in just a matter of days — shortly after he removed the snakes that moved in to escape the floodwaters.
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Butler’s counter is always strewn with clutter. A pack of smokes. A pair of lost sunglasses. The only organized feature is a stand of paintbrushes, always sitting upright and within reach. “I started with a pencil and found out that I can draw,” says Butler, who began keeping an easel behind the counter after opening the store. “Then I started painting and kept getting better.”
“Bra-a-a-a-accck…”
The walls are a gallery of his work — and days gone by. One painting depicts a ’60s fishhouse. Another shows two young brothers in an old washtub. Currently, he’s recreating a memory of the Ocracoke Lighthouse to replace a recent sale.
White Rooster stands on the steps,
“I do sell one every now and then,”
The serpents are long gone, but you still better watch your feet walking in.
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Villagers often arrive with bread or corn or some other enticement to share with the feathered sentries. Some make their purchases and leave, but most hang out for a while to trade fish stories, spread gossip or engage in a little goodnatured ribbing across the register.
Most folks visit John Butler’s store for some friendly chatter. A lucky few get his come-hither stare. Photo: Chris Bickford
“ I always wanted a hometown store. It’s a gathering place for people... It has a sense of community.”
he admits. “But I give a lot of them away. I give my mother one every Christmas.” One of Butler’s creations made it to the big screen in Nights in Rodanthe. Before the movie began filming on the Outer Banks, a young man popped in to inquire about local artists. The producers ended up purchasing three paintings. When the movie came out, up popped a scene of Richard Gere brushing his teeth — and there was John’s work on the bathroom wall. Go visit, and he might show you the printed screen shot that got passed around town. If he’s not inside, he’s probably across the canal. Butler keeps a boat tied up at the
dock. Once he pushes the vessel from shore to shore, it becomes a bridge to a still more private getaway: a pair of Victorian-looking buildings surrounded by the rose bushes and flowers, vegetables and fruit-bearing trees.
Fox News from the TV in the store to the one in the retreat. If a customer drives up and Butler’s feeling comfortable, he might just shout from across the water for them to grab what they need and come back later — or leave the money on the counter.
Butler did it all himself: cleared the land, planted the gardens and then built the structures out of leftover materials gleaned from construction sites. One building is for storage. The other is a secret hideout, complete with a second recliner and a second television.
“Sometimes that works out well,” he laughs. “And sometimes not. But I have a charge account book on my counter here. I call it the Book of Shame.”
Solar panels on the roof provide power and a black box bounces the reception signal for
The image of a self-professed “extreme conservative” offering the public credit is almost as jarring as the idea of Butler catching Bill O’Reilly’s ranting about clean energy on a solar-powered TV — all while
sitting in a repurposed building surrounded by organic greens. But Butler doesn’t see any contradiction in values. Nor does he follow party lines. (“I hate Democrats and Republicans. I wish there was a third party.”) His opinions are as mottled as one of his hens. The only safe assumption about him is that he is a walking paradox. One who’s happy to grow his own food, make his own money and mind his own business. Ask John Butler for his personal definition of conservatism, and you won’t get a long-winded rant. He’ll only answer in the simplest of terms: “Selfreliance.” — Sandy Semans
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“In 2008, I went canvassing neighborhoods for Obama,” giggles the Grandy resident. “It was a bit scary at times. I never knew what I’d get at the door.” Neither did they. This 66-year-old retiree may look every bit the part of a twinkly-eyed grandma, but her story’s not so stereotypical. In her life, Proctor’s been a beach bum, military wife, scholar, world traveler, even executive of a geotechnical company. The side her right-leaning neighbors would find most inviting? Church lady. “I’ve always been involved in church work,” she says. “I once served as president of the board of a 500-member church. I started taking online graduate courses from Starr King Seminary before deciding being a minister was not for me.”
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You might think Nancy Proctor’s a bit crazy. Not because she laughs reflexively — almost contagiously — after making a serious point about some horrible social problem. Or because she thinks one positive person can make a difference in the world. (It’s just those habits that keep her sane.) What makes her borderline nuts is her choice of address. This “liberal with a capital L” lives in Currituck, a county so conservative, every single commissioner rocks an “R” by their name. But rather than keeping her head down during elections, she consistently sticks her neck out.
Her desire to help people remained. In 2007, she joined the Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition, a collection of volunteers who made community outreach their mission and put their beliefs into action. Efforts included monthly film showings of award-winning documentaries on a wide range of topics, from race to hunger to bullying to substance abuse. No matter the subject, one purpose shined through: promoting tolerance. “Tolerance is respect and appreciation of our different ways of being human,” she explains. “We have diversity within our towns — black and white, gay and straight, rich and poor — but we don’t often talk about it. One way to build that tolerance is to have community
events where we all work together.”
The first step was making people aware of what’s happening. Enter Outer Banks Common Good. Part website, part newsletter, Proctor and her team compile events, updates and organizations from across Eastern North Carolina and put it all on Obxcommongood. org. Wanna find out what United Way’s doing? It’s there. Following up on a local BBQ for a sick child? You got it. Need to learn how to write grants? Start clicking.
Or just sign up for emails and Nancy will send the news to you every Wednesday, tying together 2000 subscribers with every facet of Outer Banks life. Almost.
“I do not publish articles on political parties,” she says. “And I stay away from fundraisers that benefit a specific congregation or evangelical mission work. But they are free to post events on the Community Calendar. Because whether you agree or not, it’s good to know.” Still, the site’s greatest service may be the volunteer section, which offers eight pages of causes for would-be do-gooders. “I think the Outer Banks is a great place to volunteer,” Proctor explains. “In big cities, you just hear about causes; here you can put names and faces to issues. Here, people choose to care more. And you can hear the pride and the love for this
The only thing prettier than Proctor’s purple skirt is her rose-colored glasses. Photo: Chris Hannant
“Tolerance is respect and appreciation of our different ways of being human. We have diversity within our towns — but we don’t often talk about it.”
place in our voices but you also have to ask, ‘Who’s my neighbor?’” This may be the question she wrestles with most. The truth is Grandy was never Nancy’s final destination. She intended to find a cottage closer to her daughter, son-in-law and two grandkids in Nags Head. But while the beach is her muse, Currituck’s her home. And she adopts it wholeheartedly. Standing on the porch of the Historic Jarvisburg Colored School, Proctor can reel off accounts from the county’s long struggle with integration — she once held workshops on stopping racism — as quickly as she dissects the current political make-up. But it’s the average resident she worries about most. And to her, that means removing the barriers between an often-insular beach
community and our inland neighbors. “My own personal bias is that Dare is the richest county in an otherwise poor, poor area,” Nancy says. “One step off this beach and you see that. Sometimes, I wish there was more emphasis on giving throughout the region.” Still, Nancy knows caring a lot about issues doesn’t always lead to compassion. Between political debate and religious dogma, differing viewpoints can come to blows. The website’s received a handful of complaints for being “too left.” But ask her to name the attackers and she’ll flat out refuse. Let the pundits throw stones, Proctor’s weapon of choice is an olive branch. “Once we put labels on someone, we can
make judgments about them,” she says. “That creates giant barriers between people. Once that happens, the conversation stops.” And Nancy’s whole purpose is to keep folks talking about topics she holds dear, like poverty, education, health care and equality for everyone under the law. Even issues of faith are up for debate, provided the end goal is answering one important question: how do we make everyone’s lives better without asking too much from the people around us? “Those are the big questions,” she says. “And we just don’t always agree on the answers. Individualism and personal responsibility are an important part of our democracy. But we can become blind to the reality of how interdependent we are. I read somewhere
that the curse of individualism is isolation.” For Nancy, isolation is not an option. And that may make the Outer Banks the perfect place for her efforts. It’s a community where surviving is equal parts self-sufficiency and selflessness. Hardy men and women work three jobs — then hold a huge benefit for a needy family. Everyone kicks hard. Everyone shares weight. And everyone stays afloat. “At the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions lies the principle of compassion,” she says. “Most all people are guided in some way by the Golden Rule: it calls on us always to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves.” Now that doesn’t sound crazy at all. — Hannah Bunn milepost 39
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There’s lovebirds — and then there’s lovebirds. At 16, anyone can make goo-goo eyes. At 30 you can finally say the words “soul mates” with a straight face. But once you’re pushing 60, if you’re living together, working together, sharing every single second together, and can still gaze upon each other with undying devotion, you’ve officially mated for life. “Victor showed me how to carve 24 years ago,” says Ellen Berg, smiling through a foundation-thick layer of sawdust. “I’ve loved it ever since. I feel like our birds put a smile on people’s faces even on days we don’t see them.”
needed offseason dollars. Friends wanted bargain Christmas gifts. A quarter century later, as many as 300 free spirits pass through to see what’s hanging. Some of the greatest masterpieces actually come from the kitchen, where the island overflows with creations from savory soups to decadent seafood. All springing from Ellen’s imagination.
Ellen pushes another piece of white cedar around the ban saw; out pops another sandpiper silhouette. Normally, Victor would be here to help. But no problem, she’s made thousands of “peeps” — and pelicans and gulls. And after more than two decades doing art shows and stocking galleries, she and her husband have their own rhythm: morning is shop time; afternoon’s for painting at home. And though they may have different styles — Ellen’s a fast-moving, color-splaying multi-tasker; Victor methodically applies each cut and line — the birds come just as they should: unique yet familiar. Welcoming with the right touch of roughness. Just like the Bergs themselves.
“I grew up in a house where everything came from a box,” Ellen admits. “But I discovered early on that I’ve got good instincts about what goes together. Of course, learning to cook game was harder because there’s not as much fat.” Suddenly, you realize that “Black Bear Chili” on the counter ain’t just clever branding. The wood ducks on the shelves aren’t just for show. And beneath all the peace, love and printed skirts pump the hearts of two predators. “I don’t kill for fun,” Vic explains. “I kill for the same reason all predators do: to feed myself, my family and the neighborhood. But the paradox for us seems to be that we’re known for our art first. But we actually hunt-and-gather first — and then everything else falls in behind.”
“Our whole mindset is peace of mind,“ says Victor. “That’s what we’re selling — serenity. We make art to make you feel better.”
And he means everything. Vic’s father, Vern, was a lifelong decoy collector, artist and hunting guide. When Vern lost his battle with cancer, Vic kept the hunting gear, the guidebook and the carving knives. Today, the couple has enough skilled shooters to keep countless clients knee-deep in waterfowl each winter — and enough stencils, tools and reclaimed lumber to carve out fresh birds come summer.
Get an invite to their annual “Starving Artist Party,” and you’ll be downright elated. Every December the couple opens their house to area artists. It began simple enough: local painters
The end result is a natural cycle where each passion feeds the other — and an evolution of their whole life philosophy. An ugly stump pulled from the swamp becomes a shiny pelican for the mantel. The wooden duck on the shelf might one day kill its living model. When Vic shot his
“There’s a right way to do everything... But you don’t stand in your yard yelling
Ma and Pa Kettle got nothing on this masterpiece of American romance. Photo: Chris Bickford
at people.” first wild turkey, it didn’t become dinner; he made fireplace fans from the feathers, then carved the bones into turkey calls.
“Wild game tastes better and it’s healthier for you,” she insists. “We really are a couple of old hippies — that’s the weird thing about it.”
“It’s about being part of the process,” says Vic. “That’s why I hunt. It’s those moments when you’re awestruck by nature. That’s when your body shuts down the inner dialogue in your brain. That’s when your soul gets fed.”
Of course, in some circles of the hippie universe, all meat is murder. Hell, just owning a gun is grounds for a firing squad. As the sole decoy artists at most art shows, they’ve come under verbal attacks.
And so does your body. That’s where Ellen comes in. The former nurse has no problem with guts. The inspired cook has no issues with new ideas. And her inner granola has zero problems with turning carcasses into haute cuisine.
“We’ve had people berate us,” Vic admits. “But it’s just a different lifestyle. And you shouldn’t be able to legislate that I can’t hunt and gather, any more than I can legislate you have to kill something.”
Clearly, you won’t find the Bergs at any PETA meetings — but you won’t find them at NRA rallies either. Not that they don’t have strong beliefs. They’ve got rules for everything from how to organize your decoys to how you freeze your game to how you roast a back strap. They just don’t feel the need to broadcast them. “There’s a right way to do everything,” says Vic. “But you don’t stand in your yard yelling at people. I’ve lived all over the East Coast and this is the only beach that seems to have enough intelligence to put up with each other’s viewpoints. But then it takes a smarter, more
adaptive breed of human to survive here.” Which leads to the ultimate question: if the right Cat-5 hit and left us all stranded, just how long could these two lovebirds last? “Right here?” Vic ponders, pulling on his long, brown ponytail. “We could live off the bird-feeder on our porch for the first month alone. But I’ve always said that if Ellen and I went on Survivor, between her spice rack and my 22, we’d put on weight.” “Oh, we’d last a long, long time,” Ellen adds sweetly, smiling up at her hubby. “But then we’re not above sharing.” — Dale Pelon
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TW’s Nick Walke does some strength training between tournaments. Photo: Daniel Pullen
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Fall’s surf fishing tradition delivers the goods, year after year.
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It doesn’t matter where you are. Or what the weather’s doing. Or even the type of scaly creature you’re trying to hook. For certain people, just that rush of hope that hits when a fish strikes their line is reason enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the swash zone for hours. It makes the bad times seem bearable — and the good times full-on fantastic. And it’s even better when you’re snagging fish after fish after fish from the ocean.
Tournament. In fact, before there were music concerts and surfing contests, these events were the offseason’s sole tourist attractions — and locals were equally happy to play host.
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“I’ve caught fish in every way imaginable,” says Nags Head angler Linda Harper. “But there is nothing like the thrill of pulling fish out of the surf here at home.”
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Last November, Field and Stream went so far as to call this place “the best surf fishing on the whole Atlantic Coast.” And for more than 50 years, that reputation’s driven two long-standing competitions: October’s Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament and November’s Cape Hatteras Anglers Club
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“These tournaments were huge deals,” says Pat Preston, whose father pulled him out of school for his first Nags Head tournament at the age of 12. “Fishermen would come to the awards banquet wearing coats and ties. Now it’s about keeping up a tradition that was started decades ago.” Plenty more has changed since the Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament started in 1951. Back then, maybe 25 teams would participate and most anglers would walk to the shoreline, carrying one rod and one cooler. Today, 80 six-person teams roam the beach in 4WDs full of fancy gear. And instead of suits, they hop out rocking logoed jackets, proudly wearing names like “Bad Liver” and “Blackbeard’s Babes.”
Still, the atmosphere’s the same cozy mix of friendly battle and serious camaraderie, as they land as many fish as humanly possible over two hectic days and four three-hour sessions. Miles of surf fishermen line the shore while judges in SUVs prowl around to measure fish and release them alive. Some fish score points (like bluefish, flounder, drum and trout). Some don’t (sharks, skates and rays).The bigger the fish, the more they score. At the end of all four sessions, awards go to individuals for catching the largest fish, most fish and totaling the most points. The team that racks up the largest total gets crowned Overall Champion — the biggest honor of all. But while everyone gets a trophy or plaque — plus a pile of cool prizes like new rods and tackle boxes — not one penny pays out. So why do so many anglers cut work and drive hours, spending time and cash for no money at all?
“It’s more about bragging rights,” says Pat, whose “Rising Tides” team has won the tournament five times. “Plus it’s fun to share secrets and figure out what the fish are biting on. And everyone has a chance to win something.” They even have separate divisions for female anglers, and a total of 14 all-women’s teams currently compete. But that doesn’t mean the girls can’t beat the men. In fact, Linda Harper led TW’s “Mullet Mamas” to victory in 2012 — the first all-female championship team since “The Sea Hags” broke the glass ceiling in 1961. “The little 13-inch fish that won us the tournament was a catch of a lifetime,” laughs Harper, who entered her first Nags Head tourney in 1971. “But fishing with my friends on the beach — and maybe sharing a few mimosas — that’s the main reason I look forward to these fall events.” November’s Hatteras Anglers Club tournament may be the most anticipated gathering on the whole East Coast. Timed perfectly for when serious species like red drum and bluefish hug the coast, it draws 120 six-person teams from New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, plus every corner of Carolina. Billed as the largest surf fishing tournament in the world — longtime fans call it the “The Big Hatteras” — the combo of plenty of people and fish guarantees major action and huge hauls. (In 2004, more than 8000 scoring fish hit the beach.) Of course, a tournament of this magnitude requires a whole year of planning — and a whole lot of volunteers. For two days they work out of Buxton’s CHAC clubhouse, along with a swarm of 70 judges, all tallying scoring sheets and updating computers, making it a much more high-tech experience than the first Hatteras event in 1957. But a modern world brings modern problems, from beach closures to driving permits. As Cape Hatteras Anglers Club President Larry
Hardman notes: “Even after 57 years there are new circumstances we must deal with in order to make each year a success.” Most recently, Hurricane Irene washed out Hwy 12 in 2012, tacking on a two-hour ferry ride to a visiting team’s long journey. Still, most everyone made the trek. And plenty more are anxious to try: at press time, 67 teams stacked the waiting list to get into the tournament. Many of them have been sitting there for years.
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“If you already have gray hair, you may want to put the names of your children down,” Hardman says. “Possibly even your grandchildren.”
Before music concerts and surfing contests, fishing events were the offseason’s only draw.
A running joke is that “someone has a die” to get on a team. So, if you’re serious about slipping in either event, the surest way to make the cut is to join one of the clubs and to work the tournaments. Most new faces are volunteers who get asked to fill in when an older angler has to bow out.
But there’s a faster way to join this closeknit, laidback community of fishermen. Start by squeezing in among the friendly folks who post up on the edge of the continent every fall. Chuck some bait into the ocean and see what comes back. During blitzes, the deluge of slippery silver can feel like winning the lotto. On quiet days, the rushing waves and rising sun can be a near-religious experience. Either one can be equally rewarding. And both will leave you with a real sense of belonging. — Ashley Bahen
This year’s 64th Annual Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament strikes Oct. 9-10 (more at www. nagsheadsurffishingclub.org). The 57th Annual Cape Hatteras Anglers Club Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament runs Nov. 6-7. Also, the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club sponsors the Bob Bernard Individual Tournament on Nov. 8, which is open to all anglers and free to tournament volunteers and everybody under 16. For more details on both, visit www.capehatterasanglersclub.org.
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It’s 5:30pm inside Colington Harbor — but it feels like high noon on the Equator. The sun’s beaming death rays. The air drips humidity. And nothing’s moving on the docks but waves of steam, a couple sunbathing teens — and a 73-year-old sailor named George Kendall, who steers his sloop through the quiet canal. Just as he has nearly every Wednesday for the past 24 years. “Everywhere in the world they sail on Wednesdays,” says the wisecracking, mustachioed Newfoundland native. “When I moved to Colington from New York in 1989, I asked the Commodore, ‘Do you sail on Wednesdays?’ He said, ‘We tried it but it didn’t work.’ I said, ‘Well, I guess we better try again.’” Twenty-four years later, the Colington Yacht Club still marks every hump day from April to October with an evening cruise around the Albemarle Sound. Head to the harbor about 5:45pm, and you’ll see captains circling each other in anticipation, firing verbal potshots across each other’s bows. At 6:00 sharp, they’ll file past the playground into the sound and head north roughly two miles for a port turn around the 2KH marker — then tack west for another three. The moment the fastest boat rounds the MG marker, the whole fleet reverses course. The first boat home claims victory.
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“That gives the smaller boats a chance to win,” Kendall explains. “And if everybody plays it right, it should be a photo finish.” It’s mostly for fun. Once a month, some skippers battle for points to crown a CYC season champ. A few, including Kendall and his wife Verna, actively race in Albemarle Sound Sailing Association events. But the mid-week cruises remain the most popular. It’s a way for the club’s 50-plus members to enjoy some high-seas camaraderie — and bring the club to the community without the pressure of actively competing. Sort of. “I’ll let you in on a little secret,” winks CYC Commodore and Kitty Hawk Elementary School Principal Greg Florence. “Whenever two sailboats are in sight of another, they’re racing.” With that, we’re off. Greg grabs the tiller, George trims the sail and for the next two hours, they bark orders and swap tactics in a game of tiny angles and degrees of strategy. Built in 1959, George’s sloop is a 27-foot Olympic-class racer named Special K. She’s originally made to hold three men — and no more than 480 pounds. George modified it with benches to hold four people comfortably, but she still keeps pace with the bigger, speedier vessels. “Ever notice how an airplane just moves its
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flaps an inch or two?” Greg explains. “This is the same thing. A minor adjustment can make a major difference, all depending on our angle to the wind and the design of the boat.”
so they’re no longer parallel — they’re both billowing off each side — catching every lick of trailing wind. With each fresh gust, we lose another boat.
As fast as we go, it’s hard to tell who’s winning. Any boat can be first when they’re distant shadows converging on a single point. The best you can do is focus on keeping momentum. Pulling lines, reading the sails and making the minor adjustments to extract the maximum force from each ounce of wind. And that’s the real reward. Because the more you concentrate on these minor details, the more you lose yourself in the process.
“Whoo!” Greg cries as we move our way out to the front of the pack. “This is gonna be fun. We’re passing ‘em all!”
“I call it my Wednesday night therapy session,” says Greg. “Sometimes I get so relaxed, I feel like I can fall asleep.” He’s right. It feels more like a pleasure cruise than a regatta. Until we start closing in on the halfway point, to see one… two… three boats out front. As the first captain circles the MG marker, the whole fleet turns around. And all the strategizing begins anew. Greg looks up at the mast and locks eyes with George: “Wanna go wing-on-wing?” George nods, grabs a pole and sets the sails
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George grins in agreement as we leave the last skipper behind: “Nobody can catch us now.”
“Whenever two sailboats are in sight of another, they’re racing.”
The next couple hours are a shared victory celebration. One by one, all the boats tie up to a piling and find the cooler. Everyone circles around like so many seagulls, laughing and squawking. Then, before night can fully fall, everyone loosens their lines, says goodbye and slips off into the growing darkness. And as we slowly crawl home, George mops his brow one final time and gazes up at the sky and sighs: “It’s always cooler on the water.” — Dana Puente
For more on membership, the off-season’s Sunday afternoon sails and other events — or to hitch a ride on a boat any Wednesday through Oct. — go to www.colingtonyachtclub.com. And come out to Colington Harbor on Sept. 6, as the CYC hosts the second to last event of the ASSA season.
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What’s a few silver feathers between friends? Photo: Jeff Lewis
A BRO’S GUIDE TO BIRDING 7 gnarly tips to help the new school • Old guys rule. Experienced birders are the best teachers. Make one your bud. • Think dawn patrols and evening seshes. Birds are more active at dawn and dusk. • Shoulder season’s super buff. Peak migratory times are Apr. to June and late Aug. to Nov. • Charge after big storms. Major blows are key for bringing rare species. • Shoots, brah. Carry a camera to help ID birds — and verify rare finds. • Step off, dude. Be respectful of private property and “No Trespassing” signs.
How fledgling birders are making ornithology a little less old school Between the beach closures, foreign tags and silly hats, bird watching may be the Outer Banks’ biggest social taboo. But not all birders are silver-haired tourists bumbling about in tan cargo pants. An increasing number of young, local nature-lovers are joining in the hunt. And they’re not chasing the Plovers and Oystercatchers that draw outof-town ornithologists. Or even Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers. When you live on a beach, shorebirds are an every day occurrence — and that’s not very thrilling. “It’s the rarities that give us our fix,” says 31-year-old kayak instructor and homeschool teacher Julie Southard. “We’ll spend four days watching a stranger’s driveway to see a Painted Bunting.” Gone is the stereotypical image of a robed geriatric reading the newest edition of Birds and Blooms, hawking her feeder in hopes of a cardinal. (That’s a Northern Cardinal — or Cardinalis cardinalis — to be specific.) This new breed of birders are vibrant outdoor adventurers who have crossed over from some other favorite outlet.
The fisherman who gets distracted by the shadow of a Swallow-tailed Kite passing overhead. The kiteboarder who gazes upon a Black-necked Stilt while assembling her gear. They go on missions expecting to feed one passion and end up adopting a whole new pursuit. Before long, they’ve got two addictions to choose between after a nor’easter passes. Sometimes the birds even win. “I call it trading waves for warblers,” says KDH birder/surfer Bobby Koch. “Because usually the best days for birding are when the waves are pumping. It’s a sacrifice, but you understand the birds might take flight before the waves go flat.” The brilliant autumn conditions that make the Outer Banks a watersports Mecca can be perfect for birding, as fall’s migration patterns bring 300 unique species to our shores. Driving through Pea Island, a pilgrimage of Priuses parks along NC 12, packed with scope-wielding seniors. Look closely, you’ll see some boardshorts and trucker hats among the long, floppy brims, wicking shirts and zip-off pants. And though the styles and paces may be poles apart, the goals are just
the same: to get a healthy buzz from seeing another odd bird. “Nothing compares to seeing a Snowy Owl on Thanksgiving morning,” says Southard, “or catching a glimpse of a Purple Gallinule in a bug-infested marsh or being surprised by a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher.” Making those discoveries isn’t always easy. It requires patience. Focus. And lots of little bits of knowledge. The way a supercilium stripes the head from beak to eye might mean the difference between a Field Sparrow and a Lincoln Sparrow. The color of the toes could determine whether it’s a Great Egret or Snowy Egret. Without a firm grasp of the scapulars and tertials — fancy talk for “wings” — one could hardly distinguish the difference between dozens of species of sandpipers. Luckily, the relationship between young and old birders remains dynamic and fruitful. Scan the flats and ponds, and you’ll see both groups trading binoculars, offering new insights and sharing discoveries. “More eyes and ears is never a bad thing,” says seasoned birder and photographer
• Be a narc. Report all your finds to www.carolinabirdclub.org Jeff Lewis. “I usually go out alone because personal schedules don’t mesh. But alone or with friends, it’s highly enjoyable.” That’s the real beauty of birding: it’s all yours. And it’s always there. You can drive south before dawn to stake out a Peregrine Falcon at Cape Point — or poach your backyard for a glimpse of a pigeon. You can spend thousands on Carl Zeiss birding scopes — or use nothing but your own two eyes. Often, a simple neighborhood walk can reveal a bounty of birdies. Take an evening stroll around the block with your best pair of “binos,” you might spy an American Robin enjoying a routine puddle bath. Or see a House Finch fly past. Or a completely foreign sound might steal your ear. Looking up, you’ll stand mesmerized as an Orchard Oriole belts out its song from the very top branch. And all the banality of life flutters away. — Jim Gould The annual Wings Over Water Festival runs Oct. 21-26, offering a host of birding trips and other animal viewing opportunities. More at www. wingsoverwater.org. milepost 47
gogreen Next came New Jersey. Then Connecticut. Then Delaware. This year alone, Minnesota, Maryland and New York all passed medicinal ballot measures, while D.C. voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts. With all the reform, this summer, The New York Times — America’s most famous newspaper — officially “endorsed” federal legalization with a series of columns, stating, “It’s long past time to repeal this version of Prohibition.”
Hot flames equal fresh glass – and cold cash. Photo: Chris Bickford
But while social reformists get glassy-eyed curing social ills and sick people, it’s cold cash that’s fueling this pot party. In 2013, the legal marijuana trade was estimated to be worth $1.53 billion. In five years, experts predict that number will reach $10.2 billion. And every state that relaxes regulations presents a fresh market of new consumers, and potential new revenue streams from “Bake-cation” tourism to manufacturing grow lights.
ALL FIRED UP
NC’s cannabis future may be cloudy, but one Outer Banks glass company is already making a mint. Half the factory shoots flames like the Wizard of Oz. The other half sprouts color like Willy Wonka. Between the two sides a half-dozen workers bustle about, lighting torches and stretching silicon-based taffy into clear tubes and multi-chromatic fixtures that don’t just turn plant matter into smoke — they turn smoke into cash. It’s a fantasy world where each handmade water pipe fetches an average of $300. And where every box out the door means ten full-time jobs — plus a fat paycheck for two brothers who pull the strings. And it’s only gonna get better as North Carolina lines up to be the next state to make marijuana completely legal... Not. “We’ll probably be the last state to decriminalize cannabis,” says Russell Lowe, milepost
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one half of the duo behind Island Glass studio and Island Dyes retail stores. “Who knows?” laughs his twin brother Bryan. “We still might beat Virginia.” If you don’t believe them, just try buying a beer before noon on Sunday. But beyond our borders, 23 states and our nation’s capital are relaxing marijuana laws, allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis for everything from epilepsy to anxiety to chemotherapy. Colorado and Washington go so far as to make recreational marijuana use legal for adults over 21. And nothing says that the same glass that’s legally manufactured inside NC and labeled “for tobacco use only” can’t be shipped out of state to cure granny’s glaucoma.
“We have 150 accounts along the East Coast and up into Canada,” says Russell. “We even have one in Australia. And people always like to think success comes from making smart decisions, but I’d say this is more good timing.” Actually, it’s a bit of both. For most of the past 25 years, the Lowes were retailers, selling tie-dye shirts, Bob Marley posters and tobacco accessories out of their Island Dyes stores. They figured blowing glass inhouse would help boost profits, so in 2008, they purchased a company called SYN out of Raleigh and moved the whole operation to a Currituck factory — the same year Michigan became the third state to allow medicinal marijuana east of the Mississippi.
Or as Russell says, “We haven’t seen anything like this since the ‘90s tech boom.” Even the product is space age. Forget the cheap, plastic pipes of previous generations. When you’re dispensing medicine, the instruments must look and feel scientific. High end connoisseurs demand hot fashion. The SYN line delivers both. Using only human labor and German glass, each handmade piece has the pharmaceutical look of a Merck Erlenmeyer flask, the snob appeal of a Mercedes Benz — and the street cred of Apple’s latest operating system. They even come with a pre-requisite, hipster-approved name. “This is our Neck-Nested Full-Sized Showerhead,” says Bryan as he flips through a glossy catalog. “It costs about $600.” Don’t choke. Some go up to $800. The cheapest? About a hundred. And yet, they’ve got a stack of orders on file. One box going to Maine is for $7500. Another’s off to Maryland for $16,000. Today, Island Studios is the second-largest glassmaker on the East Coast — and the only fully legal one for 100 miles. “See those trees?” Bryan laughs as we pull in the parking lot of their studio. “OSHA made us plant those to offset emissions.”
“You got me so high, I cannot feel the fire. And you keep telling me you never wanna leave my side. As long as I don’t break these... Promises.” You couldn’t pick a more perfect soundtrack. After all, the whole cannabis economy is running on faith. States rely on patients and dispensaries to buy and sell responsibly. Businessmen promise workers continued employment. Stock investors bank on future growth. And everyone prays more cannabis markets will bubble up. But it only works as long as Uncle Sam keeps his word not to intrude. And until federal law says it’s legal, the DEA could smash up the party at any time, sending people to the penitentiary — or just the poorhouse. “It’s a fine line we’re all walking,” says Bryan, who notes that neither brother smokes
Does that mean Asheville will one day be the next Amsterdam? Not this election cycle. Or likely the next. But consider this: in 1908, North Carolina was the first state to enact prohibition — 12 years before the 18th Amendment. Today, only Graham County remains dry — and an estimated 50,000 ABC retail permits generate $826 million each year. Once tobacco farmers and tourist boards get a whiff of that type of green, it will be hard for Raleigh to keep saying “no” to cannabis. But as long as they do, Island Glass is happy to export to any law-abiding state that says “yes” — and reap the benefits at home. “This is a conservative state,” says Russell. “I’m a conservative person. But you can’t stick your head in the sand and hope change isn’t coming. Actually, I’ve always found that once you get over the initial fright, you start to realize that change is good. You just have to get there.” — Matt Walker
So F re
!
That’s why the crew keeps working. Cranking wheels back and forth like a bunch of full-sized, foul-mouthed, OompaLoompas. Sweating. Cursing. Occasionally, they even break into song. Except instead of chanting “doopity-doo” they croon Skrillex in a chorus of flying falsetto.
It lap
“We made 9000 pieces last year,” says Russell. “ We could’ve sold 39,000. So if the lathes aren’t spinning, we’re all losing money. “
Oddly enough, in a state where job creation reigns supreme, it’s compassion that’s moving the needle at home. In July, Governor McCrory signed a bill that allows doctors to prescribe a non-euphoric strain of cannabis oil that stops epileptic seizures in children. The law also provides measures for future pharmaceutical research.
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The most talented artisans can clear $60,000 a year — sometimes more — making blowing glass the best local skilled labor outside of luxury boats. But it takes a solid five years to achieve that skill level. And nobody’s getting paid if they’re not shipping orders.
Clamping tubes in their teeth like a caterpillar’s hookah, they stutter breaths to bend the glass.
ou’ll Wanna Y h S
nic
“It’s a hot, crappy job,” Bryan admits. “But it pays well.”
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anything — not even tobacco. “But we’re not trying to be martyrs here. We’re just trying to make a living for ourselves and our workers.”
Orga
And the inside feels way more like a Detroit auto factory than a Denver head shop. Seven tattooed workers stand before lathes sporting safety glasses and holding one of three torches. Clamping tubes in their teeth like a caterpillar’s hookah, they spin long cylinders over Bunsen burners, stuttering breaths to bend the glass. The pieces have to stay heated, so there’s no AC and no fans. Only flames and 1000-degree kilns.
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Art l & Te a c as • Lo
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fooddrink And you thought the Good Humor man was happy. Mark McCleary and co. get ready for rush hour. Photo: C. White
endnotes
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Mobile kitchens bring international cultures to America’s masses.
questionauthority upfront soundcheck getactive ROLLING FLAVOR
Food trucks are a fast and furious national craze — so why can’t more Outer Banks chefs hitch a ride?
startingpoint
They’re America’s latest restaurant juggernaut. From DC to Denver, Richmond to Raleigh, more than 3 million food trucks serve everything from breakfast to dinner — soba salads to smoked alligator sausage — sometimes several options per corner. They don’t just deliver far-flung flavor options to working stiffs; they bring international cultures to America’s masses. Unless you’re on the Outer Banks. Here, if you want to find a mobile kitchen, you have to either hop a ferry to Ocracoke, or start driving north… all the way to Corolla.
roadmap gokite
diners. Restaurateurs are also beginning to salivate, especially in Dare County where the rolling food movement’s faced more than a few speed bumps. While caterers can use them in conjunction with their existing restaurants, you still can’t find them parked on side streets. And you likely won’t anytime soon.
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“It’s a mixed bag when it comes to truck sentiment,” says Ben Sproul, Chairman of the Outer Banks Restaurant Association. “Some business owners feel that trucks would be potentially disruptive, unfair competition, while others see it as an opportunity. This is where the great divide lies.”
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It’s more like a healthy crevasse. For those who’re opposed, food trucks represent a way for invading restaurateurs to corral would-be diners away from existing eateries. For the supporters, it’s a multi-tool that lets established local chefs hit the streets and reach new customers.
“We both have backgrounds in fine dining and have done it all,” says Mark McCleary who, along with his wife Kristina, owns and operates both the Corolla Village Food Truck and Northern Lights Bakery. “But this is something fun, sustainable and different.” Well into autumn, the Corolla Village Food Truck parks under the live oaks across from the Water’s Edge Village School. Between 11am and 5pm you’ll find all sorts of smells mixed up amongst the confederate jasmine. Follow the scent until you get to a line of hungry folks hankering for a Fried Egg Burger, “Not Your Gramma’s” Green Beans, beer-battered Mahi Sandwich with house pickled veggies — or a range of daily inspirations to rival the fanciest special board.
gosurf
outthere
That “cuisine coach” approach is hooking more than just
gohunt
In Corolla, they can post up on any private property that provides permission. (The McClearies also routinely work the Whalehead Club’s weekly Wednesday Night Wine festival.) But in Dare County, each town makes the rules. For KDH, that mostly means catering special events like Daredevils games. In Nags Head, it’s outdoor gatherings like the Seafood Festival. In Manteo, you can legally post up in town eight out of 30 days per month as long as it’s not on the waterfront. (But you’re more likely to find them inside Festival Park during concerts.)
“For those that already have the volume, this is an opportunity to add another layer to your business,” says Daniel Lewis, who purchased a truck three years ago as a catering resource for three restaurants: Coastal Provisions, Coastal Cravings and Coastal Cantina. “Wherever you travel your name goes along; it’s a portable billboard.” So where are they allowed to travel? That’s the tricky part.
The one law they all share is any truck must have a point to receive and store goods, dispose of materials and be where the food inspector can pay them a visit. In other words: an existing restaurant or commissary. It’s not just to protect consumers; it protects the existing brick-and-mortar eateries. “There is a lot of concern about out-of-towners coming down and setting up on every corner,” says Lewis, who pitched a food truck proposal to the OBX Restaurant Association. “But this is where each town could define the appropriate regulations to safeguard all the issues folks are uneasy about.” Already, ordinances say mobile food vendors aren’t allowed to serve alcohol or use beach accesses, eliminating two major concerns. Meanwhile, Nags Head made a narrow rule change that allows Tubbs Hot Dog stand to work the corner of Barnes Street, and now a second location at the Croatan Centre. But why allow wieners and not knishes? Or tacos? Or tuna-q? These are questions no town seems willing to tackle. At least not yet. So what exactly does Dare County need to make this truck thing work? “Growth,” remarks Sproul. “We just don’t have that heavy foot traffic that cities see year-round. We already have 170 restaurants and 300 places with food permits. That’s a lot for a county of 30,000.” For now, if you want to see a local restaurant’s truck, you’ll have to chase down a festival — or crash a wedding. Or just cruise up to Corolla. The McClearies are happy to bring some urban chic to the Currituck Sound, where the stout, live oaks stand in for skyscrapers — and the sweet, salty breezes are the closest you come to a smog alert. “We love being able to share this experience with others,” says Mark. “And we’re not going anywhere.” — Fran Marler milepost 51
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artisticlicense to mention several Hawaiian pilgrimages — carving alaias was the obvious next step to combine the passions.
A cool niche to carve in. Photo: Daniel Pullen
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He shaped his first board shortly after returning home. While ancient Hawaiians used koa wood or willi-willi, Jay works in mahogany, cedar and redwood. Jay’s old collaborator Clint sources wood from discarded trees and glues the blanks together; Jay whittles ‘em out with the planer, then some hard sanding before taking a grinder to it. Next, he applies cedar or teak oil, adds a little wood burn and chiseling, and finally, the logo — a seabird — referencing the alaia’s hydrodynamic, gliding principles. Each one takes about 12 hours to finish, always outdoors, under Jay’s backyard tent.
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CATCHING A THROWBACK
Jaygetactive Bonneville turns ancient Hawaiian sacrament into utilitarian local art. Look around your place and pick out your favorite item. The turn-of-the-century centerpiece. An Oriental rug. Whatever decorative work you would grab first if (God forbid) a hurricane or nor’easter came to flush you out of your home. If that thing happens to be an alaia shaped by Jay Bonneville, you could literally ride out the storm on your wall art.
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“I tell people, ‘Sure, this board will look great in the corner next to a plant,’” says the 42-year-old Rodanthe resident. “‘But it can be ridden. If you scratch it, just sand, buff and re-oil it and it will appreciate over time.’”
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In some ways that’s their whole appeal. For nostalgic waveriders, an alaia is the ultimate collectors item. In pre-contact Hawaii, they were the original commoner’s surfboard. The name stems from the “la-la” technique of sliding angularly along a wave face ahead of the whitewater — what we now call “surfing” — and it’s perhaps the most emblematic instrument of Polynesian mana, or soul. And anyone familiar with Outer Banks surf culture knows that Bonneville is synonymous with “soul surfer.”
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“My buddy Clint Crosby and I started off making wooden skateboards in my garage,” he recalls. “And growing up down the street from Tim Nolte, he totally influenced us to ride different things: monkey noses before they were funboards, single-fins, fishes… There were two years there where I exclusively rode a longboard, just to groove on something fresh.” But while Jay’s taste in equipment may be eccentric, his path to Rodanthe was a whole lot crustier. He started out camping among the stars and skeeters in the early ‘90s. When it came time to find a house, he bought a boat instead. By 2007, Jay was splitting his time between sleeping in a tent in Mike’s Campground and boating off Beaufort’s barrier islands. At night he learned lonely lessons like celestial navigation — until he met a visitor from Maine, Lindsy Blazej. The couple set sail for the Bahamas, sailing, surfing, falling in love and living simple.
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“I didn’t drop out,” says Jay who moved back two years ago, “I just wanted to do something different after being eaten up with ‘surf’ my whole life. But before long, it was time to get back to the northern Outer Banks before my body started falling apart [laughs].”
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Given Jay’s extensive tinkering and seafaring background — not
For 20 years, the VB transplant has threaded Hatteras barrels with a phantom mystique on a range of classic shapes. Decades before West Coast hipsters made alternative designs trendy, Jay was a fan of the “ride anything” movement.
“It’s the best thing to do in the winter,” says Jay. “I named one the ‘Storm Petrol’ for the environment it was shaped in — snowing with 40mph northeast winds.”
Each one takes about 12 hours to finish — always outdoors under Jay’s backyard tent.
Jay plans to revisit Hawaii to do further research, while Clint wants to source more buoyant materials. But five boards in, they’re already making fans. Storm Petrol found a home with Ivan Trent — son of big-wave legend Buzzy Trent. “I think Jay’s creating a niche where people know his hands-on reputation,” says Clint. “Getting something neat from a local guy, instead of ordering one online from some bandwagon shaper.” Jay will even let you watch him shape it behind the shop. He and Lindsy run Hatteras Island Surf & Sail. The setup itself is a shrine to Outer Banks surf history: vintage postcards, antiquated tees. And right front and center of all that is one of Jay’s immaculate wooden creations — a shining example of Hatteras and Hawaiian throwback harmony. “We want to keep it traditional as best we know how,” he says; clearly struggling with the concept of cashing in such soulful, sweat equity. “As of now, I don’t have a price tag sticking in people’s faces. If someone wants one, I’m like, ‘Okay, hold on, let me think about this [laughs]…’ But, yes, they are for sale.” The end result is something clean and pure. Something simple and classic. Something that triggers a primal yearning for that weightless, controlled glide through turbulence. Much like the saga of Jay Bonneville. “The thing about living in the past,” he finishes, “is it just makes sense. Because it’s proven. It’s tried and true.” — Matt Pruett milepost 53
The LocaLs’ choice in coroLLa
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DELTA LADY
From lessons to live shows, Ruth Wyand brings America’s rich musical roots to our beach community.
roadmap Lunch & Dinner DaiLy Now serviNg Breakfast & suNday BruNch
LocaTed in TimBuck ii • coroLLa, nc (252) 453-4644 • www.rT12oBx.com F O R T R A N S PA R E N C Y, FA I R N E S S A N D THE FUTURE.
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Wyand makes herself at home. Photo: Chris Creighton
outthere She has the vocal pipes of a torch song chanteuse. The dazzling dexterity of a seasoned jazz master. And enough slide guitar soul in her pinky finger to turn the finest Duck dining establishment into a Delta juke joint — or the grittiest Hatteras beach shack into a turn-of-the-century Cotton Club.
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But Ruth Wyand is more than just a first-rate guitarist and singer/ songwriter — she’s also a top-notch teacher who expresses her love of music in every way possible. Private lessons for local protégés. Blues courses across area high schools. Masters guitar workshops from New England to New Zealand. Last year, she and pianist Cathy Kreplin even created the Beach Road Music School — a co-operative where instructors of any instrument can gather to inspire fresh talent. The reason she’s such a prolific educator? She’s a lifelong student.
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“I’ve always been fascinated with American music,” says the New Jersey native. “Even after college I’d visit Washington DC to sift through the blues studies catalog at the Library of Congress. And I’d always walk out with a notebook full of names.” In 2010, Wyand decided playing their songs wasn’t enough — she wanted to show their faces and share their lives. Thus began
her first multi-media experiment. Titled “A Journey Down The American Music Highway,” Ruth travels chord by chord — picture by picture — from the Civil War’s Stephen Foster to Jimi Hendrix’s Star Spangled Banner. The self-described “musical power point” was so well received, Wyand took it on the road as far as Kuwait. Last year, she decided to dig even deeper by collaborating with filmmaker Jean Antolini to create “Mama’s Got the Blues.” The combination of vintage footage and live performance pays tribute to the long list of ladies who gave birth to America’s most recognized musical form. This past April, she competed in the Garden State Film Festival against 100 documentaries. She finished 8th out of 100 entries. “Every show someone goes, ‘I never knew that!’” says Wyand. “And that’s why the show really appeals to people. Because there’s all these amazing women who made amazing music, and nobody knows them.” We sat down with Wyand between classes to find out more about the women who nurtured our most vital music— and hear more of what the world’s been missing.
MILEPOST: You’re obviously a lifelong student of American music. Is that how you got turned on to the blues? RUTH WYAND: Actually, the blues was my first musical love. I grew up in Atlantic City. In the ‘70s, there was this phenomenon in American cities called “white flight” — which was basically gentrification in reverse. Inside of a year my neighborhood went from 100 percent white to 90 percent black. My neighbor was a man from Durham named Mac Elder. He would sit in his driveway and listen to all this rhythm-and-blues and gospel. I’d walk past his house on my way to guitar lessons and he’d say, “Hey! Ruthie! When you gonna learn to play the blues?” I’m like, “I dunno. I’m 12 years old! I don’t even know what the blues is!” So Mac played me Hound Dog Taylor and Elmore James. He told me, “This is slide guitar.” Then he showed me this picture of Hound Dog Taylor, who had six fingers. And I said, “But I’m a little white girl with five fingers, I can’t play the blues!” Obviously that’s not the case. Still, there aren’t many female blues guitar success stories. That has to make you feel good. Well, somebody once told me that once you reach your fifties, if you’re doing what you love, success is survival. But you’re right: there aren’t many women blues musicians. There were way more in the ‘30s and ‘40s. And that’s one of the reasons I got out of playing blues for a while. It was pretty much just old men playing the same shuffle beat over and over again. It felt stale. Old time blues is way more interesting. When W.C. Handy was writing songs at the turn of the century, blues and jazz pretty much used the same kind of changes — that was before blues guitar players started simplifying everything. But it wasn’t until 10 years ago I started discovering the women of the blues — Nina Simone, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey — and started looking into their history. That’s the best part of doing this show; I get to play their songs and tell their stories. So what makes them so compelling? Well, the show starts out in Storyville, which was a 30-block section of New Orleans where prostitution and everything was legal — they called it the Vice District. In these brothels and saloons there was music playing all the time. And almost all of it was played by women. In fact, the very first person to record a blues
song — not the first woman, but the first person — was Mamie Smith. It was called “Crazy Blues.” And in that same era, the early 1900s, a lot of vaudeville was going on. So you have Ma Rainey — who’s considered the Mother of the Blues. But I start with Anne Cook — who was 13 or 14 when she ran away to New Orleans and started singing in the brothels — and go all the way through to Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt. So there are a few names people will recognize.
joelambjr.com 252-261-4444
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“everyone thinks ‘Hound Dog’ is an Elvis Presley song... it’s not.”
Sure. But most they probably won’t. Like Sister Rosetta Tharpe — she was an incredible electric guitar player and gospel singer from the ‘30s and ‘40s. You know the opening riff from “Johnny B. Goode”? She was doing that riff years before Chuck Berry. And the song “House of the Rising Sun”? That was originally called the “Rising Sun Blues.” The first recording was done in the fields of Kentucky by a 16-year-old girl named Georgia Turner. And everyone thinks “Hound Dog” is an Elvis Presley song. It’s not. It was actually written by Big Mama Thornton. She only got paid $500.
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What’s funny is suddenly that song makes sense. As a kid I thought that was some dude singing about a dog. But from a woman the meaning changes entirely. You got it: “Listen, man, you’re nothing but a hound dog” [laughs]. But the point of the show isn’t to bang people over the head with the idea that “women can do this.” It’s to teach people how diverse blues really is. Because when people hear “blues” they immediately picture some guy with a guitar and harmonica playing “Sweet Home Chicago.” And that’s great. But we’re saying, “Come on! There’s more to it than that!” Much more. — Leo Gibson Ed. note: On Sept. 25, Ruth Wyand will bring “Mama’s Got the Blues” to the Pangea Tavern in Avon. On Oct. 10, teen students from her summerlong Rock Band Camp will perform all original music at the Mustang Music Festival. milepost 55
SAGA CONSTRUCTION & MIKE DIANNA’S GRILL ROOM PRESENT NORTH CAROLINA’S PREMIER DESTINATION CULTURAL ARTS GATHERING
FEATURING JJ GREY AND MOFRO THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS
TIM REYNOLDS AND TR3 • THE REVIVALISTS
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THE LONDON SOULS • SETH STAINBACK AND ROOSTERFOOT PEOPLES BLUES OF RICHMOND • ZACK MEXICO • THE TILLS FORMULA • DEWEY VIA • CATEGORY 5 • SOUL HOUSE REVIVAL
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OCT 10 & 11, 2014
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Station Number Six Time stood still in the tempest as the wind shuddered windows and the waves pummeled the shore of a station built many moons before. A past shelter for lifesaving menfolk, who rowed through storms for shipwrecks, the building bowed to Mother Nature’s nor’easters, which blew in with high spirits. Squalls haunting, howling signified the fellow who died violently in the galley, who would return as a scarlet shape on the floor, his spirit unsettled though seeking solace. Strange sensations these recollections, a chilly childhood acquaintance, a spirit surfer who traversed centuries, known though never truly seen.
Illustration: Ben Miller
— Shannon Sutton
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endnotes Did someone say, “Carpe Autumn?” Start seizing fall Labor Day Weekend when the WRV Outer Banks Pro Presented by Pacifico and Hurley lays into Jennette’s Pier, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, promising pro-grade talent in the water and on the beach. (See for yourself at www.waveridingvehicles.com). And the Jennette’s Pier party keeps on rockin’ as the 2014 Inaugural Outer Banks SND Soccer Tournament kicks up some sand Sept. 6 (www. obxsandsoccer.com), the 47th Annual ESA Eastern Surfing Championships gathers groms and geezers from FL to ME, Sept. 14-20, (www.surfesa.org), and the Fourth Annual Red Drum Tournament tightens lines Sept. 27. Hook up details at www.jennettespier.net. • Got wind? Breeze down to Waves Village KHK Kiteboarding Resort, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, as the 2014 Kite Weekend combines two-hour expert clinics and free demos. Call 252987-2297 to register. • On Sept. 1, the 2014 North Carolina Hog Rally squeals into Manteo for the final stop of a four-day bender. Schedule at www.ncstatehogrally.com. • Prefer your hog on a bun? Head to Corolla’s Whalehead Club on Sept. 4 for Wine & Swine’s mix of cooked pig, fermented grapes and intoxicating music. 11am-7pm. $15; free for kids under 4. (More at www.wineandswineobx.com) And the Wednesday Wine Festivals happen every “hump day” thru Oct. 8 from 3-7pm. $25; free for kids and abstaining adults. More at www.visitwhalehead.com. • Don’t pay to sweat. Join Yoga on the Duck Town Green with Village Yoga (Sept. 2 & 9) and Dynamic Flow on the Duck Town Green with Simplify Fitness (Sept. 3 & 10). Both start at 7:30am and are fully free. Deets at www.townofduck.com. • Or dive deep into history, Sept 5-6, as Hatteras Village’s Graveyard of the Atlantic Underwater Heritage Symposium hosts dynamic presentations on wrecks from the Queen Anne’s Revenge to German U-Boats (10am5pm). Weekly adventures continue at 2pm with Dave Kilmer’s two-part tale of History and Hatteras Island Ecology (Sept. 2 & 9); Elizabeth II captain Robbie Putnam teaches Nautical Knots on Sept. 16; and on Sept. 30, Outer Banks History Center director KaeLi Schurr brings Pea Island Lifesaving Station keeper Richard Etheridge back to life. Call 252-986-2995 to reserve a space. More at www.ncmaritimemuseums.com. • On Sept. 6, Southern Shores shreds parking passes so local surfers can rip Chicahauk Beach and raise funds for double-lung transplant recipient, Sonny Albarty. With divisions for every age and ability — and prizes like surfboards by Mike Clark, Mike Rowe and Rascoe Hunt — the 6th Annual Throwdown North of Town Surf is a killer time for an epic cause. Find ’em on Facebook. • Wanna kill that keg-belly and help cure breast cancer? On Sept. 6, the 5th Annual All Out Pink Road Race 10-Mile Bridge Run and 5k races from Elizabethan Gardens across the Old Manns Harbor Bridge — then returns for a party inside the gardens. Step up at www.runcations.com. • Don’t dash off yet! On Sept. 6,
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graphiccontent gosurf outthere gohunt Firing surf. Free swag. The Outer Banks Pro returns Labor Day Weekend for one rad beach party. Photo: Patrick Ruddy milepost
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Celebrating Our Seafood Heritage! Elizabethan Gardens’ greenest thumb, Jeff Lewis, is teaching Technique and Tips for Plant Propagation at Home. (Members: $25; Non-Members: $30.) And come back Sept. 20 for the 2nd Annual Elizabethan Luau. A tikitorching, fire-dancing, hula-fied fundraiser of Polynesian delights and aloha spirit. ($65/$75 for non-members.) Stoke yourself silly at www. elizabethangardens.org. • The Outer Banks Brewing Station blooms with creativity Sept. 8 & 22 when Brew & Arts colors the backyard with works by Red Dawn, Carolina Coto, Margaret Miller and more. 3-8pm. Get inspired at www.obbrewing.com. • Attention, passengers: We’re getting word from the tower that Outer Banks BrewTäg — a first-time combo of craft beer and flying keg — has been grounded until a future date TBD. We’ll update you as we get more info. ’Til then, enjoy a complimentary beverage courtesy of your refrigerator. Learn more at www.obxbrewtag.com. • Make your pooch prettier — and help the Outer Banks SPCA — with $5 dog washes at Manteo’s Farmer’s Market, Sept. 6, 13 & 20. And come back to the Downtown Waterfront Thurs. Sept 11 and Oct. 9, for Pints for Pups, where doggies are welcome outside Full Moon Café and a dollar of every ale goes in the kitty. On Sept. 13-14, Pet Smart’s National Adoption Weekend trots out the latest adoptables in Nags Head. And on Oct. 10, Feline, Film and Friends screens a free showing of the The Aristocats at Duck Town Green — donations support both SPCA and Children at Play. More at www.obxspca.com. • Speaking of giving, a $15,000 grant from the PNC Foundation is prompting the Children at Play Museum to offer free entry to Dare Co. residents every Sun., Sept. 2014-May 2015. Learn more at www. childrenatplayobx.com. • Let the kids run amok — or at least walk some stairs — when the National Park Service offers two Full Moon Climbs, Sept. 8 and Oct. 8. Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse start selling tix two days beforehand. $8 per adult; $4 for humans 11 and under — or 62 and older. More at www.nps.gov. • Don’t let “the change” bring you down. On Sept. 11, Outer Banks Hospital encourages women ages 45-65 to Live Life With Vibrancy and have frank discussions about menopause. Register at www. theobh.com. • And you can always express yourself at 4th Annual OBX Pridefest. On Sept. 12-14, nearly 2,000 rainbow warriors will storm the First Colony Inn for events like a Drag Surfing Contest and Tea by the Sea beach party. Tix and details at www. obxpridefest.com. • For a real racket, watch the Dare County Parks and Recreation Annual Combined Tennis Tournament , Sept. 12-14. Vendors, info booths and event promotions will all be on site. Call 252-475-5920 for more. • Drop the balls and grab your bike for the Outer Banks Triathlon, Sept. 13-14. Distances include Half, Olympic and Sprint — plus 12oz. curls at the after party. Deets at www.outerbankstriathlon.com. • Spend six days before the mast when the Hatteras Wave Jam delivers boom-drooping pro boardsailing, Sept. 15-20. Tack to www.americanwindsurfingtour.com for updates. • Park down at Hatteras Village Sept. 18-20, as Day at the Docks delivers bushels of seafood and local heritage with cooking demos, skills contests, the “blessing of the fleet” and more. Plus Hatteras Island 8th Annual Chowder Cook-Off on Sept. 20 benefits the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation. Dig into more deets at www.dayatthedocks.org. • We’ll title Sept. 20 “When Chili Met Chowder,” as 17th Annual Chicamacomico Banks Annual Chili CookOff spices up the KOA Hatteras Campground. For more on this match made in hot sauce heaven, go to www.outerbanks.org. • On Sept. 20 kayaks and SUPs will cast off — then cast away — for the Kitty Hawk Kites’ Kayak Fishing Tournament. Mandatory meeting on Sept. 19. Learn more and register at www.kittyhawk.com. • Peel and eat and meet and greet when the NC Coastal Federation 3rd Annual Fish Fry and Shrimp Boil comes to Manteo. On Sep. 26 share local seafood and info on how to help protect water quality. Tix are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 12 under. More at www.nccoast.org. • On Sept. 27, Sanctuary Vineyards and I Got Your Crabs team up in Jarvisburg for the Crabdaddy Seafood & Wine Festival. From 12-6pm enjoy steamed crabs, live music, hay rides, grape stomping — plus the Crabdaddy Olympics. $30 at the door $25 in advance at any
Oct. 18, 2014 • 11am - 6pm $3 Admission* Includes:
r e t Ban u O
Live Entertainment • Arts & Crafts • Cooking Demos Educational Programs Highlighting Our Local Seafood Industry *Children Under Age 12 FREE when accompanied with adult
Purchase “SeaBucks”($1) to Redeem with Festival Restaurant Vendors or for Festival Merchandise
Best Annual Event
Outer Banks Event Site • MP 16 • 6800 S. Croatan Hwy. • Nags Head, NC Tickets Available Online At: OuterBanksSeafoodFestival.org This project is funded in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Photography by Ray Matthews
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endnotes Cotton Gin location or www.sanctuaryvineyards.com. • Crack open your kid’s imagination when the 25th Annual Artrageous Art Extravaganza runs Sept. 27 at KDH Rec Park. From 10am-3pm, enjoy hands-on art activities and live performances. Proceeds benefit Dare County Arts Council’s community programming and scholarships. More at www.darearts. org. • And the Outer Banks History Center continues celebrating its 25-year-old birthday with An Eye for Art, a Heart for History. This special exhibit parties on through 2014 at the OBHC Exhibit Gallery inside Roanoke Island Festival Park. For more info call 252473-5558. • Of course, Festival Park’s biggest hoedown is the 3rd Annual Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival, Sept. 24-28, boasting major players like Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder and Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, beloved local acts Drifting Sands Band and Banjo Island — plus Fri. night’s Boomgrass! fireworks. Tix are $110 for four days or $40 per day. ($50/$15 ages 7 and up.) For info on parking, shuttles and more visit www.bluegrassisland.com. • Which brings us to this month’s musical interlude. Start by hip-hopping over to the Outer Banks Brewing Station for Nappy Roots on Aug. 30 — or say hi to homegrown rockers Soul House Revival on Sept. 13 and Sean Olds and the Church of the Eternal, Sept. 27. Full sched at www.obbrewing. com. • Trio imports Asheville’s Circus Mutt (Sept. 3) and Fireside Collective (Sept. 5) and Detroit’s Jill Jack on Sept. 19 — plus a double shot of domestic talents, Matt McGuire and Kevin Wilder (Sept. 6 & 20). More at www.obtrio.com. • Real Water Sports’ SkyBlue Summer Concert Series stirs a weekly elixir of local legends like Mojo Collins, Broughton Aycock and Jeremy Russell through Nov. 26. Daily deets at www.realwatersports.com. • Rodanthe’s Jayne Doe plays Rock N Bowl on Sun. at OBX Bowling in Nags Head at 10pm, then spices up Armstrong’s Seafood each Mon. starting at 6pm. • And Outer Banks Drum Circle beats the skins at Barnes Street on Sept. 27 before shuffling back to Nags Head’s
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What REALLY happens on Roanoke Island ?
PSYChOPATH
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When night falls on the unforgiving shores of the Outer Banks, the mysteries of Roanoke Island come to life. Are you prepared for what America’s most mysterious island has in store?
Tickets: $15.00 Waterside Theatre • Roanoke Island, NC Each Fri & Sat Night In October Tours Begin after sunset 252-473-2127 • www.hauntedisland.org This Project Sponsored by:
The #1 haunted attraction on the Outer Banks!
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Ashtanga Yoga Center for Oct. 25 and Nov. 22. Rhythms start sharply 6:30pm. • Let there be kites! 29th Annual Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition comes to Nags Head’s Outer Banks Event Site Sept 27-28 — then spins directly into the American Kitefliers Association National Convention, Sept. 29-Oct. 4. Launch www.kittyhawk.com for the latest news — and daily ascensions. • The Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts has lined up a full spectrum of music at First Flight High School, from jazz (Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet, Sept. 13) to classical (Amphion String Quartet, Oct. 4) to 50s-style country (The Malpass Brothers; Nov. 8). Tix are $28; $15 for students. Shows start at 7:30pm. More at www.outerbanksforum.org. • Save your seats ’cuz on Sept. 20 the Don & Catharine Bryan’s Cultural Series brings the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble to FFHS (7:30pm start; tix are $15). Come Oct 3-4, head to COA in Manteo for A Workshop with Ben Owen, where students take the potters’ wheel. ($50; preregistration required.) And see Clay Jenkinson in Chautauqua Performances of two characters: An Evening with Teddy Roosevelt on Nov 13 (7:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn); and Meet Sir Walter Raleigh on Nov. 14 (7:30 pm; Festival Park.) Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Learn more at www.bryanculturalseries.org. • On Sept. 24-28, the 2nd Annual Wounded Warrior Beach Bash salutes vets and their families with ocean activities — plus a concert/cookout with country singer Colton James at the NC Aquarium on Sept. 27. $10. Proceeds help Wounded Warrior Projects, Dare County Veterans and Patriots for Disabled Divers. Get your orders by emailing jason.sheremeta@ ncaquariums.com. • On Oct. 3, Dare County Arts Council and the Beach Book combine forces in Manteo for opening night of the 19th Annual Beach Book Cover Art Competition, lettin’ local talents battle for the 2015 front of our favorite phone directory. Reception starts at 6:30pm — perfectly timed for First Friday’s usual run of late-shopping
ThE
and live music — but the works hang all month. For info, rules and previous winners flip to www.beachbook.com. • On Oct. 4, the NC Beach Buggy Association celebrates 50 years of slack tires by filling up Kelly’s for their anniversary party. And don’t forget the Capital City Four Wheelers 24-Hour Fishing Tournament (Oct. 18-19) and the NCBBA 6th Annual Red Drum Tournament (Oct. 22-25) — plus two beach cleanups on Sept. 5 and Nov. 22. Deets at www.ncbbaonline.com. • First the bad news: after 16 years — and $250k in scholarship dough — the Manteo Rotary Club’s Rockfish Rodeo is no longer. The good news? It’s now called the Inshore Slam. On Oct. 3-4 come angle for victory in four categories — rockfish, flounder, puppy drum and speckled trout — and raise big bucks for worthy seniors. Learn more at www. rockfishrodeo.com. • Go from hooking fish to poaching faucets when the 22nd Annual Parade of Homes struts its stuff, Oct. 9-12. Visit new builds and remodels from Corolla to Manteo, then rip off their design ideas! Updates at www.obhomebuilders.org. • On Oct. 11, head south to dress up your domicile, as the Hatteras Island Art Show gathers names like Kim Mosher, James Melvin and Jim Mitchem — sporting everything from maps to photos to hula hoops. It all goes down at the RodantheWaves-Salvo Community Center. Learn more www.
Elizabethan Gardens
See who follows Phyllis Wells onto the Beach Book cover when the 19th Annual competition comes to DCAC on Oct. 3.
spinfinitedesigns.com. • Spin your wheels — and raise money for charities —when 2014’s Ride 4 Life pushes pedals on Oct. 11. The Manteo-based “fun ride” maxes out at 50 miles with shorter options for less psycho cyclists. Call 252-261-3041 for deets. • Or stuff your face — and nourish local non-profits — when the Oink N’ Oyster Roast returns to Longboards, Oct. 11. From 12-4pm, enjoy steamed oysters and picked pig for $25. ($7, ages 7-13; free, 6 and under.) Buy your tickets from any First Flight Rotary Club member or at www.oinkandoyster.org. • Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge barks twice with two Red Wolf Howlings: Oct. 11, 6-7:30 pm; and a Full Moon Howl on Nov. 15, 5-6:30 pm. Show up promptly at the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail parking lot for a chance to hear the harmonious song of this endangered species. More at www.fws.gov/alligatorriver. • Wanna howl more? On Oct. 9-11, Hatterasity — A Bluegrass Block Party brings James King, Circle Agents, Chad Darou & Stealin’ Time and others to the Hatteras Village Civic Center. Weekend tix are $50 (1/2 price for Hatteras Islanders). Proceeds benefit the Cape Hatteras Methodist Men’s Relief Fund. Get pricing details and more at www. hatterasitybluegrass.com. • Step off the dance floor for a quick dash when The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation 11th Annual Fun Run speeds out of Avon’s Sun Realty on Oct. 11. Register at 9am; run at 10am. More at www.outerbanks.org. • Lean back and let the KDH shuttle drive you to Corolla for the 4th Annual Mustang Music Festival, Oct. 10-11. A new home at the Whalehead Club
the elizabethan gardens
September 20 6pm-11pm
THE ELIZABETHAN GARDENS
HARVEST
COME PIG OUT...OBX STYLE!
October 25
Delicious BBQ, Local Wines, Craft Beer, Live Music, Kids Activities, Art & More!
10am-1pm
presented by
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 11 A.M.-7 P.M. AT CURRITUCK HERITAGE PARK
OBX BA N K
begins
November 29 Presented by
Tues-Sat, 6-9pm
Complete calendar online at:
elizabethangardens.org
OPEN DAILY 9 AM - 7 PM
1100 CLUB ROAD, RT. 12 NORTH, COROLLA, NC 27927
Grow
ADMISSION is $15
Food, Wine & Beer Will Be Available For Purchase.
Memories
www.WineAndSwineOBX.com
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endnotes means more room to boogie to JJ Grey and Mofro, The New Mastersounds, The less ‘in your face’? On Oct. 26, OBX Entertainment brings the First Annual Outer Banks Revivalists and more. And locals get in free to Oct. 9’s Mustang Kick-Off Party presented Halloween Parade of Costumes to Kelly’s. Prizes for winners. Portraits for all. And admission is by Cosmos Pizza at Corolla Light Town Center. Gallop over to www.mustangmusicfestival.com free for anyone in costume. More at www.obxhalloween.com. • On Oct. 30, the Whalehead for deets. • It’s not just music, MMF also has art vendors and demos. If you miss Meghan Sadler Club and Currituck Beach Lighthouse team up for Creepy in Corolla, a walking tour and and Local Color’s Paint to the Beat performance, just schedule your own Lushes with Brushes haunted house benefitting Waters Edge Village School. $10; free for kids under 5. 5:30-9pm. party or a Colorful Kids class. Get times and tix www.localcolorobx.com. • Be at Duck Town Costumes and flashlights are encouraged for all. More at www.visitwhalehead.org. • You don’t Green on to Oct. 12 as the 8th Annual Duck Jazz Festival lets René Marie, Louis Hayes & The need a reason to play dress up. Join Theater of Dare for one of four productions starting this Jazz Communicators and Lipbone Redding jam for nothing. (Visit www.duckjazz.com for the fall: Psycho Beach Party, You Can’t full lineup and details on what to Take It With You, Godspell and Manly bring — and what not to.) And get Men. For audition details go to www. warmed up Oct. 10 at Scarborough theatreofdare.org. • Or grab your best Faire as Mojo Collins and Triple beard and peg-leg for Nov. 1’s Vision rock from 2-6pm. • On Oct. 18, Blackbeard Adventure Race. the Outer Banks Seafood Festival fills Competitors will travel over 25 the Outer Banks Event Site with top combined miles, mountain biking, trail chefs and local fish. $3 admission running, kayaking, coasteering and includes kids zone, live music, cooking demos and boat exhibits. Buy “Sea orienteering. Prices and details at www. Bucks” for food and beverages. More at americanadventuresports.com. • On www.outerbankseafoodfestival.org. • Or Nov. 2 it’s the ultimate culinary just eat dust Oct. 13-19, as the 4WD adventure: The 5th Annual Outer fiberglass festival — aka Manx on the Banks Shrimp Cook-Off. From 12Banx — bounces thru town with a 3pm, ten area chefs do battle — and kaleidoscope of colored dune-buggies. sometimes do battered — inside Ocean Vroom over to www.manxonthebanx. Blvd. to support the Outer Banks com for deets. • On Oct. 20 the 21st Center for Dolphin Research. Tickets Annual Kelly Hospitality Group are $20. Buy in advance at Outer Charity Golf Tournament invites Banks Veterinary Hospital or Salty awesome foursomes to the Nags Head Paws Biscuits. For more go to www. Links to swing clubs for good causes obxdolphins.org. • Don’t cast nets, cast — and raise glasses at a 19th Hole ballots. Nov. 4 is Voting Day — your Awards Party — donating a total of last chance to choose who you’ll $325,000 to Outer Banks Community Got a crush on harvest season? Stomp over to Sanctuary Vineyards to sample the newest wines complain about for the foreseeable Foundation. $150 per player; Sign up and tastiest oysters at The Big Curri-Shuck on Nov. 29. Photo: Brooke Mayo at www.kellysrestaurant.com. • On Oct. future. Go to www. ncvoterguide.org 27, the Paul Shaver Memorial Golf Tournament tees off at Seascape to support the Outer for issues and candidates then go to www.darenc.com/boe for poll hours and ways to Banks Relief Foundation. $100 a player includes a post-tourney rager at The Black Pelican. register. • Then work off that voter’s remorse when the Outer Banks Marathon and Half Call 252-261-3171 for more details. • On Oct 21-26, the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival Marathon gasps and wheezes from Kitty Hawk to Manteo Nov. 7-9. — with the odd fun run draws a world of nature lovers to shoot birdies — on film — while meeting other odd critters like and 5k to boot. More at www.obxmarathon.org. • Race past the finish line Nov. 7-8, and keynote speaker Noah Strycker. Get deets at www.wingsoverwater.org. • And Oct. 20-23 the you’ll eventually reach the 6th Annual Manns Harbor Holiday Craft Show where 20 NC Lions Visually Impaired Persons Fishing Tournament comes to town giving more than vendors sell gifts, décor and more. Free admission. Door prizes and raffle to benefit the 500 participants pier time, motivational presentations and new technologies that will enhance Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department. Also taking donations for the Dare County their lives. Learn more at www.ncvipfishing.org. • On Oct. 15, Elizabethan Gardens goes rustic Angel Tree. Call 252-619-7487 for more. • Bolt south to Hatteras Village, you might make with hayrides, scarecrows, a bale maze, and bonfires to turn the royal grounds into a Harvest the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum’s Volunteer Day on Nov. 7. From 10am–1pm Hayday. It’s free for members and friends. For non-member pricing, see www. enjoy guest speakers, meet active volunteers and explore ways to help this buried cultural elizabethangardens.org. • Or take an ox-drawn tour of 19th century harvest traditions when Island Farms becomes a Pumpkin Patch every Sat., Oct. 4-25. ($6) Come Oct. 31-Nov. 1, things treasure. More at www.ncmaritimemuseums.com. • On Nov. 15 grab the hottest partner you can find and shag’em senseless at the Outer Banks Shag Club’s Harvest Dance and Charity get eerie as Evening Lantern Tours: Draped in Black rings in Halloween with peculiar Fundraiser at the Comfort Inn North. More at www.obxshagclub.com • Or throw some poor Victorian death rituals via costumed interpreters. Both events are free for kids 5 and under. More dog a bone and take them to the Wags and Whiskers Gala at Pamlico Jack’s on Nov. 21, where at www.theislandfarm.com. • And now the scariest Halloween news yet: because of renovations, dancing, fine food and a silent auction help your furry friends at the SPCA. More at www. the NC Aquarium can’t host Trick or Treat Under the Sea — but! — they can’t wait to see all you little ghosts and goblins in 2015. Dive into updates at www.ncaquariums.com. • Go spook obxspca.org. • Shuck those animals! Well, maybe not those animals, but there’s nothing cruel yourself! PsychoPath! is a haunted trail through the Lost Colony woods that finally reveals the about sticking a sharp knife into an oyster’s back and twisting it. If you agree, join Sanctuary horrific events that stole 117 souls four centuries ago. Runs every Fri. and Sat. — Oct. 3-Oct. 31. Vineyards for The Big Curri-Shuck — an endless bounty of bivalves, bands and good buddies Tix are $15. Get all the gory details at www.hauntedisland.com. • Looking for something a little on Nov 29, 12-4pm. More at www.sancturaryvineyards.com.
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Open Year Round • Serving Lunch & Dinner
9.5 It's ALL Good! Milepost 9.5 • Highway 158 in KDH • 252.441.7889 • MamaKwans.com
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We are WIDE opEn for Lunch & Dinner and we’ve got a great bar to relax with friends! Brett still has not cut... oh, well, we give up! You gotta get that gouda grit thing! This isn’t the Bomba Shack! However, we love Bomba! The yard will be rockin’ on weekends during the fall rain or shine! Summer is not over yet and we won’t give up our flip flops! Quags nite, Slider nite, Bonzer Breakfast and the Cornhole Tournament will be back sometime in September! We won’t grow up! We’ve got the BEST Local Lunch Specials all week long!
MP9 on the Beach Rd. • Kill Devil Hills • BonzerShack.com • 252-480-1010 milepost 63
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