FREE! TAKE ONE! AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
your life on the Crystal Coast LOOK INSIDE FOR FUN & FREE
THINGS TO DO ON THE CRYSTAL COAST MID–AUGUST THROUGH MID–SEPTEMBER page 8
3
WAYS to SAVE YOUR SUMMER HARVEST
PLUS A NO-FAIL ZUCCHINI BREAD RECIPE
Zombie Walk for Autism COASTAL SCIENCE CAFÉ:
Promoting Science On Our Coast OWLS WILDLIFE SHELTER:
PADDLE FEST:
DIVING THE COAST:
All About CROWS!
Ready for a Paddling?
Let’s Sink Some Boats!
LED…
P, SCALLOPS, TUNA AND SALMON.
n your plate tonight?
OUSE.COM
M ID - AUGUS T TO MID-SEPT EMB ER 2 0 1 3
Inside This Issue TH E C RYS TAL COAST LI F EST YLE
F E AT U R E S 13 Get ready for a good paddling Friends of the Hammocks and Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park are launching a festival celebrating paddle sports in eastern North Carolina for all, from novice to expert.
15 A good life
PRESERVING YOUR HARVEST FREE! TAKE ONE! AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013
your life on the Crystal Coast LOOK INSIDE FOR FUN & FREE
THINGS TO DO ON THE CRYSTAL COAST MID–AUGUST THROUGH MID–SEPTEMBER page 8
3
WAYS to SAVE YOUR SUMMER HARVEST PLUS A NO-FAIL ZUCCHINI BREAD RECIPE
Zombie Walk for Autism COASTAL SCIENCE CAFÉ:
Promoting Science On Our Coast
RYSTAL COAST
rteret • 252.393.2509 252.728.6105 • 252.288.5814
OWLS WILDLIFE SHELTER:
PADDLE FEST:
DIVING THE COAST:
All About CROWS!
Ready for a Paddling?
Let’s Sink Some Boats!
17
ON THIS MONTH’S COVER Thanks to Charlie Peek for the amazing photo, taken in the marsh just off Bear Island paddle trail. Bear Island is in the background. Hammocks Beach State Park will be hosting the Crystal Coast Paddle Festival. See page 13. We’re looking forward to cooler days and the beginning of a new school year.
Captain James Rosemond reflects on the good life, and the ways in which memories and defining moments can appear on our horizons, often unexpectedly.
17 Preserving your harvest The summer growing season is in full swing and fresh delicious produce is abundant. With a little planning we can carry these delicious summer flavors with us into the winter months.
20 OWLS: It’s a murder! Crows live everywhere in the world except Antarctica. If you’ve heard crows are smart, there’s a whole lot of truth in that. They also have some surprisingly human qualities.
22 Coastal Science Café Coastal Science Café is a free event. This month’s topic is the great egret. Come and rub shoulders with the experts in a fun, relaxed setting. The first 25 people get a free drink!
23 Back to routine 13 PADDLE ON at the Crystal Coast Paddle fest—it’s fun for all skill levels.
20 IT’S A MURDER! Crows may be common, but they’re smart, playful and loyal, too.
The Regulars 8 Things to Do 20 OWLS: Crows 34 Parrot Heads 35 Hooked Up Fishing 36 Diving the Coast 37 Cape Hatteras Tide Chart
It’s time to get back in the swing of things, whether it’s school or gymnastics training, and new routines and level divisions for gymnasts have reset the bar!
25 Zombie Walk fun-fun-fundraiser Zombies may not have brains but they have a lot of heart. Do you? Get your zombie on to benefit the Autism Society. Free zombie makeup, refreshments and door prizes await! A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 77
PUBLISHER: Will
Ashby
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Chevy GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Kaylor
Bryan Frazier
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Pearson, Capt. James Rosemond, Heather Broadhurst, Linda Bergman–Althouse, Khristi T. Nunnally, Capt. Marina Jorge, Jeff Cronk, Lee Moore, Ken Stone and Rebecca Marson E D I TO R I A L S & A DV E RT I S I N G Please contact the publisher at will@crystalcoastoutdoors.com or 252-723-7628 for ad rates and editorial ideas. Ad and editorial deadline for the Mid-September to Mid-October issue is August 16, 2013. Email letters to the editor, photos, community listings and articles to will@crystalcoastoutdoors.com. Next issue will publish September 7, 2013.
From the Publisher
AUGUST
Thank you for picking up Carolina Salt magazine, published to depict your life here on the Crystal Coast. All articles are written by locals. We cover a wide range of topics including local history, outdoor sports, wildlife, special events and more. Every month we look to you, our readers, to keep our magazine fresh. If you have a story to tell, an event to promote, an interesting local photograph or just some good times stories to share, send them our way. Participation is welcomed and appreciated. Reader contributions are the founding principle of the magazine. We want to be a local resource for you, our readers. If you like what you see, tell people about it—especially our advertisers. For questions, concerns and more information about Carolina Salt, send e-mail to will@crystalcoastoutdoors.com or call 252-723-7628. For up-to-date info, be sure to look us up on Facebook!
We Depend On Our Readers! Call 252-723-7628 if you’re interested in submitting an article or photo. Our local content is what keeps our magazine fresh and relevant.
PUBLISHED BY CRYSTAL COAST OUTDOORS PUBLICATIONS P.O. Box 572, Morehead City, NC 28557 | 252-723-7628
THINGS TO DO
✪ = FREE
M I D – AU G U S T T O M I D – S E P T E M B E R FREE CONCERTS AUGUST 8, 15, 22
✪ EmeraldFest Live Music Bring chairs, blankets, even dinner! Access includes volleyball courts, picnic tables and restrooms. No alcohol please. Western Ocean Regional Access) in Emerald Isle. Free admission. August 8................................. Big Drink (Acoustic Rock) August 15..............................Bobby Webb (Country/Pop) August 22.................. Dependable Taxi (Pop Alternative) AUGUST 8, 15, 22
✪ Beaufort Live Music Concerts FR E E O UTD O OR E V E N T
✪ CAMP FREE-4-ALL! Enjoy a day of free fun at the camp with games, ziplining, arts and crafts, paddleboard demos, live music, a BBQ and more. At the camp at 156 Albemarle Drive in Newport on August 10.
{ 6–8 PM } Every Thursday in downtown Beaufort through August 22. At Dockside Park on August 8 and 22; on Middle Lane on August 15. Free admission. Bring chairs. Sponsored by the Beaufort Business Association, Dockhouse, Backstreet Pub and the Town of Beaufort. AUGUST 10, 17, 24, 31
✪ Free Summer Concert Series { 7–8:30 PM } The Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a concert series through Labor Dayweekend. The concerts are at Jaycee Park at 807 Shepard Street in Morehead City. Performances are free. August 10................................................. Seaside Band August 17...................................................Liquid Pickle August 24...............................................Robert McDuffy August 31...................................... Carolina Beach Club AUGUST 10, 17, 24, 31
✪ Saturday Night Live { 6–8 PM } Music at the Atlantic Beach Boardwalk Gazebo is free to the public. August 10.................... Bryan Mayer (Singer/Songwriter) August 17.................................. The Spread (Jam Band) August 24............................. All Night Long (Jazz/Blues) August 31.................................. Dependable Taxi (Rock) AUGUST 11, 18 & 25 | SEPTEMBER 1, 8
✪ SwanFest LE A R NI NG A B OU T N AT U RE
SEA TURTLES enjoy a starring role at the NC Aquarium on August 13. Events are included with admission. For information call 252-726-9156.
{ 6:30– 8 PM } Free summer concerts held at The Pavilion at Olde Town Square, downtown Swansboro. Bring your lawn chair. No pets or alcohol. August 11.................. 40 East Band (Country/Pop/Rock) August 18......................................Selah Dubb (Reggae)
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August 25......Dana & Susan Robinson (Old Time Music) September 1................ Acoustic Highway (Country Rock) September 8....................Scearce & Ketner (Pirate Rock) AUGUST 30
✪ Alive at Five Free Concert Series { 5–8 PM } At Katherine Davis Park in downtown Morehead City. No coolers allowed. Call 252-808-0440.
FREE FAMILY MOVIES AUGUST 7, 14, 21
✪ Seaside Cinemas { 8:30 PM } Seaside Cinema presents free weekly movies at the Pavilion on the Circle on Atlantic Beach Wednesday nights at dusk. Bring your family, blankets and chairs. Check out our snack vendor on movie nights for kettle corn, funnel cakes and more at great prices! Rain dates are the following Thursday nights. See the Town’s Facebook page for delay or cancellation notices. August 7................................ Oz the Great and Powerful August 14...........................................................Goonies August 21....................................................Dolphin Tale AUGUST 9 | SEPTEMBER 6
✪ Friday Free Flicks { 7 PM } At Emerald Isle Community Center, 7500 Emerald Drive. Free movies are family oriented. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Popcorn and drink for $1. Please bring chairs and blankets, but no outside beverages or snacks. Call 252-354-6350 for movie title. AUGUST 13
✪ Summer Film Fest: The Lorax { 2 PM } A great family fun event. Held at the Carteret County Public Library in Beaufort. Children under age 8 require adult supervision. Refreshments provided. For more information call 252-808-3301.
HISTORY | ART | EDUCATION AUGUST 7
Friends of Fort Macon Lunch { 11:30 AM } Dutch-treat lunch meeting at Golden Corral at 4600 Arendell Street in Morehead City. Speaker is Richard Armstrong, formerly of the National Bureau of Standards. No reservations required. For more information call 252-393-8010.
✪ = FREE
M I D – AU G U S T T O M I D – S E P T E M B E R AUGUST 9
Adult Pine Needle Workshop { 10 AM } In the Beaufort Historical Association’s Welcome Center at 130 Turner Street. Limited to 10 participants. Call 252-728-5225 to reserve your space. Materials fee is $40. AUGUST 10
✪ Second Saturdays: Ahoy, Pirates! { 11 AM–3 PM } At the NC Maritime Museum, Beaufort. A Department of Cultural Resources series held at various historic sites and museums across the state. Event is free. Call 252-728-7317 for more information. AUGUST 12–16
K I D S A RT C A M P
POTTERY CAMP for kids ages 10–15 begins August 12 and is sponsored by the Carteret County Arts Council. For information visit artscouncilcarteret. org or call 252-726-9156.
Pottery Camp for Ages 10–15 Enroll childen ages 10-15 in a week-long pottery camp sponsored by the Arts Council. For more information visit www.artscouncilcarteret.org or call 252-726-9156. AUGUST 13
Sea Turtle Celebration! At the NC Aquarium. Activities, exhibits and programs focus on sea turtles, including how beachgoers can help tiny turtle hatchlings make it from their sandy nests to the sea. The event includes a birthday salute to Nimbus, the Aquarium’s rare white sea turtle. For more information visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knollshores or call 252-247-4003. AUGUST 17
LI VI NG H IS T ORY
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD reenactment at the History Place is informative and touching. Presented August 17 by Deborah A. Abbott, Ph.D. For information call the History Place at 252-247-7533.
THINGS TO DO
she assists other runaways as her only connection to freedom. The reenactment is followed by an informative review of the role of the Underground Railroad in this nation’s history. Presented by Deborah A. Abbott, Ph.D. Contact Carteret County Historical Society’s History Place at 252-247-7533 for more information. Admission is by donation. AUGUST 17
Scrapbooking Workshop { 10 AM–1 PM } Scrapbooking workshop with Linda Phelps at Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation. Preregistration is required for ages 12 and up. Fee is $5, with additional packages available. Use of tools and snack included. Fees payable at workshop. Call Linda Phelps at 910-326-6164 or email rphelps@ec.rr.com. AUGUST 17–18
Contemporary Boatbuilding { 9 AM–4:30 PM } Learn the skills essential for building round-bottomed boats. Students learn to derive shapes of frames and planks, plank both carvel and lapstrake hulls and understand traditional construction techniques. Examine and experience the properties of various boatbuilding materials, the advantages and limitations of different construction styles, and more. Can be used as a prerequisite for 9-day boatbuilding class. Reservations are $135. For more information call NC Maritime Museum at 252-728-7317.
A Study in Black and White
AUGUST 24
{ 10–11:30 AM } As a three year old, Sandra Beane Milton didn’t know that her Gran was the daughter of a slave whose siblings had been removed from their home and taken to Beaufort in the 1850s. That began her journey to find her ancestors. She will share the story of the Dusenbury/Norcom families of Beaufort, both black and white, and how their lives intertwined. Presented at Carteret County Historical Society’s History Place. Call 252-247-7533 for more information. Admission is by donation.
{ 9 AM } Each adult-and-child team uses the stitchand-glue technique to assemble a prepared kit for a small flat-bottomed plywood rowing and paddling boat. By the end of the class each boat will in watertight condition and clear-coated with epoxy. Teams are limited to a maximum of four persons, at least one of whom must be an adult. The minimum age is 8 years. Reservations are $300. For more information call NC Maritime Museum at 252-728-7317.
Build a Boat in a Day
AUGUST 17
AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 1
Underground Railroad
✪ County Arts & Crafts Show
{ 12–1:30 PM } A captivating reenactment of Nora, a slave who is unable to run away, tied to the plantation by her infant daughter and ailing mother. Nora tells how
Enjoy a fine arts and crafts show at Beaufort Historic Grounds on Saturday from 10–5 and Sunday from 12–5, For more information call 252-342-1576.
A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 1111
THINGS TO DO
M I D – AU G U S T T O M I D – S E P T E M B E R
AUGUST 31
✪ Cannon Firing at Fort Macon Meet at Fort Macon State Park at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. to view the firing of a Civil War cannon. Call 252-726-3775 for more information.
GET OUTDOORS AUGUST 7, 14
✪ Junior Rangers at Ft. Macon { 1–4:30 PM } Meet a ranger at the Fort Macon State Park Visitor Center to learn how to help preserve the park by protecting its plants and wildlife. AUGUST 12 & 19
with games, ziplining, arts and crafts, paddleboard demonstrations, live music, BBQ and more! Bring the whole family out to enjoy all that Camp Albemarle has to offer, free to the community at 156 Albemarle Drive in Newport. AUGUST 29
Explore Rachel Carson Reserve { 8:45–11:30 AM } Get up close and personal with some of the plants and animals of the Rachel Carson Reserve. A guided hike will take you through the different habitats found on Town Marsh and Bird Shoal. Reservations are $15. For more information call NC Maritime Museum at 252-728-7317.
✪ Fort Macon Bird Hike { 9 AM } Meet at the Fort Macon Visitor Center and take a leisurely hike to identity birds in the area. Call 252726-3775 for more information.
JUST FOR FUN AUGUST 9-10
✪ Beaufort Pirate Invasion
{ 11 AM–2 PM } The NC Maritime Museum offers basic instruction and safety lessons followed by a relaxing paddle through a salt marsh. Ages 12 and up; under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations $45 ($25 with own kayak.) For more information call 252728-7317.
{ 1:30 PM } At the Beaufort Historic Site in downtown Beaufort, a pirate encampment is active on Friday evening and all day Saturday with brethren of the sea and wenches galore. Dinner and grog is served night by ticket. The Beaufort Pirate Invasion begins Saturday at 1:30 with a Pirates Procession. Cannons will fire on the town, countered by muskets on land. Many events will follow. For more information visit www. beaufortpirateinvasion.com.
AUGUST 16
AUGUST 13
AUGUST 13, 22
Salt Marsh Kayak Trip
Shackleford Banks: Horses, Hiking & History Sponsored by the NC Maritime Museum. Experience Outer Banks heritage and wildlife with a guided hike on the island. Not suitable for children under 6. Reservations $25. Call 252-728-7317 for information. AUGUST 16, 27
Marine Life Cruise { 9:30 AM–12:30 PM } Trawl for fish and marine creatures aboard a Duke University research vessel. Reservations $35. Sponsored by the NC Maritime Museum. For more information call 252-728-7317. AUGUST 10
✪ Camp FREE-4-All { 1–7 PM } Come celebrate Camp Albemarle’s 60th anniversary! Enjoy a day of free fun at the camp
✪ = FREE
EXPER IEN CE H ISTO RY
✪ CANNON FIRING at Fort Macon State Park on August 31. View the firing of a real Civil War cannon. Exhibition times are 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. For information call 252-725-3775.
✪ Surfrider Foundation Meeting { 6:30 PM } The Surfrider Foundation Bogue Banks chapter meeting will be held at Stir it Up coffee shop located in the Emerald Plantation, 8700 Emerald Drive. This meeting should be a fun one and you could be a big help to the ocean we all love. For more information please email SurfriderBogueBanks@gmail.com or check out Surfrider Foundation Bogue Banks Chapter on Facebook. AUGUST 17
Chamber Reverse Drawing Party
B EN EFIT TO U R N AMEN T
{ 6 PM } Get your ticket for the Carteret County Chamber’s annual Reverse Drawing—you could win the grand prize of $10,000. Each ticket is $100. You can buy as many as you’d like, but only 325 will be sold. You do not have to be present to win, but each ticket admits two people to the Reverse Drawing party
GOLF TOURNAMENT event on August 24 is sponsored by Second Blessings to benefit underpriveleged youth. Visit secondblessings.org for information or to register.
1 2 | C A R O L I N A S A LT | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
✪ = FREE
M I D – AU G U S T T O M I D – S E P T E M B E R
at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. The theme is Surfin’ Safari: A Tropical Fantasy. The evening includes a full buffet dinner, open bar, music by Morris Willis, dancing, silent auction, great fun and a free cab ride home within county limits. Tickets are on sale now at the Chamber at 801 Arendell Street, Morehead City. They accept cash, checks and credit cards. To phone in a ticket purchase by credit card, call 252-726-6350. AUGUST 22
✪ Sock Hop Social At the Emerald Isle Community Center gymnasium. Gather and partake in conversation, dancing, and potluck. Beverages and music are provided. The entry fee is a snack or dessert dish. This event’s theme is Sock Hop! Call 252-354-6350 for more information. AUGUST 30
Murder Mystery Dinner At the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort. End your summer at our annual Murder Mystery Dinner. Museum staff and volunteers prepare an entertaining evening involving a murder plot, clues and of course a twist, all while you enjoy a catered meal! Help us solve the Museum’s latest unfortunate “accident.” Space is limited. Reservations are $30. Call 252-728-7317 for more information.
SPORTS AUGUST 13
Beach Run { 6:30 PM } Register at Atlantic Beach Boardwalk Gazebo for 5K, 10K and 1 Mile beach runs. For additional information and a registration form visit Carteret County Parks and Recreation online at www. ccparksrec.com. AUGUST 24
Second Blessings Golf Tournament { 8 AM } At Brandywine Golf Club in Morehead City. Play golf, eat well, have fun, help kids. That’s the goal of the 10th annual tournament. Proceeds send underprivileged kids to Camp Trinity. Registration is $50. For details visit www.secondblessings.org.
THINGS TO DO
AUGUST 31 | SEPTEMBER 28
Emerald Isle Summer Beach Volleyball Tournament { 9 AM–UNTIL } Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation presents their 2v2 Co-Ed Beach Volleyball Tournament series. Tournaments will take place at the Western Ocean Regional Access on Islander Drive in Emerald Isle (between Queen’s Court Condos and Islander Suites). Registration is $25 per team, cash only. Deadline is Thursday before the tournament. No tournament day registration. Prize money will go to the first and second place teams. Players must be at least 16 years of age. Teams bring their own ball and will act as officials when not playing. Plan to officiate even after elimination. There are no rain dates; refunds will be issued for bad weather. Download registration forms at www. emeraldisle-nc.org/eiprd or pick one up at the Emerald Isle Community Center, 7500 Emerald Drive. For more information call 252-354-6350 or email lgottuso@ emeraldisle-nc.org. SEPTEMBER 6–8
Crystal Coast Paddle Fest
AAAAR R R G H !
✪ BEAUFORT PIRATE INVASION the weekend of August 9–10 promises roaming brethren of the sea, wenches, grog, followed by a full-scale invasion of the town. For more information visit beaufortpirateinvasion.com.
Are you ready for a good paddling? Saturday: Pirate Paddle Scavenger Hunt for all ages. Participants must provide own boat and equipment and are encouraged to come in swashbuckling costume. Sunday: The Mullet Cup 3K Kayak Race. Any single-seat kayak is allowed; participants must provide their own boats and equipment. Dragon Boat Races will be the main event. For more information; to register to be a vendor or sponsor; or to sign up and race, visit www.ncpaddle.org. SEPTEMBER 7
Zombie Walk for Autism { 10 AM –1 PM } Zombies may not have brains but they have a lot of heart. Do you? Get your zombie on in the name of a great cause. The Onslow County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina is partnering with Mac Daddy’s to bring a zombie extravaganza like no other—our very own Zombie Walk for Autism. Registration is the day of the event at Mac Daddy’s. The fee is $10 per person; children under the age of 12 are free. For more information call 910-539-1182 or email marinajorge84@gmail.com.
EXPLO R E
GUIDED HIKE through Rachel Carson Preserve explores different habitats. For information call the NC Maritime Museum at 252-728-7317.
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GET READY FOR A GOOD
PADDLING S E P T E M B E R 6 – 8 a t H A M M O C K S B E AC H S TAT E PA R K I N S WA N S B O RO
to highlight the Crystal Coast’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities, Friends of the Hammocks and Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park are launching a festival celebrating paddle sports in eastern North Carolina. These like-minded individuals decided to bring together many smaller paddling events and create the first Crystal Coast Paddle Festival. The festival is for everyone from beginners to advanced paddlers and will include paddle tours and a scavenger hunt as well as kayak and dragon boat races. There will be regional paddle sport educators, exhibitors and vendors of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards out for this fun-filled two-day event. Eastern North Carolina and the Crystal Coast in particular, is known for its pristine beaches, clear emerald waters and breathtaking scenery. Whether you live here or are just visiting, you will eventually be drawn to the water. Some enjoy the fast-paced thrills of powerboating while others prefer the wind in their sails. Either way, more and more people are discovering new ways to enjoy our aquatic wonderland. The natives that inhabited this area more than 3,000 years ago invented a technology that could take them to places that were previously unreachable. The woodland Indians of Eastern North Carolina figured out how to hollow out logs, creating the first primitive canoes. They could not have imagined that their basic design would persist throughout the ages. Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro is a unique place. Unlike other state parks, Hammocks Beach is a complex of islands. Jones Island is a small, secluded piece of land that sits in the center of the White Oak River. Huggins Island is a freshwater maritime swamp forest situated in the marsh waters behind Bogue Inlet. Bear Island is an undeveloped barrier island sandwiched between Emerald Isle on Bogue Banks and Brown’s Island on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The park only has 33 acres of mainland which encompasses the visitor center, maintenance garage and parking lots. What the park lacks in hiking trails, it more than makes up for A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 15 15
Hammocks Beach State Park is an ideal location to hold a festival celebrating coastal paddling. Events are designed for everyone, from beginners to advanced paddlers. in paddle trails. Hammocks Beach has two wonderful paddle trails. The Bear Island trail is two-and-a-half miles long and delivers visitors directly to the beach via the lagoon that enters the island from the marsh. The Huggins Island trail is a beautiful circumnavigation of the island. Huggins is completely forested and is home to amazing birds like ospreys, bald eagles and painted buntings. With that said, Hammocks Beach State Park is the ideal location to hold a festival that celebrates coastal paddling. Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of their paddling skill levels, in a variety of events. Ranger-led tours will be offered along the park trails to Huggins and Bear Island. Workshops will be held for those interested in boat and paddle building and professional instructors will demonstrate a variety of paddling strokes, techniques and skills. There will be many other opportunities to learn about the history of paddling. Take a walk through time and learn about how canoes and kayaks were made thousands of years ago. See how local hobbyist and professionals build their own boats and paddles by hand. Don’t forget to bring the kids along. The little ones will have the chance to build boats of their own. Local environmental organizations will have exhibits of some of the creatures that you might encounter while paddling in the salt marshes. There will be plenty of food and drinks available from our vendors. The Pirate Paddle Scavenger Hunt on Saturday morning is a fun paddle for all ages. Participants will paddle up Queen’s Creek and search for items on their lists. Participants must provide their own boats and equipment and are encouraged to come in their best swashbuckling costume. Sunday is race day! The Mullet Cup Kayak Race will be held on Sunday morning. This unofficial race will follow a three kilometer course around local marsh islands near the park. Any single seat kayak is allowed and participants must provide their own boats and equipment. The Dragon Boat races on Sunday afternoon will be the main event of the festival. The White Oak-New River Keeper’s alliance is holding this event to raise funds that will go to cleaning up the White Oak and New Rivers. The Crystal Coast Paddle Festival is a premier paddling event in North Carolina and will be fun for everyone. For more information and how to register to be a vendor, a sponsor or to sign up and race just go to our website at ncpaddle.org. 1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A LT | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
festival
EVENTS —S AT U R D AY —
The Pirate Paddle Scavenger Hunt A one-mile linear race beginning at 9:30 a.m. Fee is $10. Find all the items on your list. First one back to the dock wins! —S U N D AY —
2013 Mullet Cup A competitive race following a 3K marked trail. Any single-seated kayak, sit-on-top or surf ski is allowed. —S AT U R D AY & S U N D AY —
Dragon Boat Races For the first time, Dragon Boating is coming to Onslow County! Forming a team is easy. Visit the festival online at ncpaddle.org/festival to find out more.
MORE INFO For more information on the Crystal Coast Paddle Festival, or to download course maps, visit ncpaddle.org/festival.
C A P T. J A M E S R O S E M O N D
UNDER THE DEEP BLUE
DEFINING MOMENT OF THE DAY
A Good Life
It doesn’t matter how you define it, as long as you live it.
J
osh could not resist leaving the big Danforth anchor on the bottom, so he dragged it over next to the boat’s hook and came back up the anchor line to ask permission to raise it. Standing on the ladder, he explained that he had 1800 psi left in his low-pressure steel tank and wanted to return to the sea floor to use a lift bag to bring his prize to the surface. I have a lot of faith in his skills and judgment as a diver, so I told him to go for it. The other divers were making their way back to the boat and I figured he would be finished with his salvage operation by the time I got everyone settled in. Fifteen minutes later, the bright orange lift bag pierced the surface of the water, sending ripples outward in perfect circles. Everyone else was already out of their wetsuits and packing up for the return trip to the dock when Josh came to the surface and tapped on the side of the boat. “Captain, can I breathe on your hang regulator for a little while?” I knew instinctively what he was asking, and quickly deployed 20 feet of hose into the water and opened the valve on the tank of oxygen enriched air. He was low on gas and had a decompression obligation. The long hose with a regulator hangs from the back of the boat for that very purpose—if a diver gets low on air it, it provides additional breathing gas to allow them to complete their safety stop. I had pulled it in and coiled the hose after the other divers were on the boat, not even thinking that Josh might need it. He was one of those guys with enough experience to never let that situation arise. Ten minutes passed as I kept a sharp eye on Josh fifteen below the boat, the regulator on the tank hissing with each breath. Everyone was patient, getting drinks and a snack, relaxing as Josh completed his decompression obligation. A few years older than me, Josh is a good customer and has become a good friend. Even so, what he was doing was not an acceptable practice on the boat and had basically put him in an emergency situation. I became a bit irritated. It must have been apparent as he climbed back in the boat and then struggled to pull the big Danforth anchor with the attached 20 feet of chain aboard. Some divers just cannot resist the opportunity to salvage things they find on the bottom. Granted, the anchor was worth a couple of hundred dollars, but that is not the point. It is the thrill of the find, the treasure hunt. As Josh doffed his gear, I quickly pulled in the boat’s safety line and main anchor line and got the boat underway towards port. Josh was extremely apologetic for holding everyone up, humbled by the fact he knew he had misbehaved. I never reprimanded him with words, but I guess my dissatisfaction was transparent. “Captain, I am really sorry,” coming to the helm and speaking directly to me. “Don’t worry about it Josh. It turned out okay and you got your prize.” In his early 60s, Josh is still fit and in good health. He has the physique of a man 20 years younger. A puzzled look came on his face as he confessed his epiphany: “You know what I just now realized James? I am not 27 anymore.” The tension was broken as I burst into laughter. “Seriously? You just realized that this very moment?” With a very serious look on his face, he shook his head twice, his eyes directed at the deck. “Yeah, I just realized that for the first time today.” For those of you who have read some of my ramblings on the male condition, you
Raby’s big fish.
know I embraced my mid-life crisis and came out on the other side with a healthy attitude about my age. I am in my mid-50s and having the time of my life. I cannot do the things that I could do when I was 27 and that is okay by me. (Does that remind you of a Toby Keith song?) I recently heard Dr. J (Julius Ervin) say he could still dunk a basketball. I don’t believe him. I could never dunk like the Doc, but I could throw down pretty well for a skinny white kid. I could not even touch the net now. One of the things I noticed about this time of life is that you go to a lot of weddings and funerals. The generation that precedes you is in their end of life time; the generation that follows is at the marrying age. My father was one of seven children born to James and Sybil Rosemond. Three remain: one older sister and a younger brother and sister. I have a bunch of cousins, and we have a big family reunion coming up in Morehead in July. It will be the third one we have had in the last decade at our family cottage on the water at Calico Creek. My wife and I were married on the pier of that house years ago by an Episcopalian minister named Don Raby Edwards. Raby and his wife Jane were good friends of my parents. He was the team chaplain for UGA in Athens when my father coached there, and by coincidence was the minister of a large church just minutes from the campus of the University of Richmond while I was there. Raby, Jane and their two sons Nat and Blount
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The author (left) and Kenny Blount.
would bring their 25-foot Dusky center console down the ICW from Rappahannock to Atlantic Beach for the entire month of August. My first trip to Cape Lookout over 40 years ago was on that very boat. Later, after Raby retired, I fished many days aboard his 38-foot Bertram Temptation that he kept at the yacht basin. With the reunion coming up, I had been thinking a lot about the generation that precedes mine. Although Raby and Jane lived in Brandywine, I had not seen them in a while. The thought occurred to me to invite them to the reunion. I called and left a message but did not get a return call. A few days later I tried again. Monday morning I got a return call from Jane. Raby had passed away the day before. There is always a handful of people in your life that indirectly impact who you become. Raby was one of those models for me. Raby had a noticeable presence, tall and handsome with a quiet confidence. When you spoke to him, you could tell by his eyes that he was really listening to what you were saying. Unlike my father who told you how to do things, Raby showed you. While fishing with him on Temptation as a teenager, he looked at me and said, “Here, take the wheel for a minute,” and then left the bridge only to return 30 minutes later. He never told me what to do or where to go. It was small moments like that that helped me develop my own sense of confidence. I wish I could write as well as Raby communicated. He never wasted a word, making his point perfectly clear with one short sentence. Just before performing our wedding vows on that hot July day, he pulled Jan and me aside on the pier. Placing one hand on my shoulder and the other on hers, he leaned in and whispered, “You know this is forever, right?” Years later, after reading my book, he looked at me and smiled saying, “You have hit a lot of home runs.” In that one sentence, I realized that he picked up on the most important thing I had written. Just like I knew he really listened to me when we talked, I knew that he really read the book and understood what I meant. Raby was a good man and I miss him already. I was spoke to his sons after the service in Tarboro. I expressed my condolences to Blount. All he said was, “Dad lived a good life.” On the way home I realized that was the defining moment of my day. Unlike Josh, I realized a long time ago that I was not 27 years old anymore. When my life ends, I hope that is what my sons will say about me. It does not matter how you define a good life just as long as you live it.
K H R I S T I T. N U N N A L LY
COLORED EGG HOMESTEAD
Harvest Preserving Your
Fresh & delicious The summer growing season is in full swing and fresh delicious produce is abundant from our gardens, local produce stands and farmers markets right now. With a little planning and forethought we can carry these delicious summer flavors with us into the winter months. A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 19 19
Preserving Your Harvest Preserving food has been an essential activity throughout history. Our ancestors spent much of their time working to feed themselves and their families, tilling, sowing, seeding, harvesting and preserving crops to avoid famine when winter came. Food preservation was not optional, it was a matter of survival. Then times changed. Grocery stores began offering commercially canned foods at reasonable prices and old traditions faded away. Recently, increased scrutiny on the commercial food industry and support for the local food movement have inspired a resurgence of interest in home food preservation. Preserving food now when it’s cheap and plentiful is also cost effective. FREEZING. Freezing is an excellent way of Exceptions preserving surplus garden produce and it couldn’t be Not all vegetables easier to do. Be aware though, that many vegetables freeze well. Those require blanching prior to freezing. Blanching is important that do not freeze well because it kills the enzymes in vegetables that could cause include green onions, unsavory colors, flavors and textures in foods once they are lettuce and other salad frozen. Blanching is simple. Place the vegetables in boiling greens, radishes and water for just a few minutes (enough to stop the enzyme tomatoes (except if process, but not long enough to fully cook them) and then going to be used for plunge them into ice water to stop the heating process. cooking). Peppers do Simply wash, seed and slice the peppers. Dry, if necessary, not require blanching. and place them in a freezer bag or container with a label and date. One summer I went a little crazy with planting zucchini squash. We had zucchini coming out of our ears! I chose to shred and freeze some for later use and it was perfect for making zucchini bread that fall. Try my recipe! DEHYDRATING. Drying foods is one of the most ancient methods of food preservation. Drying produce is not as common today as freezing and canning but is very easy to do. If you have access to a dehydrator or or even an oven with a very low setting, you can dry just about anything! Dehydrated fruits like apples, cherries, grapes, pears, plums and tomatoes are naturally sweet and make a great snack. Vegetables dehydrate well, but they usually need longer drying times. Fresh herbs can be dehydrated as well. Some important things to remember when dehydrating produce: • Select healthy produce at its peak ripeness. • Slice produce at the same thickness (usually ¼ inch or less). • Add lemon juice to fruits prior to drying to prevent color change, and blanch vegetables. • Season, if desired—cinnamon on apples, garlic salt on vegetables … the choice is yours. • Arrange food in a single layer on drying racks. • Check periodically. Fruit should be between chewy and leathery when done. Vegetables will be crisp when dried. • Store in an airtight container.
CANNING. Canning is a wonderful way to store fruits and vegetables from the garden while they are in season and make the harvest last through winter when local and seasonal foods become scarce. Both water bath and pressure canning heat the food, effectively killing any microorganisms that may grow, and also vacuum seal the jar preventing spoilage. I’m still a novice at canning but am taking steps to learn more about the process so that I can begin canning my garden produce at home. Most of the folks I’ve spoken to about canning highly recommend the Ball Blue Book for all you need to know about preserving foods with this method. It is very important to use current, up-to-date instructions and recipes when canning in order to ensure food safety. My absolute favorite homemade canned food is Hot Pepper Jelly. Heaven on earth with a little cream cheese on a cracker. So the next time you find yourself with tomatoes and zucchini overflowing from the garden, or if you stumble across a great sale on produce, take the time to put some by to enjoy later when the summer has gone. 2 0 | C A R O L I N A S A LT | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
Zucchini Bread This bread is a perfect way to use up extra frozen shredded zucchini from an overbountiful harvest.
1 Tbsp. cinnamon 1 Tbsp. vanilla (or pure maple syrup) 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. baking powder 3 eggs (preferably local) 1 cup applesauce 1 cup honey (preferably local) 1 quart bag frozen shredded zucchini (or 2 cups raw) 3 cups whole-wheat flour
1. MIX together all ingredients prior to mixing in the flour. 2. POUR batter into two greased loaf pans. 3. BAKE at 350 degrees for one hour.
O U T E R B A N K S W I L D L I F E S H E LT E R
L I N D A B E R G M A N – A LT H O U S E ABOUT O.W.L.S.
Take a tour of the facility at 100 Wildlife Way, Newport. To volunteer, call 252-240-1200. If your organization would like to learn more about wildlife, the O.W.L.S. non-releasable education animals jump at the chance!
IT’S A MURDER! They hold grudges, they’re intelligent—in fact, they’re a lot like people.
C
rows, members of the Corvidae family, live everywhere in the world except Antarctica and are part of myths and legends across the globe, including here in America. The stories range from comedies to horror and curiously, a flock of crows is referred to as a murder. A folktale explains the reference—it is said that crows will gather to decide the fate of another crow guilty of wrongdoing. If you’ve heard crows are smart, there’s a whole lot of truth in that. They are among the most intelligent animals on the planet. Many studies and observations have detailed their awesome problem-solving and memory skills, as well as some other very human behaviors like gossiping and holding grudges. Researchers in Seattle spent many years banding crows, which the crows were not too happy about. The humans found that the crows never forgot a face. And they remembered it for a very, very long time. Even crows that were never banded would scold and divebomb human banders because, it is believed, the bandees “told” the other crows. It is reported that crow assaults and mobbings went on for years in that area. Wildlife rehabilitators experience first-hand the savviness and intelligence of the crow. When American Crows or the smaller Fish Crows (the only two crows indigenous to North Carolina) are admitted to the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter in Newport for treatment, we take special precautions to ensure the fasteners on their enclosures are 2 2 | C A R O L I N A S A LT | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
difficult (hopefully impossible) for the crow to figure out, otherwise we’ll end up having to look all over the building to find the escapee. We also provide toys. They can get bored in captivity which may cause them to become depressed, and that is not good for recovery. Sometimes we put food inside containers so they have to work to get it out. They enjoy a varied omnivorous diet, so we give them lots of food choices: insects, fish, earthworms, fruits, eggs, vegetables and nuts. In the wild, you may see them dining on frogs, snakes, mice, berries, carrion or even garbage. An adult crow needs about 11 ounces of food daily, so they are adaptable and consummate opportunists. As scavengers they often associate with other hunting animals to take advantage of unguarded or abandoned prey carcasses. When you think about it, humans are some of those hunting animals who exploit the environment and tend to leave waste behind, so it’s only natural to find crows wherever you find people. In the way of description, there’s not much to tell that you don’t already know. They are black … all black. Feathers, beak, legs, feet, talons, even their tongues are blue-black. Some people consider this big, black bird scary while others describe them as elegant. They measure 16 to 21 inches in length; the tail takes up 40 percent of that measurement. Their wingspan extends 33 to 39 inches. Males tend to be larger than females. The flight of the American Crow is swift but prolonged and performed at great heights, although they are also very comfortable on the ground. Its gait while on the ground is lofty and graceful, although it occasionally hops when excited. Crows are very social, caring creatures and have tight-knit families. Older crow siblings take on the care of younger siblings. They roost in huge numbers, in the thousands in some areas, to protect themselves from enemies like Red-Tailed
Crows might have a scary reputation, but the most frightening thing might be how much they know about us and how little we know about them!
Hawks, Great Horned Owls and raccoons. Crows also, amazingly, use at least 250 different calls; however, the sound we are most familiar with is the rapid and unmistakable caaw-caawcaaw. Their distress call brings other crows to their aid, as crows will defend unrelated crows. Crows are monogamous. They mate for life and raise their young for up to five years. Their nests are formed externally of dry sticks interwoven with grasses and plastered with mud or clay and lined with roots and feathers. They lay four to six eggs of pale green spotted with purplish-grey and brownish-green. In our region they may raise two broods a season, but farther north seldom more than one. Both sexes incubate, and their parental care and mutual attachment are unsurpassed by any other bird. The average lifespan of the American Crow in the wild is 7 to 8 years, but captive birds are known to have lived up to 30 years. There’s a lot to admire about the crow. The crow is extremely courageous when encountering any of its winged enemies and appears to find pleasure in outwitting and teasing them. They also are known to use tools just like humans, chimpanzees and elephants do. When contending with unfamiliar tools, they use common sense to come up with ways to make them work. Studies show crows work together to protect their flock and hunt, and have been observed overtly sharing food. A crow family can eat 40,000 grubs, caterpillars, ants, worms and other insects in one nesting season. That’s a lot of insects gardeners and farmers consider troublesome. These great environmental citizens also transport, distribute and store seeds, assisting in forest renewal. Their habit of eating carrion makes them part of nature’s cleanup crew. So let’s give crows the “props” they deserve for being impressive environmental partners. Crows might have a scary reputation, but the most frightening thing might be how much they know about us and how little we know about them!
All the staff and volunteers at the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter eagerly invite you to drop by to say hello and take a tour of our facility at 100 Wildlife Way in Newport on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays at 2 p.m. for the nominal fee of $3 per person (carried infants are free). OWLS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to promoting and protecting native wildlife. Donations of supplies from our wish list or good ol’ fashioned money are greatly appreciated. If you’d like to volunteer at the shelter, please volunteer coordinator Maria or stop in and fill out a screening application. You can also visit www.owlsonline.org and click on “How Can You Help” for a copy of the volunteer application. Need a guest speaker? OWLS can do that too! If your organization would like to learn more about wildlife and what they do to help us maintain ecological balance and improve our quality of life, please call on us. Our non-releasable education animals jump at the chance to be the star of a “getting to know your wildlife” program! Please browse our gift shop for some interesting wildlife related finds. They make wonderful gifts—or you can just keep them for yourself! And if you’re visiting our coastal area, you can’t leave without the T-shirt, right? Come see what we do and how you can help us do it!
U N C O M M O N LY INTERESTING
CROWS! GLOBAL BIRDS Crows live in every part of the world except Antarctica. PROBLEM SOLVERS Rehabilitators have learned to put extra tricky latches on crow enclosures, or they quickly escape. SOCIAL ANIMALS Crows maintain tight-knit families. GOOD FRIENDS The distress call of a crow will bring others to its aid, even if they’re unrelated. FAMILY LOVE Crows mate for life and raise their young together. LONG LIVED Although crows usually only survive from 7 to 8 years in the wild, they have lived for up to 30 years in captivity. GOOD EATERS Crows eat just about everything. One crow family can consume 40,000 insects in a single nesting season. CLEANUP CREW Crows’ habit of eating carrion makes them part of nature’s cleanup crew.
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This month’s program: All About Egrets!
PROMOTING SCIENCE ON THE COAST
Coastal Science Café September 9 at Capt. Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant
Over one million people live within the 20 coastal counties of North Carolina. For many, the draw to these locations is to work, study and protect the natural environment they call home. Residents of Carteret County are immersed in a marine science hot spot. There are so many agencies and institutions in this area that are leaders in studying coastal habitats. If you are interested in learning more about some of the research that is going on in your own backyard or you are visiting the Crystal Coast, consider attending a Coastal Science Café. Science Cafés help the community connect with science in a relaxed setting. The Café brings together scientists and the general public at an accessible venue. North Carolina State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (NCSU–CMAST) collaborates with other marine science facilities in Carteret County to develop Science Café programming for Carteret County. Cafés are open to the public and sponsored by GO-Science of Greenville. The Coastal Science Cafes are free events that occur on the second Monday of every other month. Previous Cafés have covered topics such as wind energy offshore, oyster habitats, sea turtles and tropical fish research. The first 25 registered people that arrive at the venue receive a free drink! The next scheduled Coastal Science Café will take place September 9 at Capt. Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant at 701 Evans Street in Morehead City. The topic is research on great egrets and tracking their movements along the North Carolina coast. To register for the next event go visit go-science.org/science-cafe. For more information contact hjbroadh@ncsu.edu. HEATHER BROADHURST is a research technician at NCSU–CMAST.
C R Y S TA L C OA S T G Y M N A S T I C S
REBECCA MARSON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Marson, co-owner of Crystal Coast Gymnastics, is a certified JO Development Coach and a USAG Advanced Teacher. She is also a practicing nurse anesthetist and a mom of three awesome gymnasts.
BACK TO ROUTINE It’s time to get back in the swing of things, whether it’s school or gymnastics training.
I
t’s getting to be that time of year again … getting back into the routine of school and other activities. Our gymnasts have been hard at it all summer, getting into their new routines. Recently USA Gymnastics, the governing body for our sport in this country, unveiled new Junior Olympic (JO) Compulsory routines, new rules for Prep Xcel gymnasts and new rules for JO Optional gymnasts. Compulsory coaches need to learn the new routines. In the JO Compulsory program, each gymnast performs a standard routine. Requirements and deductions for execution errors are very specific. USA Gymnastics unveiled new routines in May at two national workshops. The staff of Crystal Coast Gymnastics attended a state level workshop at Roses Gymnastics in Greenville. There they learned all the finer points of the new routines. The next step has been to teach those routines to Compulsory gymnasts. Line by line, pass by pass, they have worked very hard to master the routines and perform them with precision and attention to detail. Also new is a reduction from six compulsory levels to five. The skill sets are basically the same, but there are fewer levels in which to master those skills. The changes for the Xcel Program were perhaps even more exciting. The Xcel Program (formerly prep-opt) was initially developed to allow more gymnasts to participate in the sport by offering more flexibility in the skill requirements and a smaller time commitment. First a state-run program, then a regional program, the Xcel Program became a national program with its own committee at USA Gymnastics. The newly elected members from each
region have worked diligently this summer to put out clear, standardized rules for the program. In the Xcel Program, at each level there are a variety of different choices available to fulfill each requirement. For example, if a gymnast has limited shoulder flexibility and has difficulty performing a front handspring, she can perform a front tuck that does not require that same degree of shoulder flexibility. It enables the coaches and gymnasts to choreograph a routine suited to that gymnast’s strengths. Lastly, the JO Optional program has new rules this year. Gymnasts and coaches can now choose from a variety of skills to meet requirements. As levels increase, the degree of difficulty increases, but there are different skills to choose from. Each gymnast’s routine is individually choreographed to showcase that gymnast’s strengths. A good coach will have a large repertoire of skills to teach, allowing more flexibility. One of the most exciting changes to the Optional Program is the addition of a new Optional Level 6. This creates five optional levels where there were once four. There were also some modifications to allowable elements. Again, coaches and athletes must learn a new set of rules. In the judging community, North Carolina judges must retest before being allowed to judge this season. Many of them will do that at the National Congress this month. For our own in-house Level 10 judge, the new rules mean taking two tests: the written and practical portions of the Level 10 exam. Then he must take the compulsory exam again. These are exciting times for gymnastics in the US, as well as in our own area. Gymnastics enthusiasts on the Crystal Coast will have opportunities to attend gymnastics meets both in Morehead City this fall and spring and in New Bern this fall. If this is something that appeals to you, check your local gymnastics facility’s website and go support our local gymnasts as they compete!
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Pictured from left to right are Josh Wells, Shelley Hancock, Gillian Mounsey Ward, Alissa Mounsey and Russ Benedetto.
LOCAL EXCELLENCE
Bring home gold! Local woman set to compete internationally
Gillian Ward, Cedar Point resident and owner of Crystal Coast Strength & Conditioning / CrossFit Emerald Isle has earned a spot representing the USA at the powerlifting world championships this September in Eger, Hungary. On June 14, our local girl Gillian won the SPF National Powerlifting Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee. In addition to qualifying for Worlds, Gillian broke the GPC World Bench Press record with a lift of 281.1 lbs. Gillian, 35, is married to an active duty Marine currently deployed to Afghanistan. Gillian devotes herself to improving the quality of life of others through exercise, education and community. We are asking the local community to help send Gillian to represent the USA on the international stage. Let’s send Gillian to bring home gold for the USA! CCSC is seeking local sponsors for the event. If you would like to become a sponsor please contact Russ Benedetto at 252-764-2398 or stop by the gym.
suggested contributions BRONZE LEVEL................................................................. $250 Places your link on our website or Facebook page for the remainder of the calendar year. SILVER LEVEL.................................................................... $500 Bronze benefits, plus a banner recognizing your company’s contribution will be hung in the gym. GOLD LEVEL................................................................... $1,000 Bronze and Silver benefits, plus an individual 24" x 48" banner will be hung in the gym. PLATINUM LEVEL......................................................... $2,500 Bronze, silver and gold benefits, plus your logo will be featured on Gillian’s gear at the event in Hungary. TITANIUM LEVEL.......................................................... $5,000 Our highest level of sponsorship will include all other benefits and in addition, your company’s logo and information will appear on all media publications pre- and post-event. 2 6 | C A R O L I N A S A LT | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
Nimbus, the rare white sea turtle then (left) and now. NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES
CELEBRATE SEA TURTLES —— AU G U S T 1 3 —— Nimbus, the rare white sea turtle at the Aquarium, is turning three! In honor of the unusual loggerhead, enjoy a day-long Sea Turtle Celebration on August 13. Find out more about these captivating reptiles, the troubles they face and how to help them. · Sign a super-sized birthday card for Nimbus. · Check the sea turtle nursery to see if there are new hatchlings. · Meet sea turtles in a Creature Feature or animal encounter. · Increase your sea turtle savvy with hands-on activities, crafts, special displays and programs. The event coincides with sea turtle hatching season. From now through fall, sea turtle nests buried months ago hatch out. Usually the 100 or so turtles per nest emerge en masse and scurry for the surf to spend the rest of their lives at sea, except when females return to lay eggs. Because of sea turtles’ imperiled status, the state Wildlife Resources Commission and trained volunteers monitor nesting. They excavate each nest after it hatches to assess how many turtles it produced, and to assist weak turtles still in the sand. That’s how Nimbus was found in August 2010 on a Pine Knoll Shores beach. The turtle, whose sex is not known, was weak and needed help learning to eat due to a cleft palate when it first arrived at the Aquarium. Nimbus is on exhibit near the Living Shipwreck and the hands-on Sea Turtle Rescue exhibit, across from the Gift Shop. Each year, the Aquarium provides temporary care for many sea turtle hatchlings in need of a little help until they can be released, usually a few days or weeks. Some stay a little longer for educational exhibits and programs. In addition to Nimbus and hatchlings from last season and possibly the current season, the Aquarium is home to a young green sea turtle that swims in the Living Shipwreck. ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FREE WITH ADMISSION OR MEMBERSHIP
FUN-FUN-FUNDRAISER
Zombie Walk
Get your Zombie on to support the Autism Society
Z
ombies may not have brains but they have a lot of heart. Do you? This is your chance to get your zombie on, all in the name of a great cause. The Onslow County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina is partnering with Mac Daddy’s located at 130 Golfin Dolphin Drive in Cape Carteret on Saturday, September 7, to bring a zombie extravaganza like no other—a Zombie Walk for Autism. Registration is the day of the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mac Daddy’s. The fee to register is $10 per person; children under 12 are free. Free refreshments, door prizes and lots of epic awesomeness are in store for you! We will have an amazing team of volunteer professional special effects makeup artists on site from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for those who need help getting their ugly on. There is no fee for makeup done, but tip jars will be set out. Our zombie horde starts their undead walk at 1 p.m. from Mac Daddy’s. Our walk ends back at our venue Mac Daddy’s with an incredible rock show featuring local bands from surrounding cities including Sacrificial Betrayal, Foes of the Fallen, Aiccan, The Ghost of You and Sons of Sam. All funds raised support our local Onslow County chapter of the Autism Society in their efforts to educate, advocate and promote opportunities for our local autism community. So sharpen your zombie shuffle skills, slap on some ugly makeup and break out that old suit and tie you never liked! Grab a few zombie friends! You don’t want to miss this! FOR INFORMATION contact Marina Jorge at 910-539-1182 or at marinajorge84@gmail.com.
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NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION
CYCLING FOR THE COAST —— S AT U R DAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 1 —— It’s the third annual Cycling for the Coast, held each year in conjunction with National Estuaries Day. The goal of the ride is to raise awareness for North Carolina’s coastal estuaries and beaches. Funds raised will benefit the Coastal Federation’s restoration and education projects, The family ride is great for all ages and biking levels, offering 20K, 40K and 80K options, all taking place along a scenic oceanfront route in Bogue Banks. The ride will begin and end at Fort Macon State Park at the eastern tip of Bogue Banks. Riders will leave in waves, beginning at 8 a.m. with the 80K group; the 40K and 20K riders will leave a little later, biking towards Atlantic Beach and turning around at specified points on the island. Members of the federation can register for $35; nonmembers can register for $50, which includes a federation membership. Both fees include a Cycling for the Coast T-shirt. VISIT WWW.NCCOAST.ORG OR CALL 252-393-8185 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER. A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 33 33
KEN STONE
PA R R O T H E A D S
FEE L I N ’ HOT- HOT- HOT PARTYING WITH A PURPOSE ON EMERALD ISLE
W
august
B I R T H DAY S Happy birthday to our August Parrot Heads. They be Pegge Knecht, Terri Shipko, Jessi “Maniac” Holland, Adam Thomas, Sharon Jeanes, Chuck “Morehead” Sewell, Pam Barber, Walt Bass, Rhonda Davis, Mary Catherine “MC” Thomas, Ray “Brewmeister” Gollihue, Trisha Logan, Bernard “Mr. Bennett” Zucker, Jon Stone, Sandy “Coastal Outlet” Fontaine and Taylor Goodwin.
JOIN THE CLUB To keep up with what’s going on in the Parrot Head nation, visit them online at emeraldisleparrotheads.com or find them on Facebook. Better yet, come out and become a member of the club. All it takes is a fun-loving soul and a desire to give something back to your community
hoa! There’s been some roasty toasty weather out there, but then again it is summer in North Carolina and we always have the beach to cool off and chill out. Our regular PHirst PHriday PHlocking beat the heat and everyone’s need to cool down by chilling outside in the E. Club’s Tiki Bar patio with great tunes provided by none other than those infamous outlaw rogues, Scearce & Ketner. Lots of fun with a frozen T-shirt contest (get your minds out of the gutter, it’s good clean fun) where we soaked, rolled up, and froze 20 T-shirts to give out to the crowd with the task of getting the frozen shirt thawed out (by whatever means) and over your head to win a grand prize. Some very interesting ways of trying to thaw things included massive cool-downs of a variety of body parts (’nuff said!) of participants and those around them. Whether you won prizes or not, you still got to keep a stunning (but soggy, still partially frozen) T-shirt. Follow this up with a watermelon seed spitting contest and the crew was really starting to crank things up. That got PHolks in the mood to buy up a bunch of raffle tickets for a Margaritaville Concoction Maker that we’ll continue to raffle off at our August Anniversary PHlocking. All proceeds will be donated to Friends of Atlantic House, providing community support services for individuals with mental health issues. Party with a purpose! Speaking of parties, it’s our 11th anniversary as a club in August, so we’ll be celebrating all weekend with a killer PHlocking at the Emerald Club on Phirst PHriday, August 4. We’ll take to the water for our anniversary Sandbar Party out on Pelican Island with music by who else but our favorite Parrot Head band, Scearce & Ketner. Parrot Heads and invited guests PHlock to the island by boat, kayak, canoe, sail, swim or wade for a day of fun and frolicking in the sun and sea with lots of good eats, games, tunes, swimming, chilling, friendship and laughter. It’s just a “fun” raiser, not a fund raiser, to celebrate life and being a Parrot Head. Last year we had about 125 happy people enjoying a great time. Special thanks to Parrot Head Russ Davis and partners for letting us use the Island! We’ll continue with our regular PHirst PHriday PHlockings for the rest of the year. We’re looking forward to our The Coast is Clear Under the Pier beach party coming up in September and a variety of other events that are in the planning stages. To keep up with what’s going on in our local Parrot Head nation, check out our website at emeraldisleparrotheads.com or hook up with us on Facebook. Better yet, come on out and become a member of the club; all it takes is a fun-loving soul and a desire to give something back to your community while having a good time with other like-minded people. So ’til next time, “Let the waves hit your feet and the sand be your seat.” And please remember if perchance you have a cold one or two, make sure you and those around you have a designated driver—life’s too much fun to be cut short. See y’all around the Isle!
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C A P TA I N J E F F C R O N K
HOOKED UP FISHING REPORT
THE F I SHI N G I S HOT! A H O O K E D U P L O O K AT W H AT ’ S B I T I N G I N A U G U S T
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fter such a warm winter you would expect a blistering hot summer, but the truth is that it has been quite pleasant. This July we’ve had fluctuations in our Ocean water temps between the 80s and the mid-70s and fishing both inshore and nearshore has been hot! With August here, temps will be getting rising and can be tough to deal with while trying to enjoy some time fishing the waters of the Crystal Coast. For this reason I prefer to get either an early or very late start to my fishing day. I usually leave the dock with my clients around first light, and we’re usually heading in to clean our fish by 10 or 11 a.m. Anglers who are not early risers can wait until the late afternoon to take advantage of the cooling temps, cloud cover and breezier conditions. Regardless of how well you can handle the heat, the fish will still be waiting for a meal and ready to put up a fight!
inshore fishing The inshore waters have been very productive this summer with plenty of Puppydrum, Flounder, Sheepshead, Black Drum and some Speckled Trout. This August, anglers can expect to find good numbers of flounder around the inlets and boat docks on a falling tide. The best methods for hooking up with these flatties is to fish a live bait on either a Carolina rig or a light jig head. A ¼-oz. to 1-oz. bucktail tipped with a Berkley Gulp is also a deadly combo for deep-water flounder around the inlets and boat docks. During the higher part of each tide flounder can be found feeding on schools of finger mullet along the flooded marsh. Anglers should target marsh points and small creek mouths in flooded bays off the main channels. I prefer to use a 3 to 4" Gulp Bait tipped on a ⅛ to ¼-oz. jighead or a spinner bait in these situations. Since flounder are ambush feeders striking from beneath passing schools of finger mullet, these baits will often explode upward along the grass making their presence known. There are plenty of Redfish in the backwaters this summer with most showing up in small schools of 50 fish or less. On high water, anglers should focus their efforts along the marsh edges of large bays or on top of large grass flats working either a top water bait, a jig head tipped with a Berkley Gulp or a popping cork with a suspended live or artificial bait. As the tide drops, redfish can be easily targeted in deeper water. Many redfish will move out of these shallow bays and off the grass flats and cruise along the edges of deeper surrounding channels or the waterway. Boat docks are also a great place to search for reds on a falling tide using a spinner bait or a Carolina rigged live bait. Another fish often overlooked but very plentiful along the coastal backwaters is the Black Drum. These less popular but tasty drum can be targeted around any deep water structure such as docks and bridges. They will often move into the shallow bays and creeks and stage up around oyster beds. In any case, anglers will want to use either live or fresh shrimp for the best chance at teasing up a strike from one of these fish. A standard bottom rig will work fine in the deeper water and along the shallow oyster beds a popping cork, 2 to 3 feet of leader and a small circle hook will work great, as it can drift and quickly cover ground.
FISHN’N 4 LIFE Captain Jeff Cronk leads fishing and nature charters on the Crystasl Coast. To get out on the water with him, call 910‑325‑8194. You can also visit him online at nccharterfishing.com.
nearshore fishing Our nearshore waters are holding good numbers of Spanish Mackerel ranging from 1 to 6 pounds along with a few 10 to 20-pound King Mackerel, some 5 to 15-pound Mahi, big Amberjack and plenty of Flounder and Sea Bass! Our recent 6-hour trips have been producing mixed bags of about half dozen large Spanish, an occasional king mackerel, 10 to 15 flounder and some sea bass to top it off! The best thing is, we’re doing all of this on light spinning tackle! If you’ve never had the chance to experience the incredible action our nearshore waters offer up, give us a call at 910-325-8194 or 252-725-2623 or check us out online at nccharterfishing.com. A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 37 37
DISCOVERY DIVING
LEE MOORE
DIV I N G OU R COAST IN AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
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JOIN DISCOVERY If you are interested in diving any of the artificial or other reefs and wrecks on the Crystal Coast, contact Discovery Diving at 252‑728‑2265 or visit them on Facebook to see what classes and events are coming up.
JOIN ECARA The Eastern Carolina Artificial Reef Association (ECARA) works to continue sinking ships to create artificial reefs here in North Carolina, but their resources are limited. To get involved with ECARA, visit carolinareef.org to check out their current project list.
he warm, blue water was in effect in July at the inshore and offshore wrecks. For most of July, the water temperature ranged from 69 to 73 degrees. July saw days where the water was trying to get back to normal (the upper 70s). In August, the water temperatures should reach the mid to upper 70s on the bottom, while the surface temperatures should remain in the low 80s. The wrecks and ledges will continue to see a wide variety of marine life ranging from game fish to tropical fish more commonly seen in the Caribbean. The Crystal Coast experienced a prosperous time in the ’80s and ’90s when ships were sunk as artificial reefs. The most notable wrecks from that time are the Liberty Ship, the Indra and Aeolus. The Spar was sunk in 2004 through the efforts of a now-defunct citizen-led artificial reef association. All of these wrecks have a few thing in common. They are all heavily visited by divers and fishermen, and they have all been affected by the weather, including hurricanes. The Spar, sunk in 2004, originally descended to a depth of 115 feet, landing in an upright position. Hurricane Irene moved it a hundred yards, spun it around 180 degrees and added a 45-degree list to port. The Aeolus was broken apart by Hurricanes Fran and Bertha. When the Aeolus was sunk, it came to rest on its starboard side at a depth of 115 feet. If the ship had landed upright, it would have been one of the premier wrecks on the East Coast. But when the Aeolus broke into four pieces, it actually became a better dive site. The bow remained on its starboard side, while the stern section is now upright. In 2012, the starboard side of the stern section began to peel away from the ship. This allows divers to get a better look at the decks of the ship. Sand tiger sharks can often be found circling inside the cable well room. The Liberty Ship, the Theodore Parker, was sunk in 1974 and is only a few miles off the beach. Resting in 50 feet of water, storms have taken their toll. A section between the mid-ship and the stern has collapsed. Its closeness to shore makes this wreck popular for fishermen and divers. Many fishing lures and anchors have been retrieved from the top deck. The Indra is probably the most dove wreck on the Crystal Coast. With the top deck at 45 feet and the ocean floor at 70 feet, it features a depth range that can accommodate the novice as well as the experienced diver. It is an excellent location for either training or a fun dive. The Indra is usually where newly certified divers do their first wreck dive. Hurricanes and storms torn sections of the ship. In June 2013, the top and main decks showed sign of damage. Both were cracked down the middle. In the middle of July, the last section of the top deck collapsed. The stern section has also developed cracks along both edges of the main deck. Only about 30 feet of the main deck on the stern remains. The rest of the stern deck has collapsed; only a hole remains. More ships need to be sunk as artificial reefs to provide marine life with a habitat. Other states, including Florida and Alabama, have continued to sink ships as artificial reefs, but North Carolina has failed to keep up. The Department of Marine Fisheries is responsible for creating artificial reefs off of North Carolina. The Eastern Carolina Artificial Reef Association (ECARA) is working to sink ships, but their resources are limited by the size of ships they can procure and the need for environment controls. As of 2013, two sailboats and a barge have been sunk near the Indra by ECARA. To encourage more ships as artificial reefs, contact the Department of Marine Fisheries. To get involved with ECARA, go to www.carolinareef.org to see what projects they are working on. If you would like to go out to any of the artificial reefs or any of the other wrecks off of the Crystal Coast, contact Discovery Diving at dive@discoverydiving.com, 252-728-2265 or like us on Facebook to see what classes and events are coming up in the near future.
3 8 | C A R O L I N A S A LT | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2013
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THREE LOCATIONS ON THE CRYSTAL COAST 104 Golfin’ Dolphin Drive • Cape Carteret • 252.393.2509 502 Front Street • Beaufort • 252.728.6105 313 Pollock Street • New Bern • 252.288.5814