Carolina Salt NOV 2021

FREE! NOVEMBER 2021–FEBRUARY 2022

your life on the Crystal Coast

Outer Banks Wildlife

HERE, KITTY KITTY! Meet the elusive bobcat!

Diet + Health

Pet Owners

2021 Holidays

EVENTS + MORE

Events, recipes & more inside!

Local Outdoors

ARE YOU WINTERIZE FISHING + YOUR EATING DIVING THE PETS! COAST ENOUGH? REBECCA’S CORNER | ASK THE AQUARIUM | A MOMENT OF REFLECTION

FOL LOW U S ON S O C I A L M E DI A FOR EV E N TS & DA I LY S PEC I A L S

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NOVE M B E R 2 0 2 1 – F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 2

Inside This Issue your life on the Crystal Coast

8

Here, kitty, kitty!

In the past few months Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter has admitted four infant bobcats, all with one thing in common: they needed help!

10 Are you eating enough?

Weight loss isn’t always about eating less,

sometimes it’s about eating more ... of the right things.

8 WILDLIFE SHELTER: Here, kitty kitty!

FREE!

NOVEMBER

2021–FEBRUA

Change of the year

RY 2022

t stal Coas on the Cry your life

ON THIS MONTH’S COVER

idays

2021 Hol

ks Wildlife

Outer Ban

TTY HERE, KIY! KITT at! elusive bobc Meet the

th

Diet + Heal

ARE YOU EATING ?

ENOUGH

’S CORNER REBECCA

+ EVENTS ORE M e! more insid recipes & Events,

oors

Local Outd

ers Pet Own SHING +E ZE FIVI TH WINTERI DI NG T YOUR COAS ON PETS! REFLECTI

| ASK THE

M AQUARIU

ENT | A MOM

OF

As summer turns to fall and eventually, winter, the fishing is still spectacular along the Crystal Coast, if you know where to look. Check out the Hooked Up Fishing Report for inside info!

11 Christmas in Morehead City

Morehead City is ready to welcome Santa in 2021 with a host of events, concerts and activites. You will want to get out your planner for this!

12 Resolution, schmesolution.

Are you planning to make New Year’s resolutions this year? Maybe you should try some res-NOlutions instead!

13 Holiday baking time!

Why not add a few new recipes to your holiday cookie rotation?

24 Roll with the punches...

When you’re planning an outdoor wedding, you

sometimes have to make adjustments to your “bestlaid-plans.”

25 Winterize your pets

How to keep your pets healthy and comfortable as the temperatures fall and the weather changes.

13 HOLIDAY BAKING Add some new recipes to your holiday baking routine!

25 WINTERIZE YOUR PETS Keep them healthy and comfortable in winter!

LOCAL INTEREST

Rebecca’s Corner. . ....................................... 10 Ask the Aquarium: Dolphins. . ......................... 15 Moment of Reflection.. ................................. 34 Hooked Up Fishing..................................... 35 Diving Our Coast.. ....................................... 36

CarolinaSalt.com » November 2021–February 2022 CAROLINA SALT 5

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Thank you for picking up Carolina Salt magazine, all about our life here on the Crystal Coast.

Our articles are written by locals. Every month we look to our readers to keep our magazine fresh.

If you have a story to tell, an event to promote or an interesting local photograph, send them our way.

Participation is welcomed and appreciated.

Reader contributions are the founding principle of the magazine.

If you like what you see, tell people about it— especially our advertisers. For questions, concerns or more information, send e-mail to will@carolinasalt.com or call 252-723-7628.

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PUBLISHED BY CRYSTAL COAST OUTDOORS PUBLICATIONS P.O. Box 572, Morehead City, NC 28557 | 252-723-7628

OUTER BANKS WILDLIFE SHELTER LINDA BERGMAN–ALTHOUSE

Here, kitty, kitty!

N

ot often are bobcats admitted to the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter in Newport—they are extremely elusive, secretive, avoid all human contact if possible and usually stay out of trouble. But in the past few months the shelter has admitted four young bobcats, all in various states of distress.

A morning walker heard a young cat calling repeatedly, with a pitch of urgency, in the coastal woods. The Craven County resident moved toward the crying wild cat to see if she could get a peek, only to find a very thin, big kitten, which she knew was not domestic, calling for its mother. Since it appeared the youngster had not been fed or tended to in quite a while, the decision was made to transport her to our shelter for assistance.

Another infant bobcat found floating down a waterway on a tree limb was crying to the high heavens for help! A good Samaritan managed to scoop him out of the water and burrito wrap him in a jacket to prevent being punctured by the bobcat’s claws or sharp teeth.

The stories are always different, but the focus is always the same: they need help! Sometimes an infant bobcat will accept human help with no fuss and other times it can become a dangerous situation. Adult bobcats will always resist with hissing, growling, biting, scratching and squirming, unless they are unconscious! A bobcat is not considered a large animal, but it is a fierce fighter.

Don’t let their cuteness fool you. Despite looking like your cat, Fluffy, who curls up on your lap while you watch television, this fur ball,

8

Don’t let their cuteness fool you. This fur ball, who is twice as big as your chubbiest domestic house cat, is not okay with being handled by humans! who is twice as big as your chubbiest domestic house cat, is not okay with being handled by humans, so safety issues are paramount when managing and treating a bobcat. Always proceed with extreme caution or call a wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.

When admitting bobcats at the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter, diagnosis and stabilization are our priorities, which means thoroughly examining the cat for all injuries or illnesses and designing an effective treatment plan. If the plan is long-term, we will sometimes transport the bobcat to a wildlife rehabilitator in the North Carolina Mountains (Jonas Ridge area, Banner Elk) who can provide an extended-stay facility, to include over-wintering, with as little human interaction as necessary.

The bobcat gets its name from the short tail it sports, which is usually less than 5 inches long.

Its light brown to reddish brown fur is extremely gorgeous, dense and soft. An adult bobcat stands from 20 to 30 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 40 pounds. Their round face is topped with pointed, tufted ears and the bobcat’s hind legs are longer than its front legs, which gives them that cheetah-like bobbing run when chasing down prey.

Their paws have four toes each with retractable, razor-sharp claws. They have four large and very sharp canine teeth and behind the canines, more sharp cutting teeth. They have forward-facing yellow eyes with black elongated pupils.

Nicknames abound for the bobcat to include Ol’ Spitfire, Lightning, Wood’s Ghost and Tiger Cat, which all speak to their stealth abilities as

CAROLINA SALT November 2021–February 2022 » CarolinaSalt.com

focused and ferocious hunters.

Bobcats are carnivores that favor rabbits, rodents, raccoons, opossums, birds and snakes for their dining pleasure, but they have been known, although rarely, to take down an adult deer and occasionally farm animals, too. They can be active during the day but prefer to hunt at night. They will also roll in, chew and ingest fresh vegetation.

Although bobcats are solitary, males will seek out a mate when they sexually mature, which is between one and two years of age. They make their dens in hollow trunks, brush and rock piles and the root masses of toppled trees. Mating takes place usually in late winter and two to four kittens will be born in the May timeframe.

Life expectancy for males is 3 to 4 years and 4 to 5 years for females. Ten-year longevity is the highest recorded for a bobcat in the wild. In captivity, they may live more than 30 years.

Due to habitat restoration occurring throughout our state, bobcat populations have grown over the past 50 years. Left alone, bobcats pose no threat to humans and are fascinating wildlife. If you ever have the opportunity to see a bobcat in the wild, consider it an honor and feel privileged to be among the few that ever has or ever will! €

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Are you eating enough?

BY JAYME LIMBAUGH

A

MS, LDN, RD, CSCS, C-ep, GEI, CCES

CRYSTAL COAST WELLNESS + PERFORMANCE CENTER

BY REBECCA JONES AUTHOR OF ‘LOVE BRINGS YOU HOME’ & OTHER BOOKS

B

ehind an older two-story house in Harkers Island is a hidden treasure. The Keith family have a stained-glass studio called Wild Rose Glass. The Keiths created some art and set it out in their front yard for sale during the week of the Decoy Festival. It was then they began to be known for their quality art. Their first job in Harkers Island was making 16 stained glass windows for Refuge Church. Since then, they have made grown.

You can stop by the studio and purchase beautiful pieces, purchase from Facebook Live Marketing and take classes.

Throughout the thousand year history of stained glass, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches. A window must fit snugly into the space for which it is made and must resist wind and rain. The stained glass windows depict elaborate bible scenes, which allows the church to communicate bible stories and beliefs to people. your theglass Crystal Coast In recent years life smalleron stained art has been become popular.

Like stained glass, life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see. In the bible in Matthew Chapter 5 it tells us to let our light shine.

Nothing can dim the light which shines from within us. Lighthouses don’t go running all over the island looking for boats to save— they just stand there shining. Let your light shine! €

your life on the Crystal Coast

WE DEPEND ON OUR READERS! CALL 252-723-7628 IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE OR PHOTO.

10 CAROLINA SALT November 2021–February 2022 » CarolinaSalt.com

s a Registered Dietitian, I talk about food all day every day. We discuss the quality of food, whether a client is eating too much protein or too little, high carb or no carb, all fat or low fat.

Typically clients ask about diets and assume the only way to lose weight is to restrict dramatically. But, what if you’re not losing weight because you’re not eating enough of the good foods?

Eating enough to sustain energy levels and support lean body mass needs to be discussed more. When we eat clean quality foods we prime our metabolism to work efficiently and run well. This translates to maintaining lean body mass which allows more opportunity for a higher calorie burn throughout the day. But, when we restrict our intake too much , muscle is

sacrificed and metabolism slows. Meaning you will always be chasing that low metabolism resulting in a never ending circle of under eating with difficulty maintaining or creating muscle.

Many of my clients have gotten caught in this cycle. How do you know you are eating enough? First ask yourself if you have enough energy mentally, physically and emotionally. Do not underestimate the mental aspect either. Your mood can tell you many things about your nutrition. Second evaluate if you are hitting your weight or physique goals. If you are not hitting your goals and you are not feeling energized mentally, physically and emotionally. Good chance you are running low on good foods. Try adding clean foods such as vegetables, lean proteins and good fats and cutting out processed foods full of saturated fat, salt and sugar. Then get an evaluation with a local dietitian who can give you a better understanding of how to balance food intake with energy output to achieve your goals. €

MOREHEAD CITY

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Christmas in Morehead City

M

ark your calendars as holiday events return for 2021 in downtown Morehead City! Begin with Small Business Saturday on November 27, a nationally recognized day to shop and support your local businesses. Many downtown businesses will offer special deals to kick off the holiday shopping season. The following weekend brings a whirlwind of activity to downtown Morehead City.

Friday, December 3, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting will take place in Katherine Davis Park beginning at 5 p.m. Celebrate the Christmas spirit with Mayor Jerry Jones and the Calico Creek Bluegrass Band. For more information, contact Victoria Ward with Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department at victoria.ward@moreheadcitync.org.

There is a full lineup on Saturday, December 4. Breakfast with Santa, hosted by Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant, will offer a chance for families and children to visit and have breakfast with Santa Claus. Reservations are required by calling 252-727-1921. Three seating times are available: 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tax and gratuity are not included in ticket price.

The fun continues with the sold-out Chowder and Cheer Crawl from noon to 5:30 p.m. Tickets for this popular event go on sale online each year at the beginning of November and sell out in record time! Also, the Arts Council of Carteret County will hold its annual Artwalk from noon to 5:30 p.m. A map of participating businesses can be found at artscouncilcarteret.org.

Stick around downtown after Chowder and Cheer and the Artwalk to enjoy the annual Crystal Coast Flotilla, featuring boats and other water vessels decorated for the holidays. The flotilla begins at the

Morehead City waterfront (Jaycee Park area) at 5:30 p.m. and will sail to Beaufort. Anyone interested in participating can contact the Maritime Museum at 252-728-2762 by noon on December 4. There is an entry fee to participate.

The annual Christmas Parade through downtown Morehead City is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 11. The parade starts at the 1700 block of Arendell and continues to 6th Street and Arendell. The parade features floats, cars, trucks, boats, and walkers along with bands and entertainment, as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh. Entry forms can be found at downtownmoreheadcity.com. There is no fee for entry and three awards are given to the top decorated floats.

On December 18, Santa makes another visit to town to see kids big and small.

The Morehead City Fire Department will take Santa on a tour in a fire truck through Morehead City beginning at

11 a.m. Contact Alize Proisy, Town of Morehead City Communications Director, at communications@moreheadcitync.org. for more information.

On December 31, come downtown to usher out 2021 and welcome in 2022.

Downtown Countdown takes place at Big Rock Landing beginning at 5 p.m. There will be activities for families and children including music, crafts, and face painting while waiting for the crab pot to drop at 6 p.m. Help the Morehead City Fire Departments countdown to drop the decorated crab pot from their ladder truck and then immediately enjoy a celebration of fireworks that can be seen all along the downtown Morehead City waterfront. Visit downtown Morehead City businesses during the day for various celebrations. More information available by contacting Victoria Ward at victoria.ward@ moreheadcitync.org or Lisa Rueh at lisa@ downtownmoreheadcity.com. €

CarolinaSalt.com » November 2021–February 2022 CAROLINA SALT 11

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! NEW YEAR’S LOLS

20Y2E2 AR’S

NEW -LUTIONS ES-NO

R

1 Eat what I want … especially if it contains white flour, sugar, carbs, fat, aspartame, corn syrup, anything that ends with –ate or Red Dye No. 5.

2 Drink nothing that comes from the ground or a spring. Have you SEEN the ground? And things LIVE in springs. Ewww.

3 Watch more television, read less. Reading is for suckers.

I watched Les Miserables in, like, an hour and a half.

Took me two weeks to read it. Life is short.

4 Bungee jump….off of anything.

5 Cross country road trip… with my mother driving.

6 Laundry challenge: See how many loads of clothes I can stack onto Mt. Laundrymanjaro before a “landslide” occurs and forces the laundry room door shut or we’re all forced to become nudists because there are no clean clothes in the house.

7 Kitchen challenge: See how many plastic storage containers I can shove into my upper cabinet. Turn it into a contest. Whoever opens the door and gets hit with an avalanche loses.

8 Church attendance will now only consist of “the big days” (you know, Easter, Christmas) and/or whenever there’s food (you know, Homecoming, funerals).

9 Spend less quality time consumed with those pesky human beings I birthed. Ugh. They’re just so … so … so … needy.

10 Don’t even BUY floss.

Resolution, schmesolution.

R

emember that episode from Seinfeld? You know, the one where George figures that every decision in his life has been WRONG so he decides from that from now on he is going to make the OPPOSITE decisions and see how things work out? Well, in that vein, I’ve been rethinking the whole New Year’s Resolution deal.

You see, for me it’s never really worked out. Ever. Oh sure, I’ve lost a few pounds in January only to gain them back by February 15. (Nothing says weight gain like post-Valentine’s Day half-priced Whitman’s Samplers—especially when you’re eating them ANGRILY— because your husband gave you a CARD for Valentine’s Day. Seriously? A CARD?! It’s the ONLY holiday where you can express your love for me, pound for pound, with dark chocolate truffles and you give me a CARD?! Whatever. Oh, hey! There’s a caramel one!)

I quit smoking once, which probably would’ve been a way bigger accomplishment had I actually been a smoker to begin with. I’ve promised to drink more water, eat healthier, swear less, exercise more organize … de-clutter … floss. So far, none of these things have panned out for more than a week or so. Except for flossing, which I do on occasion either (a) right after I eat ribs or (b) right before a dentist appointment.

Seeing as I’ve usually busted through most of these promises-to-self before New Year’s Day is done (a little hair o’ the dog to help fend off the headache from the night before, traditional New Year’s Day black-eyed peas with salt pork is HARDLY health food, does putting away Christmas decorations count as exercise? and I defy you to NOT swear while you’re squeezing them back into your already-filled-to-capacity-and-where-in-the-WORLD-did-all-this-kidcrap-come-from attic), I’m officially deciding to make resolutions that are the OPPOSITE of what I want to accomplish in the coming year.

That being said, I put together a list of my Top 10 New Year’s Res‑NO‑lutions List, 2015 Edition, at right.

All right, folks. That’s it! I can hardly wait to see how this goes. If it does work out, I’ll let you know how well. If not, well … I’m sure you’ll hear about that, too. In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and a delightful New Year.

Go ahead! Get to working on those res‑NO-lutions. Can’t work out any worse than last year’s. Right? €

12 CAROLINA SALT November 2021–February 2022 » CarolinaSalt.com

RECIPES

HOLIDAY RECIPES HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Best Cookies

Bird’s Nest Cookies Recipe courtesy of ZEST! 1¹/³ cups flaked coconut softened 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, r suga d ½ cup granulate 1 large egg ½ tsp. real maple syrup 2 cups all-purpose flour

¾ tsp. salt 1¾ cups mini M&Ms candies (divided) 1. PREHEAT oven to 300 degrees. sheet. Toast in oven, 2. SPREAD coconut on ungreased cookie ove coconut from Rem stirring occasionally until lightly golden. erature to 350. temp oven ase cookie sheet and set aside. Incre light and fluffy; beat until bowl 3. CREAM butter and sugar in large . in egg and maple syrup . Blend into creamed 4. COMBINE flour and salt in medium bowl s.

M&M mini cup 1 in Stir ure. butter and sugar mixt toasted coconut. in ily heav Roll . balls 5. FORM dough into 1 inch ie sheet. Make Place 2 inches apart on lightly greased cook b. thum indentation in center of each cookie with n brown. golde is 6. BAKE 12 to 14 mintues or until coconut ediately with imm s tation inden fill Remove cookies to wire racks and ie. cook each for nt amou l smal a using s, remaining mini M&M 7. COOL completely and enjoy!

f F RO M K H R I S T I N U N NA L LY o D A E T S E M O H COLORED EGG d is a first generation selfKhristi Nunnally of Colored Egg Homestea of laying hens and grows flock d mixe taught urban farmer. She raises a Visit her Etsy shop at www. herbs and vegetables on her small city lot. ktnunna.com.

Salt and this holiday season Khristi is a frequent contributor to Carolina es: Bird’s Nest Cookies. We’re chose to pass along one of her favorite recip es the egg called for in the ribut pretty sure that one of Khristi’s hens cont just as well! work will ht recipe, but rest assured that store boug estead! € Merry Christmas from Colored Egg Hom

Best Pastries

Flaky Apple Dumplings

Recipe courtesy of ZEST!

F RO M M I C H E L E PA S C H One of the best parts of the holidays is passi ng on family food traditions to the next generation. My gran dmother always made oyster stuffing for Thanksgiving. The day before, she bundled me up against the brisk November air and we’d make a special trip to the fish market for fresh oysters. She would choose 24 oyste rs very carefully, “not too small, not too big,” and insist the fisherman shuck them fresh for her into a small bucket, shoveling in tiny hand fuls of ice so they would stay chilled. So many memories revolve arou nd the comfort of food.

They aren’t all perfect memories (the overd one casseroles, the time the dog got the turkey right off the platter) but mostly it’s the comfort of smells, the hot apple pie, that keep us comi ng back asking for seconds, so gather a plate and a few good friends and remember to slow down a bit and savor every bite! €

1 box packaged phyllo (fillo) dough 6 large, firm apples 2 Tbl. cinnamon 1 cup organic brown sugar ¾ cup raisins 3 Tbl. butter 1 stick butter

1. FOLLOW package directions to thaw phyll o dough.

2. PEEL and core apples. Leave whole.

3. MIX cinnamon, sugar and raisins in a bowl . Melt 3 Tbl. butter and add to mixture.

4. STUFF the mixture into the center of the apples. When all apples are filled, melt 1 stick butter in the microwav e.

5. BRUSH each layer of phyllo with melte d butter using a pastry brush. Layer the phyllo, 6 sheets per apple . This must be done quickly, as the dough dries fast.

6. FORM each dough stack into a “blanket” around each apple, twisting the dough into a “leaf” at the top.

7. BAKE at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, about 15 minutes.

8. SERVE with a scoop of ice cream, if desir ed.

CarolinaSalt.com » December / January 2017 CAROLINASALT SALT 13 13 CarolinaSalt.com » November 2021–February 2022 CAROLINA

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Q

We thought we were seeing porpoise swimming off the beach at Ocean Isle, but someone said they were dolphins. Are dolphins and porpoises the same thing?

Bottlenose dolphins are common sightings in North Carolina waters.

All marine mammals are protected by federal law.

PHOTO COURTESY OF N.C. AQUARIUMS

P

eople often use the terms dolphin and porpoise interchangeably. Although these marine mammals look much alike, they are different animals. Dolphins (family Delphinidae) have a rostrum, or beak, and a curved dorsal fin. Porpoise (family Phocoenidae) have a blunt head and a triangular dorsal fin.

In North Carolina waters, it is common to see groups of dolphins feeding close to shore. Porpoise tend to inhabit offshore waters in colder climates.

The nearest porpoise species, the harbor porpoise, ranges between Canada and Virginia; however, in winter they’re known to enter North Carolina waters as far south as Cape Hatteras.

Porpoise are considered relatively non-social animals, usually seen in groups of two to five.

Dolphins, on the other hand, travel in larger groups and display frolicking, acrobatic behaviors.

In nearshore North Carolina waters, you’re most likely to see bottlenose dolphins. Other species, such as spotted dolphins, travel our offshore waters.

Like all marine mammals, porpoise and dolphin are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It’s against federal law to approach, feed, or harass them, and violations are punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Both dolphin and porpoise populations continue to be threatened by human activities.

Unintentional entanglement in commercial and recreational fishing gear, ingestion of litter, contamination of food sources and boat injuries remain problems.

As wild marine mammals, these animals are best appreciated from a distance. People often make the mistake of using food to entice them close to boats. This has resulted in some animals becoming accustomed to approaching boats for handouts.

Not only is this bad for the animal’s diet, it can endanger both the animal and people. Dolphin wounds from boat propellers are not uncommon, and animals have been known to become aggressive and bite. Litter and cruel jokes are also a problem.

Lens caps, fishing hooks, lures, disposable lighters and other such items have been found inside dead dolphin stomachs.

Scientists continue to study marine mammal biology and behavior; however, more data on reproduction rates, residency, migration patterns and habitat needs is critical to assist in their conservation. National, regional and state organizations work together to gather such information. €

CarolinaSalt.com » November 2021–February 2022 CAROLINA SALT 15

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LOCAL COLOR

REV. LEVI STROUD

Roll With The Punches …not even Mother Nature would ruin our daughter’s dream wedding.

A

fter a beautiful, warm, early fall week at our beach rental, it rained all day—on both Friday and Saturday. We had made so many preparations for our daughter’s on-the-beach wedding, it seemed quite the shame that we would have to fall back on ‘Plan B’… relocating to the tiny sanctuary in the church where the reception would be held.

By the time Saturday rolled around, however, and our daughter Tamara was peacefully making her final preparations for joining together with her beloved Graham, it no longer mattered. In several hours, their joy would be complete, and they would be celebrating with beloved family and friends, a wonderful send-off full of smiles, hugs, wellwishes … and chocolate from the delightful “candy bar” set-up at the reception.

With last-minute music rehearsals, sermon preparations, decorations and outfitting, we made sure that we knew where our umbrellas were so that all of this beauty would not get drenched. Not even Mother Nature would ruin our daughter’s dream wedding at her much-loved Emerald Isle, where our family had camped and vacationed for most of her life.

After having pastored churches for 30 years, I have come to realize that weddings often take on a life of their own regardless of how well you plan. It only takes one wrinkly aisle cloth, one clumsy groomsman, one dropped (or forgotten) ring, or (shudder) a local fisherman barreling through the wedding area on a company truck and all of a sudden those “best-laid plans” fall prey to the unexpected.

Fortunately, this usually ends up providing some comic relief during one of the most stressful times of one’s life. Accordingly, I have saved myself from much of the damaging effects of said stress by learning to roll with the punches.

This day would certainly challenge the “roll” mechanism in us all … as the afternoon unfolded.

We made the call to relocate at the absolute last minute since there was no way to inform guests ahead of time. They would all be waiting at the Park Street public access to the beach for instructions on where to go and what to do.

Treasured friends and family from over the years had driven and flown in to share in the event, and I knew they would be waiting,

eager to see how we would pull this off.

Regardless, we were determined that the word “disappointing” would not be a part of any of our conversations.

On the way to Mile Marker 15, I answered my cell phone to hear my wife’s hopefulbeyond-belief assessment of the situation: “It looks like it’s cleared off some to the north.” I had not even noticed that my windshield wipers were only encountering mist (after two days of drenching rain). As I pulled into the lot and greeted all our friends—from ages 18 months to 92 years, even the misting had stopped. With threatening clouds everywhere—but a strip of bright sky far off on the horizon—everyone seemed to vote by telepathy (or at the very least, goofy, gutsy grins) to go for it!

As risky as anything we had ever done, we pulled out the rental chairs, dragged out sound equipment and guitars, invited everyone to lend a hand, and set up at the water’s edge.

Within 40 minutes of our expected start time, the wedding party began its barefoot trek to the most perfect of altars I had ever seen—a small hemp table in front of God’s beautiful creation. Shades of light orange, turquoise, and khaki graced the beach as the groomsmen, bridesmaids, bridesmen and groomsmaids (yes, you read correctly) calmly stepped to their appointed places. Finally, both parents of the groom and both parents of the bride brought in their beloved children. After seating the mothers, the two fathers found their places as pastors and officiants, and with incredible expectation in every way, the ceremony for these two young people to start the rest of their lives together—through promise and faith— began.

The portable sound equipment worked flawlessly! Volunteers shared their video and audio skills with perfection! The waves lapped at the feet of the bride’s attendants but came no further! With vows, sermon, rings and even seashell necklaces created by the couple to exchange (in lieu of the unity candle), the event was almost like a fairy-tale. During the song “Longer Than” (I kid you not), schools of fish were incredibly visible in the huge backdrop waves just as the line was sung, “Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean…” During this song, they took the first steps of their journey together with a brief, symbolic walk to the water’s edge. “We’ll fly through the falls and

24 CAROLINA SALT January 10 November/2021–February February 2019 2022 » CarolinaSalt.com » CarolinaSalt.com

summers…with love on our wings…”

That’s when the truck came barreling through.

As my young son would say, “What th’ schmuggett!” Logic would dictate that it’s not very nice to crash a wedding, especially with a truck, but apparently after a day of fishing, logic does not apply. Graham and Tamara paused to stay out of the truck’s path, then came on back to their place, were blessed, pronounced husband and wife, kissed, and left the beach as a mess of seagulls took flight and the congregation was led in singing “All You Need Is Love” by the Beatles. Frankly, I think quick reflexes aren’t so bad to have, as well!

With the last photos snapped by our gracious and respectful photographer, the rental chairs stacked back on the pallet, and the equipment safely loaded in the van, the mist returned.

By the time we were on the road to the church, it was again pouring down rain.

Apparently, God’s deal with Mother Nature had reached its limit. That was OK with us, though—nothing else mattered at this point.

The love birds were on their way, but more importantly: Tamara had her dream wedding … and everyone and everything seemed to bow in deference to that dream. Let the rain come!

We’ll take it—with gratitude!

A lot of prayers were answered that day. As thankful as we were to our church people for lifting up those prayers, we didn’t really expect the Almighty to intervene with respect to the weather, but we are very sure that He did! The beach has been good to our family, and I know we will continue to enjoy its offerings for many years to come.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll retire down here.

In the meantime, we’ll just keep rolling with the punches and packing away the memories— the kind that only cherished family and dear friends can make.

And as for the renegade wedding-crashing fisherman? I suppose we’ll file him away in the “Truth is stranger than fiction” department … or perhaps “That which does not destroy you will make you stronger.” Or better yet, “Did anyone get the number of that truck?” €

HAPPY PETS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Winterize your pets A SHORT GUIDE TO GETTING YOUR PETS, AND YOUR HOME, READY FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.

S

horter days and cooler temperatures are here, and while many people go through a thorough winterizing program for their homes, cars and boats, a lot of folks don’t know that their pets need similar attention. While we don’t exactly have to break out the snow shovels around here, our winters can be harsh at some times and downright dangerous at others. Here are some simple things to think about for your pets’ health and wellbeing this fall and winter.

① SHELTER If you have outdoor pets, first and foremost consider whether the environment they are in provides adequate shelter from the elements. Can your pets find sanctuary in a covered area, one that protects them from cold, wind, rain and snow? Is that area going to attract pests that may be seeking shelter themselves? Ideally, a raised doghouse with a sloped roof and a covered door should be supplied for each outdoor pet.

② FOOD AND WATER Keeping warm in cold weather burns energy, so your pets are going to require additional food and water to maintain body temperature. While it is obviously not a good idea to fatten them up, providing a little extra dinner can make chilly nights a little easier.

③ HEARTWORM AND FLEA PREVENTION Insects like fleas and mosquitoes are certainly less active in the winter, but don’t be fooled! They still pose a real threat to your pet’s health. A couple of unseasonably warm weeks in January are all that it takes to reignite the possibility of contracting serious disease.

Keeping up your monthly preventatives is essential to ensuring that your pets stay free of intestinal worms, heartworms, fleas and ticks.

④ CARS AND YOUR PET Cold winter temperatures mean that outdoor animals will be seeking warm places to curl up for the night … like the engine compartment of your car. It is always a good idea to knock on the hood of your car a couple of times to make sure no one gets a nasty surprise when you turn the key.

The risks of antifreeze ingestion are fairly well-known, but it can’t hurt to stress them again. Even very small amounts can cause serious organ damage, even death. Take great care in collecting and disposing of antifreeze.

There are newer nontoxic antifreezes available, and hopefully this concern will soon be a thing of the past.

⑤ HOLIDAY STRESS The holiday season is known to bring on stress in people. Did you know the same is true

for dogs and cats? Changing weather, guests and bustling activity around the house can all upset your pet’s comfortable routine.

It is important to keep your pet on their regular diet. The few days after a holiday are always an active time for veterinarians dealing with everything from simple stomach upset to major abdominal surgery. This is why it is important to keep holiday foods off the menu for pets, and to dispose of leftovers, especially bones, in a manner that won’t tempt Sparky to get into the trash.

Foods are not the only problem for pets.

Holiday plants, decorations, toys, ribbons … all the trappings of holiday fun can be dangerous when adequate care is not used.

For a list of toxic plants, visit the ASPCA’s website, and see if there is something around you house that may cause for concern.

We love our pets, and think of them as members of the family. Show them you appreciate them and help them make it safely through another long, cold winter. €

ABOUT THE AUTHOR COADY HAGA

is a veterinarian at AniMed Veterinary Hospital in Hubert. Visit AniMed on Facebook or their website at animedinc.com.

CarolinaSalt.com » November 2021–February 2022 CAROLINA SALT 25

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A MOMENT OF REFLECTION

PAUL ORTIZ

WHAT’S MISSING? AN ISLAND CHURCH PERSPECTIVE

I

was thinking about all the effort that goes into a church service in this modern age which we live. There is a lot of planning around music, media, the worship atmosphere, sermon illustrations, props, etc. This really caught my attention a couple of months ago. I was on YouTube working through my worship playlist when on the side menu, something caught my eye. An advertisement for a video titled, “Top 20 Worship Fails.” I thought it would be fun and clicked to watch. Honestly, at first it was really funny. I noticed all the effort going into performances only to have them fail in the most hilarious ways. But the more I watched, the more I was gripped by this feeling of ... what has the church service become?

There were a lot of wild and colorful backgrounds, scores of musicians, lights, people dancing, bobbing up and down along to the music, video and media elements all throughout. What started out as something that was funny, left me feeling heartbroken and weary. God had set me up to think I was going to be entertained and instead left me convicted.

All this effort to get people into church and then keep them in church is a problem. It creates in us a consumer approach to church attendance. What’s in it for me? Does this church have the music I like? Does this church have the programs my family is looking for? Does this church teach in a way that is going to leave me feeling good or entertained? Does this church have all the bells and whistles?

When we read the New Testament, we don’t see any of this needed for the church to be established. Some will say, “But Jesus performed signs and wonders; that’s why He was able to draw so many people.” Jesus also rebuked people over signs and wonders as recorded in Scripture: Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe. JOHN 4:48 Sure, we have the music, the props, the atmosphere, the programs, the bells and whistles—but what’s missing? I believe it is the Spirit of God, Jesus in us. In the Book of Acts, we see the amazing beginnings of the church and what’s interesting to point out about it is that NONE of these things were present.

Jesus had told His followers to go into Jerusalem and wait until the Helper, the Spirit of God comes. Here is what happened after the Spirit of God, “Jesus in us,” came. The apostle Peter stood up in the middle of Jerusalem and preached what probably was a 10 to 20-minute message that was inspired by the Spirit of God. The results: They were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”

And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ACTS 2:37,40,41 Over the course of the weeks that followed, the early church grew to nearly 20,000 people throughout Jerusalem. They didn’t need all the gimmicks we employ today. All that was needed for this to be accomplished was God’s Spirit. I think that’s what is missing from the modern church. I think that is also what is missing in so many of our lives. We live our lives powerless working in our effort, our own power, our own talent, our own resources, and our own strength. That is not to say, we can’t use any of those things for the glory of God, but it is by His direction and according to the prescription laid out in His Holy Word.

So, what is missing from the church? What’s missing from our lives? I believe it is the power of God that is made real through His Spirit, Jesus in us.

His presence is what is needed to see the world changed. His Spirit, Jesus in us at work in us as we surrender our prescriptions of what we want the church to be for His holy work.

That’s not to say these things can’t be used within a church service. I am not a legalist, but let the Main Thing, be the main thing… Jesus the Christ!

His Power working in and through it all. € 34 CAROLINA SALT November 2021–February 2022 » CarolinaSalt.com

THE ISLAND CHURCH PASTOR PAUL ORTIZ

Paul Ortiz is a follower of Jesus Christ, not religion. A husband and father, he is pastor of The Island Church in Emerald Isle. Reach him at paul@TheIslandChurchEI.org

CAPTAIN JEFF CRONK

HOOKED UP FISHING REPORT

REELING IN THE NEW YEAR 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 W I N T E R

W

inter can be tough for fishermen but it typically offers some mild days that make for a great time on the water! We have a few species that remain along the Crystal Coast regardless of how cold it gets and they must eat!

Due to cold temperatures, fish will be schooled up, and anglers will want to focus their efforts in the right areas during the right conditions.

SPECKLED TROUT

Many of our larger speckled trout will move into up river situations during the winter months. They will migrate through the main channels up our rivers, into the deeper protected creeks off our rivers and into smaller creeks or canals along the mainland sounds and ICW. There will still be many smaller trout with some keeper-sized fish mixed in along the deep channels and creeks near our inlets as well as the surf zone. Certain baits work well in areas with current, and others work better in areas with little to no current. A general rule of thumb is to go light—trout seem to respond more aggressively to baits that have long suspension times. I like to use Mirrolure’s sinking twitch baits or ¼-oz. to ₃⁄₁₆-oz. jig heads with my Gulp baits or soft plastics while fishing the channels and creeks closer to our inlets that have currents. These heavier baits sink quickly while the current sweeps them along the bottom.

When I move into upper creeks or canals I often scale down to ₁⁄₁₆-oz. jig heads. Some of my favorite soft baits to put on my jig heads include: Berkley Gulp 3" and 4" pearl white/ chartreuse Shrimp, 4" Smelt Minnow, 5" Jerkshad in pink or white and Berkley Powerbait’s 3" Pro Grub. My favorite pre-weighted soft bait is Bett’s Perfect Sinker Shrimp. These baits have a slow descent and I’ll usually allow a one-second pause between twitches for every 2 feet of depth. All of these baits will produce vicious strikes from speckled trout.

REDFISH

Alyssa Cronk with a big December black drum.

When looking for redfish this season, anglers should focus on the surf zone when we have sunny days with breezes from the north through the west. The surf will lay down flat, allowing anglers to approach the surf zone by boat, while sunny skies will allow anglers to see through the water and spot schools of redfish moving along the surf. Once located, these fish will usually strike any soft bait cast into the school. I like a ½-oz. jig head tipped with a Berkley Gulp 4" Shrimp or a 4" Minnow. When we have multiple warm days, some of these schools will move through the inlets and scour the shallow flats and bays behind our beaches in search of food. So anglers can also spend time on the trolling motor quietly moving through these shallow bays looking for them. Once located, it’s usually no problem to hook up with plenty of reds ranging from 16 to 28 inches. It’s important to use little to no weight with your baits because most of the shallow flats will have a thick, green algae covering the bottom during winter months. I like to rig a 4" pearl white/chartreuse Gulp Shrimp on a ₁⁄₁₆-oz. jig head or a 5" Smelt Gulp Jerkshad on a weightless hook (weedless). Whether you’re looking for trout or reds this season one thing is true: the weather may slow many anglers down but these fish must eat! If you put the time in you can have a successful fishing trip.

BLACK DRUM

FISH’N 4 LIFE CAPTAIN JEFF CRONK

leads fishing and nature charters on the Crystal Coast. To get out on the water with him, call 910-325-8194. You can also visit him online at nccharterfishing.com. youtube.com/user/carolinafishingtv

One fish often overlooked during the winter months is the black drum. Many of the smaller black drum under 5 pounds remain in our backwaters and along the surf throughout the winter months. These fish provide a great battle on light tackle and are excellent on the dinner plate too! Anglers looking to target black drum during these cold months should focus on deep water structure. I personally like to target area bridges, deep-water shelly bottoms and deep-water docks. Deep canals close to the beaches and river mouths are also great.

These fish are not picky, and often the best bait is simply some fresh shrimp on a bottom rig or Carolina rig. It’s important to use 15 to 30-lb. braided line and a 25 to 40-lb. leader as a 5-pounder can easily fight its way back into the structure and break you off.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PENN® SPINNING BATTLE III REELS I’ve been putting Penn’s Battle Spinning Reels to the test for many years and have been extremely impressed with their durability and performance. But one thing I love about Penn is that the company is always striving to create and utilize new technology to make their products even better! By matching their proprietary CNC Gear™ Technology, HT-100™ carbon fiber drag system and a Full Metal Body, the Battle III has the guts and drag to handle serious abuse. Check out the Battle III spinning reel online at pennfishing.com. €

CarolinaSalt.com » November 2021–February 2022 CAROLINA SALT 35

DISCOVERY DIVING

LEE MOORE

DIVING OUR COAST W H AT ’ S U N D E RWAT E R I N W I N T E R + S P R I N G

T

he water temperatures in November will still be in the 70s, but as the winter months progress, the water temperatures will be getting down to the low 60s. The offshore wrecks will occasionally see water temperatures that could be in the mid to upper 70s when eddies from the Gulf Stream bring warm water closer. Sand tiger sharks will be found on the offshore wrecks like the Papoose and on the wrecks like the Naeco, which are further offshore, because the water is warmer there.

The air temperatures could range from the 30s to the 60s during this time period. Most dive boats that run charters year-round have an enclosed cabin or have a way to close off the cabin to maintain a warm area for the divers.

Those that do not like to dive during the winter months, but want to increase their diving abilities by learning new skills can still take classes. A class that doesn’t require any dives is the Enriched Air class, commonly called Nitrox Class. Enriched air was created to allow divers to stay underwater for longer amounts of time compared to air for the same depth. This is accomplished by having a higher percentage of oxygen in the gas mixture the diver is breathing instead of the standard 21% that is in normal air. This is a one-day class where you will learn about the basics of enriched air and how to calculate dive times using dive tables made for enriched air. There is a two-part final exam after the lecture portion of the class. The skills of the class are the analysis of enriched air tanks and the recording of the analysis in the log book. These skills are something an Enriched Air Diver will have to do every time they rent an enriched air tank or have their tank filled with enriched air.

Another class that doesn’t require any dives that can increase your skills is the DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) course. This is a four-part course that teaches you about first aid, CPR, AED use, neurological assessment, oxygen provider, and hazardous marine life injuries. This class isn’t a diving certification, but the last section is geared towards divers.

DAN DEMP prepares you for the Rescue Diver class. Divers and non-divers can take this class to learn new skills or refresh skills they have previously learned. The classroom portion is a short review for each section, skills practice for each section, and a final exam for each section. The book and the videos are online, which enables the student to learn and study at their own pace.

Each section has review questions that the student answers to help them learn the information and prepare them for the final exams.

If you are interested in diving the wrecks of the Crystal Coast, taking the Enriched Air Nitrox class or the DAN DEMP class, contact Discovery Diving at dive@discoverydiving.com or 252-728-2265. Like us on Facebook to see what other classes and events are coming up in the near future. €

JOIN DISCOVERY CONTACT

Discovery Diving at 252-728-2265 or visit them on Facebook to see what classes and events are coming up. You can also visit them online at discoverydiving.com.

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