LakeLife Lake Gaston Summer 2020

lakelife

SUMMER 2020

Lake Gaston

CATCHING

waves

WILDFLOWERS

of Lake Gaston

COMPETITION

style pork barbecue

Story Properties SALES • INVESTMENTS • RENTALS

LARGEST

vacation rental property company on Lake Gaston!

By Boat or By Land DOCKING AVAILABLE 1876 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton, NC 27850

Across from Eaton Ferry Marina and Pointe Restaurant

Original LKG Store© Looking for someone to manage your property as a vacation rental?

Call Beth at Story Properties!

Office Cell: 252-813-5507 • Sales & Rentals: 252-586-0888 Email: storyproperties@gmail.com Lake Gaston Real Escapes • Licensed in NC & VA

VISIT US ONLINE • www.storyproperties.com • www.LakeGastonHomesForSale.com 2

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

inside LakeLife Lake Gaston | Summer 2020

5 Turning tragedy into hope

40 Competition-style pork barbecue

13 Catching waves

46 Life on the farm

18 Summer wildflowers of Lake Gaston are everywhere

50 Revolutionary War patriot lived at Lake Gaston

29 Summertime Snapshots

61 Looking Back

35 Owls of Lake Gaston

LakeLife Lake Gaston is published quarterly

by Womack Publishing Company and Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer.

Ad Executive: Heather Abbott ads@lakegastongazette-observer.com 252-213-3520

Photographers: Ivan Richardson, Nancy Clayton Moorefield, Adam Foreman, Jennifer Harris and Luci Weldon

Graphic Design: Amanda Meadows

Writers: Joanna Buck, Lea Beazley, Adam Foreman, Kellen Holtzman and Luci Weldon

LakeLife Design: Hope Callahan

Cover Photo: Ivan Richardson

LakeGastonGazetteObserver

@lakegastongo

Page 3 Photo: Ivan Richardson Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer 378 Lizard Creek Road Littleton, NC 27850 252-586-2700 lakegastongazette-observer.com Š 2020 Womack Publishing Co. lakelifelg

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 3

You’re close to feeling better.

Online

Everyday illnesses

Urgent Care Minor injuries & ailments

Vidant Health offers everything from convenient online doctor visits and local specialty clinics to quality emergency care at every Vidant hospital. So no matter where you are or what type of care you need, with us, you’re always close to feeling better.

Caring for you online with VidantNow, locally at our urgent care and specialty clinics, and at Vidant North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids.

VidantNorthHospital.com/CareLocal

4

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

ER

Life-threatening conditions

Turing tragedy into hope

By Ruth Richey

STRENGTH

In the middle of an ordinary life, the extraordinary happened and I found out how strong we are

O

n Bob and Sherry Herzing’s last trip to the Pocono Mountains, they fell in love with a yard ornament that now greets visitors to their home with a poem titled “Strength.”

After returning from that vacation, Sherry has truly discovered her strength, and she’s using it to save lives in her community.

Sherry Herzing is the founder and director of the LKG 911 Community Task Force, which was formed to raise awareness and save lives. A tragic event in Sherry’s life called her to service to alert rural area residents of the shortfalls in 911 emergency services.

Growing up in St. Louis, the Herzings were high school sweethearts who got married, raised two children and moved to a rural community in Lake Gaston after he retired from his 22-year career as a senior chief electronics technician in the Navy.

“He proposed to me, and we got married when he came home from boot camp,” Sherry recalled. “When he retired he was like,

okay, now it’s my turn to take over the household. He took over the cooking and caring for the children, and he was such a support to me.

I had a really good friend that used to tell me Sherry, you’re spoiled, and I used to say I am not spoiled. Bob and I do things together and for each other.”

“I was working three jobs when Bob retired. I was a manager of a surgeon’s office and doing billing for the same doctor as well as doing consulting for a medical management group,” Sherry told a visitor recently as she sat cross-legged on the sofa at her lakefront home in Brunswick County, Va. When Sherry awoke on a beautiful day in August 2018, Bob had already slipped out quietly to help a neighbor build his deck. Her 4-yearold grandson, Grayson, slept peacefully in the next room, looking forward to the afternoon trip the three had planned aboard their boat on Lake Gaston.

That peaceful morning, however, was suddenly shattered when Sherry received a call from a neighbor saying her husband had passed out. As she raced next door to see what happened, SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 5

a neighbor intercepted them and took young Grayson to her house.

When she arrived, two neighbors were frantically performing CPR and trying to call 911 for assistance while Bob lay prone on the ground until the ambulance arrived 48 minutes later.

On the way to the hospital, Sherry knew the news was bad. A neighbor had called their children to meet them at the hospital.

“When the kids walked into the hospital there was no easy way to say it,” Sherry said. “Bob’s last words were ‘I think I need to sit down’ right before he collapsed.”

Bob died at the age of 64 on Aug. 27, 2018.

“We had a lot of family here for a few days, and then after everybody went home, I think my son ended up staying for two weeks,” Sherry said. “I finally had to kick him out. When you lose somebody, at some point you just want to scream and say everybody, just leave me alone for a while.”

The next few months are still a blur, as she grieved and worried about the things that Bob had handled such as winterizing their home and car care. “That was the hardest thing for me, and it is still hard for me. It’s funny, the little things in marriage that you took for granted and now realize it was something really special.”

“About six months after Bob died, I called my friend and said yes, I was spoiled because I just didn’t realize how much he did for me every day,” Sherry said.

During this time, she read a newspaper article where Brunswick Sheriff Brian Roberts related details about how long it took for responders to arrive on the day that her husband died. “That was the first time it really dawned on me that everything went so wrong.”

A few months later, Sheriff Roberts also told the Lake Gaston Ladies Club about the delay in responding to the 911 call about Bob Herzing’s medical emergency.

Roberts also went on to say that he had recently done an experi6

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Providing peace of mind with insurance for your home, vacation home, auto, PWC and business...

Let’s Make Your Lake Gaston Dreams a Reality

Scott Watson Citizens Insurance & Bonding Co., Inc. 116 N. Main Street Warrenton, NC 27589 P.O. Box 359

Rebecca A. Harris Agent & President

Phone (252) 257-3125 Fax (252) 557-3497 citizensinsurance1897@gmail.com

Serving the community since 1898

REALTOR®/BROKER

swatson@cbadvantage.com swatson.cbadvantage.com

2391 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton, NC 27850

804-840-4630 cell • 252-586-2470 office Top 15% of All Coldwell Banker International Sales Associates in 2019

The areas perfect one-stop-shop that has it all: unique and elegant home furnishings and décor, seasonal gifts, collectibles and specialty food items.

Offering wine tastings while you shop!

Rivertown

STORE HOURS: MONDAY-WEDNESDAY: BY APPOINTMENT THURSDAY-SATURDAY: 10:30A - 5:30P 933 ROANOKE AVENUE | ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC | 252-541-3667

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: @RIVERTOWNCONSIGNMENTS SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 7

WARRENTON FURNITURE EXCHANGE, INC. Appliances, Mattresses, Televisions, Area Rugs & More

Professional Heating and Air Conditioning Services www.lakegastonhvac.com

CALL PAT FOR ALL YOUR HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS! Servicing All Makes & Models

• Preventative Maintenance Plans (PMP) • Licensed & Insured in Both NC & VA • 0% Financing Available For Trane Equipment Purchases CALL US NOW

434-262-4586 252-776-3246 OR EMAIL

pat@lkghvac.com for a FREE equipment replacement quote

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DISCOUNTS & SPECIALS

FREE DELIVERY!

0% FINANCING AVAILABLE - SEE STORE FOR DETAILS

115 E. Frankin St. • Warrenton NC

(252) 257-3693 Mon., Tues., Th., Fr., Sat. 8:30 am - 5:30 pm; Wed. 8:30 am - 12:30 pm 8

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Sherry Herzing regularly gives presentations at area club meetings. ment calling 911 on his cell phone from various locations around the county. Just like on the day that Bob Herzing died, cell phone calls were routed to the wrong county and state, and the calls could not be transferred to the correct county.

“I didn’t know he was going to speak about this, and he didn’t know I was in the audience,” Sherry said. “I just thought, this isn’t right. More people are going to die if this doesn’t change. I don’t know why I did it, but I got up in front of everybody at the meeting and said that was my husband. I said I don’t know what I’m going to do about it, but something’s going to change.

That day, 32 women signed up to help me.”

These volunteers formed the genesis of the LKG (Lake Gaston) 911 Community Task Force, which has grown to 86 volunteers and five committees that meet regularly.

Sheriff Roberts told Sherry she needed to educate herself and invited her to visit his office and the 911 call center. He also introduced her to Devon Clary, the 911 dispatcher who had raised concerns to the sheriff about the call delay on that fateful day. “We hugged and we cried. I thanked them for trying and for caring.”

She also visited the sheriffs and dispatchers from the other four counties surrounding Lake Gaston. “It blew my mind that every county was so appreciative. They said please come and please talk to us. I realized that they not only knew there was a big problem, but they wanted to fix it.”

“I think the biggest thing that I found out meeting with dispatchers and first responders is that they are working with minimum equipment, minimum training and minimum people,” Sherry said.

It also became apparent that there was very little conversation among the lake area dispatchers unless there was a problem. “When I realized that they didn’t even talk to each other, I thought our first step was to get them together. They were very reluctant to say a whole lot, and then they finally started talking.”

“Virginia has different rules than North Carolina and vice versa,” Sherry said. When the dispatchers started sharing information, they were able to help each other, including setting up call transfers between counties.

She also discovered that 911 centers lacked geographic data on Lake Gaston. Some localities did not even have paper maps, and many dispatchers had not even seen the lake.

First responders told her that they only knew the locations of a few boat ramps on Lake Gaston. The 911 Task Force has since identified more than 40 boat ramps, including private ramps.

The task force also found that the numerous bridges on the lake lack identifying information from the water.

Therefore, the task force is currently working to obtain detailed geographic data and signage to help better identify locations during water emergencies.

Homeowners associations, church groups and others on the lake have received presentations and 911 information packets assembled by the task force. The packets have useful information on posting reflective signage for home addresses and for calling 911 successfully in rural areas.

Basic first aid and CPR classes will be offered to groups in the future.

The task force’s hospitality committee is reaching out to express appreciation to the dispatchers, who are critical in emergency responses but often work behind the scenes. Gift baskets with goodies and snacks and appreciation luncheons have been hosted for the dispatchers who often bring in their own sleep cots, food and paper products to stay overnight in county offices during emergencies.

The task force is also pressing for job reclassifications for the dispatchers to boost training, pay and benefits, recognizing their importance as first responders.

As the task force continues to accomplish extraordinary things, it is also finding its political strength by urging elected leaders and cellular providers to invest in better technology to bridge the gaps in 911 services in rural areas.

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 9

Members of the LKG 911 Community Task Force help raise awareness to save lives by participating in community events.

“One of the dispatchers told me it’s been like it’s raining and we’re in a deep hole and we’re trying to climb out. Now it seems like that rain has stopped and we are getting ahead,” Sherry said.

“It’s very daunting and overwhelming, and I struggle a lot of days. We’re revamping and getting reorganized, and we’re training volunteers and doing orientations.”

Sherry’s children are proud of what their mother has accomplished.

“Thinking of others before yourself makes me

10

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

proud,” son Michael Herzing recently told his mother.

“I am inspired, and I know she will make a difference.

These actions are going to help many. She continues to teach me to be a better person long after I’ve left the nest.”

Sherry also believes her late husband would be proud.

“Bob always supported me in whatever I did,” she said. “He would look after me. He would say to me, I am so proud of you and what you’re doing, but he would also say take care of yourself.”

Over 35 years in the Roanoke Valley & Lake Gaston Area

Protect Your Investment With Quality Roofing Adding Value while providing energy efficiency.

“Work Done Right”

Services

Flat Roofs • Campers/RV Commercial • Residential

Providing

Warrenties, Lifetime Architectural Shingles, General Liability/Workers’ Compensation

Dan Williams Roofing NC/VA Licensed Contractor

Dan Williams (252) 532-6465

Scott Williams (252) 578-6900

Office: (252) 537-5042 | Fax: (252) 537-5077 danwmsroofing@gmail.com www.danwilliamsroofingncva.com SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 11

12

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Catching Waves

By KELLEN HOLTZMAN

J

ay Baker’s enthusiasm for wakesurfing is purely infectious.

For Baker and his WakeSurfNC disciples on Lake Gaston, the hip water sport isn’t merely a hobby. Not by a long shot. Getting hooked on wakesurfing with Jay can be life changing, and not just in an emotional sense.

“It sounds kind of corny,” Baker said. “But it’s true.”

Baker, who founded WakeSurfNC in 2009, attracts wakesurfers to Lake Gaston from all over North America, and beyond. Currently ranked No. 7 in the world in the masters division by the Competitive Wake Surf Association, the 59-year-old is a well-known figure in the wakesurfing community, whether from competing, instructing, or judging or driving boats in competitions.

“We have people from Sweden, Maldives, lots of people from Canada,” Baker said, “people from all over the U.S. Everywhere.”

Baker, who spent parts of his youth in both Southern California and Roanoke Rapids, is a big reason why. He has been promoting the sport on Lake Gaston since long before starting WakeSurfNC, having been attracted to the sport since its early days in the 1980s.

Back then he caught on to what was known as skurfing, which is considered a precursor to wakeboarding.

In wakeboarding, the participant in the water has his or her feet strapped into a board while being towed by a boat.

The major difference in wakesurfing is that the person lets

go of the rope after they’re up on the water, going several miles per hour slower than they would on a wakeboard, and surfs the wake the boat creates on a different style of board with no straps.

“Wakesurfing is more freedom,” Baker said. “It’s all about the feel, riding the wave.”

The rope is also shorter in wakesurfing, making for a more intimate riding experience. The wakesurfers are only 20 feet or less behind. That means people on the boat can interact with the wakesurfer, which makes it easier to get instructions, and more conducive for social media exploits for the younger crowd.

And it is tailor-made for family fun. That’s a huge part of its appeal.

“We’ve had generations on the boat,” Baker said. “We’ve had grandma, grandpa, down to the grandkids on the boat and everybody participated. We’ve had 70-year-olds surfing. We’ve had 5-year-olds surfing. What other sport can you do that?”

Baker believes it has become the top water sport in the world in popularity.

A Boatingindustry.com article from 2016 noted that the growth of wakesurfing led to a surge of sales in tow boats, not just from new boaters, but from ones trading in their boats for skiing and wakeboarding for inboard-powered ones better suited for wakesurfing.

Baker’s is a top-of-the-line Super Air Nautique G23, SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 13

14

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

complete with a WakeSurfNC logo on the side. Over the years, simply being out and about on the water, showcasing the sport has been the best form of advertisement for the business.

That’s how Christine Vacula, who started vacationing at Lake Gaston from New Jersey with her husband Craig about 15 years ago, learned about it in 2009, around the same time Baker started up the surf school.

“I said to my husband, ‘I don’t know what they’re doing, but I have to do that,’” Christine said.

Then, Baker was the only boat the Vaculas saw out there wakesurfing.

Two years later with curiosity peaking, Craig surprised Christine with lessons from Jay. That whole life-changing thing? Just ask Christine.

Baker wants you to let go of the rope by the end of the first lesson. Then, he has you hooked.

“On my first pull,” Christine said, “‘I was like, ‘Where has this been all my life?’”

By 2014, Christine had claimed a national wakesurfing championship in Georgia and a world title in Las Vegas in the masters division.

By April of this year, Christine and Craig had finally purchased a second home at Lake Gaston after years of staying with Jay on visits.

Now 49, Christine went from novice to champion, all after the age of 40, thanks to the help of Baker.

“When he is driving that boat or on the back of the boat doing lessons,” Christine said, “he is constantly watching every move you’re making.... I wouldn’t know how to do anything on my board if it wasn’t for him teaching me how to do it.”

The WakeSurfNC school also features instructors Trevor Fearson and Sharon Franklin. Fearson is a pro rider and spends his winters in Colorado teaching snowboarding while Franklin, also a top-ranked rider, lives near the coast and helps during the summer.

Baker has a knack for finding the right board for his students. There are a number of different styles of boards, coming in two main categories: skim and surf. WakeSurf NC stocks a full lineup of Floridabased company Phase 5’s boards while also offering free board demos throughout the summer.

Craig Vacula recently made a board switch himself with Baker, finding just the right fit.

Christine prefers the skim version, a smaller board with smaller fins.

She had done some ocean surfing before and water skied, but had never been a competitive athlete, making the love she found for wakesurfing all the more satisfying. Those water skies are collecting dust now, she said. If only she could have found wakesurfing sooner in life.

“The thought of being able to take (ocean surfing) out of the ocean,” Christine said, “and put it in freshwater behind a boat, and you can keep going and going and you don’t have to take a wave, surf it for

om gbykd.c n i l e d o rem 5 • ken@ 0 0 6 4 ykd.com 4 (434) 9 odelingb

m www.re

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 15

less than a minute. You can be behind a boat on freshwater and surf as long as you don’t want to fall.”

Christine fancies herself a lake person anyway, having grown up in a lake vacation sort of a family. That’s how she was introduced to Lake Gaston in the first place.

Wakesurfing has taken Baker as far away as Japan and all over North America. He returned to California only briefly after serving in the Army. Lake Gaston was home. He’s been here for good since 1987 and helped put the place on the map for wakesurfers.

Here, he said, you can venture out on the main part of the lake, but you can also surf a different cove every day for a month and still not cover them all.

“We’re spoiled here,” Baker said. “It’s a very big lake.

Calm water, deep water. I’ve been all over the world.

Lake Gaston is ideal. We have it made here. Until you go to other lakes, you don’t realize how good you have it here.”

Baker can be reached for lessons or other wakesurfing tips at 252-203-7000 or info@wakesurfnc.com.

WakeSurfNC is at 381 Cross Creek Court in Littleton.

16

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

What can you fit in a 100 year old Cotton Mill?

ANTIquE MALL

Featuring Over 50 Dealers

ArT & CrAfT GALLErY

Local & Regional Artists Including North Carolina Pottery

DESIGNEr OuTLETS

Featuring Women’s Fashions, Shoes & Handbags plus Linens, Housewares, Christmas Decor & More

furNITurE OuTLET

Featuring Furniture, Rugs & Accessories

OPEN DAILY 10 AM TO 6 PM 200 Mill Street, Weldon, NC 27890

252-536-3100 • www.riversidemill.net

Call Doug Ferrell Today!

252-676-1871 or 252-541-2332 1339 American Legion Road Roanoke Rapids, NC

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 17

Summer Wildflowers of Lake Gaston They Are EVERYWHERE!

By LEA BEAZLEY

S

ummer wildflowers are showing up in earnest all around Lake Gaston. They are everywhere ‌ in old fields and meadows, in roadside ditches, on rocky streambanks, in swamp edges, along the sandy lakeshore, in open woods, along wooded slopes, and in forest edges and disturbed areas around the lake.

The following pictures are some I have photographed during my past two summers here at the lake. They are listed in alphabetical order by common name, along with the identifying characteristics. I have also provided the scientific names for you botanists out there, as well interesting facts about each flower.

Azure Bluet,

Houstonia caerulea: This delicate, pale blue flower is relatively large when compared to the tiny leaves from which it grows. Look for this wildflower to first bloom in March and April when daffodils and other spring flowers are blooming in yards. It will continue flowering until August.

Blazing Star, Liatris pilosa:

Look for this flower blooming along roadsides from September to October. Notice its spiked cluster of ragged, reddish-purple flowers. Its many grass-like leaves alternate about every inch along the stem, with the upper leaves getting progressively shorter.

Blue Mistflower,

Conoclinium coelestrium: This eye-catching wildflower is made up 4070 tubular disk flowers that are cupped by pointed green bracts with burgundy tips. Its blooms attract large, colorful butterflies such as monarchs, painted ladies and common buckeyes. It blooms in both summer and fall.

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis:

My personal favorite, and by far one of the most spectacular wildflowers of the Lake Gaston area, the cardinal flower grows in small patches along streams and rivers. I discovered this one two summers ago blooming along a streambank, but haven’t seen it since. The “cardinal” in the common is a reference to Roman Catholic cardinals, whose bright red robes resemble the scarlet red color of the flowers.

Carolina Horse Nettle, Solanum carolanceae:

This star-shaped flower is typically white or lavender with bright yellow spines in the center.

Several flowers grow on each prickly flower stalk. It aggressively spreads by underground stems, forming large colonies. I found this one, along with several hundred others, blooming in an old cornfield behind my house.

Carolina Wild Petunia, Ruellia caroliniensis:

I saw this beauty blooming near our community boat ramp at the edge of the forest. This lavender to purple, trumpet-shaped wildflower has five fused petals that form a long tube then spread widely at the mouth of the flower into rounded lobes. Hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar of the showy flowers.

Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca:

This common plant grows along roadsides, old fields and in disturbed areas. When its leaves or stem are bruised, it oozes a thick, bitter, milky liquid. Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed exclusively on the foliage of milkweeds, and the toxic properties of the plant transfer to the bodies of both the larva and the butterfly, giving it protection from predators.

Layers of Love, Did you say CAKE? TIERS OF JOY • Custom Decorating • Cakes • Pies • Baked Goods • Country Ham Rolls • Chocolates A LITTLE SLICE OF HOMEMADE HEAVEN!

J. B. Jones Bakery 1823 Blackridge Road • La Crosse, VA 23950 434-636-2243 • FAX 434-636-3847

MOBILE KITCHEN CONSULTANT IN HENDERSON!

1-5 DAY SPECIALTY KITCHEN UPDATES: 1 Day Wood Restoration • Cabinet Painting Redooring & Refacing • Custom Cabinets

FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATES Tammy Martin|Local Owner

252.432.6361

kitchentuneup.com Each franchise is locally owned and operated.

We Are More Than Just Pizza!

Check out our Pizza Boat, Saturday & Sunday, all summer long, call 252-678-3717!

Pizza & More Readers’ Choice Awards: • Best Pizza Thank you for • Best Sub • Best Wrap voting for us!

• Best Waitress

ORDER ONLINE TODAY!

lakegastonpizza.com

WEEKLY SEAFOOD SPECIALS HOURS Sunday-Thursday ............... 11AM-8PM Friday & Saturday ............. 11AM-9PM WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS

Located at Food Lion Shopping Center, Littleton, NC

252-586-8086 SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 21

Common Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale:

Like blazing star, this flower blooms from September to October. Notice the fan-shaped petals, each petal tipped with three lobes. The plant often grows in large, dense clumps and produces many flowers.

The plant’s dried leaves were once used as snuff and induced sneezing, hence “sneeze” in the common name. These were blooming on the edge of a gravel road near my house.

Purple False Foxglove, Agalinis purpurea:

Pink to purple in color, this trumpet shaped wildflower has pink or purple spots and pale-yellow stripes inside its whitish throat. It is semiparasitic, meaning it derives some of its nutrients from other plants by inserting its roots into them.

Green and Gold,

Chrysogonum virginianum: The long-lasting blossoms of this cheerful flower add a splash of yellow to rich, moist woods from early spring through fall. Its oval-shaped, deep green leaves with blunttoothed margins are key to differentiating it from other yellow wildflowers. A native to the eastern United States, it is often cultivated as ground cover.

LAKE COUNTRY MARINE LLC

Lake Gaston’s Premier Mobile Marine & Personal Watercraft Service

• Fully Equipped Boat and Truck Fleet to Handle All of Your On Dock Service Needs • Factory Certified in All Major Boat and Personal Watercraft Brands

voted best Mobile Marine Repair Service and Best Jet Ski Repair

• Mercury • MerCruiser • Sea Doo • Yamaha • Kawasaki • Honda • Indmar • Ilmor • PCM • And More!

Like us on E or visit us at www.lakecountrymarine.com

Now available at Lake Country Marine

883 Lizard Creek Road Henrico, NC 27842 252-629-2035 252-204-6366

Authorized Dealer • 100% made in the USA 100% Lifetime warranty • 100% bear proof

Come see us in our new 4000 sq ft retail, parts & service facility!

We carry a full line of parts, accessories, and water sports equipment SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 23

Jimsonweed,

Datura stramonium: Talk about a cool looking flower! I love the way its white, wavy-edged, pointed petals remind me of a whirligig! Notice the deep purple color inside the tube beckoning pollinators in. It’s a good thing it’s pretty, because it sure does stink! This is the reason the plant is also called stinkweed. All parts of it are poisonous, affecting the nervous systems of mammals when eaten, even killing livestock.

Morning Glory,

Impomoea purpurea: This wildflower can be white, pink, deep purple or variegated. When white, its trumpet-shaped flowers have a purple center. Aptly named, the blossoms open in the morning and last only one day, when they are replaced by round seed capsules. The genus name, Impomoea, is derived from the Greek words “like a worm,” referring to the twining growth of the plant.

Partridge Pea,

Chamaecrista fasciculata: The most distinguishing feature of this delicate yellow flower is its leaves. They are compound, long, delicate and featherlike; each alternately attached along the erect reddish main stem. The leaves fold up in direct sun. For this reason, it is also called sensitive pea.

Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens:

This plant has tubular flowers that are deep, rosy red outside and orange or yellow inside. Although not fragrant, the nectar attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Like the woodland sunflower, each pair of its evergreen leaves rotates at right angles to the next pair.

Purple Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata:

I love the exotic look of passionflower, with its elliptical flower petals beneath a fringed crown of wavy lavender filaments and purple band surrounding a white center. Another of its common names is maypop, for the popping sound the pod makes when squashed. Native Americans and early settlers ate the fruit or used it in drinks, ate the young greens, and used the roots for medicinal purposes. The fruit, called passion fruit, is still used in beverages.

White Clover, Trifolium repens:

This low-growing wildflower is commonly seen in lawns across America. Its whitish flowers are often tinged with a bit of pink or cream. It was introduced to North America from Europe and has found a home in lawns across North America. It attracts a number of butterfly species, including skippers, blues, sulphurs, and hairstreaks, and is an excellent forage plant for wildlife.

Woodland Sunflower, Helianthus divaricatus:

This plant can grow 5 to 7 feet tall. The daisy-like flower has a central stem that becomes branched where the flowerheads occur. Each pair of widely spreading opposite leaves rotates at right angles from the pair of leaves below. Rabbits browse on the foliage of seedlings and lower leaves of mature plants, while the white-tailed deer chomps off the stems and upper leaves of mature plants.

Yellow Crownbeard, Verbesina occidentalis:

The flowers of yellow crownbeard grow in ragged flat clusters made of 2-5 petals unevenly spaced around a yellow center. The long leaves are broadly lance-shaped with small-toothed margins.

Notice how the long leafstalk extends downward.

Hopefully, that’s enough information about summer wildflowers to pique your interest. Grab the kids or grandkids right now and get outside to see what is blooming in your neighborhood. You’ll enjoy being outdoors and doing something a little different as a family.

Your one stop shop for

life on the lake!

Grills & Accessories Live Bait & Fishing Gear Outdoor Furniture Flags Cornhole Supplies Power Tools Paint Propane Refills Bulk Mulch & Pinestraw

Now doing NC Fishing and Hunting Licenses!

FREE Delivery to the entire Lake Gaston region!

144 Elams Road Littleton, NC 27850 (Near Food Lion Shopping Center)

(252) 586-0330

lkgace@gmail.com Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm

111 Wicker Court Roanoke Rapids

252-537-2995

800-552-8785 • thebayberryinn.com 800-552-8785

thebayberryinn.com

Let Us Make Your WaterCraft Dreams Come True in a New SYLVAN Pontoon powered by a YAMAHA outboard!

On Site Boat Service We Make House Calls

FRED’S BOAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU

www.fredsboats.com steve@fredsboats.com

Serving The Lake Gaston Area For Over 30 Years

SaleS & Service Roanoke Rapids 252-308-6898

4110 Hwy. 158, Roanoke Rapids, NC Hours: M-F 8-5 SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 27

Come Rest With Us!!

REWARD LIKE AN

INVESTMENT. Discounts up to 12% available for Landscapers and Homeowners!

Financing is available.

Wright Mid-Mount ZTO TM Wright’s engineering has technology fully optimized in their design. The large ZT 3400 series transaxles make the ZTO strong, fast, light, and the most agile mid-mount Z in its class.

• Reliable Kawasaki Engines • Integrated parking brake that engages when levers are opened (spring position) • Undercarriage cage to protect Hydro Transmission and filters • Above average fuel capacity (14.5 gal) for its class • Forward speed up to 10.5 mph • With larger ZT 3400 Hydro-Gear ® Transmissions (compared to the competition 3100 series) • Come by for a free demonstration on any of our standers or zeroturns

@ SHELL FURNITURE

WE ARE OPEN

Now is the time to buy patio and outdoor furniture.

Come in and check out our super low prices.

931 Roanoke Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, NC 252-541-2222 • Greg Edwards, Owner

Lakeland Pier & Boathouse Company, Inc.

ByResidents Lake Residents

By Lake Since 2009

EXPECT QUALITY FROM START TO FINISH

VISIT YOUR LOCAL WRIGHT SALES AND SERVICE DEALER

LITTLETON HARDWARE

Authorized Dealer and Service Provider for Wright Mowers 214 East North Main Street, Littleton, NC 27850 252-586-4714 • Mon-Sat 8AM-5:30PM

THE WRIGHT WAY TO MOW! 28

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Design, Construction, Additions, Repairs, Boatlift Installation and Service

252-586-6500 www.lakelandpier.com

NC License #76826 • VA License #2705058049

PHOTOS BY: NANCY CLAYTON MOOREFIELD

Snapshots

Summertime

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 29

Keep in Touch With What’s Happening at lake Gaston Subscribe to the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer today for only $56 per year for Halifax, Warren and Northampton, NC and Brunswick and Mecklenburg, VA. $74 in all other areas.

lake Gaston Gazette-observer Name: ______________________________________________ Street: ______________________________________________ City: ___________________ State: ________ Zip: ____________ Phone: _____________________________________________ Email Address: _______________________________________ ❍

New ❍ Renewal

❍

❍

❍

❍

Card Number: ________________________________________ Exp Date: _______________________ vCode: ______________

56 $ 74 $

Only

Clip, mail or drop off this coupon: Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer 378 Lizard Creek Road, Littleton, NC 27850 or call 252.586.2700

/Year

in 5 surrounding counties

REad EEad YouR P PER Pa onlinE! 30

And

/Year

outside Lake gaston region

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Never miss an issue of the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer!!

View the Electronic Edition at www.lakegastongazette-observer.com ($44/Year)

Call 252.586.2700 today for details!

On The Lake

The Sign You WanT, The agenTS You need!

Denise Allen (252) 213-2532

Wayne Paynter (252) 213-1331

Barney Watson (252) 532-3274

Stephanie Gainey (252) 578-3494

Kenneth Dail Jr. (804) 731-6687

Darin Kerr (252) 578-8494

Forrest Alston (252) 532-7694

Susan Gordon (252) 578-1195

Doug & Marcia Kerr (252) 678-2100

2105 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton, NC

On The Lake

252-586-7257 www.OnLakeGaston.com SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 31

B-3 Alma Lynch....................................................... 1 B-2 Americamps ..................................................... 2 B-2 Anchorage ........................................................ 3 B-2 Ancor Cove ...................................................... 4 B-6 Arcadia ............................................................. 5 A-1 Baird-Martin ..................................................... 6 B-5 Bairds Point...................................................... 7 A-3 Barker .............................................................. 8 B-6 Beaver Creek ................................................... 9 B-4 Beach Ridge .................................................. 10 B-3 Beechwood .................................................... 11 A-1 Beechwood Estates ....................................... 12 C-6 Bluebird Point .................................................. 3 B-5 Blue Heron Park............................................. 14 A-2 Boyds Mill....................................................... 15 A-6 Bradley Acres ................................................. 16 A-2 Brandon Grove............................................... 17 A-4 Braswell ......................................................... 18 A-1 Breezy Acres .................................................. 19 B-6 Bridgewater Cove .......................................... 20 B-6 Buccaneer Point............................................. 22 A-2 Buckhead ....................................................... 23

32

C-3 Buck Springs.................................................. 24 B-4 Buggs Point.................................................... 25 B-3 Burwell Acres ................................................. 26 C-4 Canaan Shores .............................................. 27 A-1 Cannons Ferry ............................................... 28 B-5 Carolina Pines................................................ 29 B-5 Cedar Hill ....................................................... 30 B-5 Cedar Point .................................................... 31 A-6 Cedar Ridge ................................................... 32 B-6 Cedar Ridge ................................................... 33 A-2 Champion Forest ........................................... 34 B-5 Chamelon Heights ......................................... 35 B-6 Chestnut Hills ............................................... 36 B-6 Clear Water .................................................... 37 A-1 Cliffs on the Roanoke..................................... 38 A-5 Clyde’s Retreat .............................................. 39 A-1 Cold Spring Shores ........................................ 40 A-3 Colonial Estates ............................................. 41 A-6 Colony Club ................................................... 42 C-4 Cornerstone ................................................... 43 A-5 Country Clue Shores...................................... 44 B-6 Cover Manor .................................................. 45

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

B-3 Coventry......................................................... 46 B-5 Creekside Shore ............................................ 47 B-6 Crescent Beach ............................................. 48 B-6 Cross Creek ................................................... 49 B-6 Cross Cut ....................................................... 50 C-4 Deacon’s Point............................................... 51 C-4 Deercreek ...................................................... 52 B-6 Deer Haven .................................................... 53 A-6 Delbridge Estates........................................... 54 B-6 Dividing Line .................................................. 55 B-5 Dogwood Branch ........................................... 56 B-4 Dorothy Ellis Estates ...................................... 57 B-5 Dove Manor .................................................. 58 B-4 Eagle’s Cove .................................................. 59 B-5 Eagle Point..................................................... 60 C-6 Eastern Shores .............................................. 61 B-4 East Fork Plantation....................................... 62 B-4 Eaton’s Ferry Estates..................................... 63 B-6 Edwards Beach .............................................. 64 B-4 Elams Place ................................................... 65 C-5 Ellis Development .......................................... 66 A-6 Ellis Estates ................................................... 67

A-3 Eugene Clary ................................................. 68 B-5 Evergreen ...................................................... 69 B-6 Faulcon Dev ................................................... 70 B-5 Ferncliff .......................................................... 71 B-4 Fernwood Estates .......................................... 72 C-5 Forest Cove ................................................... 73 B-6 Four Season .................................................. 74 B-6 Fox Hollow ..................................................... 75 B-6 Fox Point ........................................................ 76 B-2 Fox Run ......................................................... 77 A-1 Friendly Acres ................................................ 78 B-3 Gaston Heights .............................................. 79 A-1 Granite Hall .................................................... 80 B-2 Great Creek Landing...................................... 81 B-6 Green Park..................................................... 82 B-2 Grover C. Baird Estates ................................. 83 A-4 Hammack ....................................................... 84 B-4 Happy Valley .................................................. 85 B-3 Harbor Landing .............................................. 86 B-5 Harrison ........................................................ 87 A-1 Hawks Nest Point........................................... 88 B-5 Heather Glen ................................................. 89

B-6 Heritage Pointe .............................................. 90 A-1 Hicks Hill ........................................................ 91 A-6 Hidden Acres.................................................. 92 B-3 Hillcrest Point ................................................. 93 A-1 Hinton Mills .................................................... 94 B-2 Holly Grove Estates ....................................... 95 A-6 Holly Hill Shores............................................. 96 B-3 Holly Trail ...................................................... 97 C-5 Hoot Owl Run ................................................ 98 B-4 Hunter’s Creek ............................................... 99 B-5 Indian Run.................................................... 100 B-4 Jack’s Landing ............................................. 101 A-1 Johnson ....................................................... 102 B-2 Joyceville ..................................................... 103 B-6 King Soloman’s Cove................................... 104 B-6 King’s Estates .............................................. 105 C-3 Lake Gaston Estates ................................... 106 A-6 Lake Gaston Estates.................................... 107 B-5 Lake Shores-N ............................................. 108 B-6 Lake Shores-S ............................................. 109 B-4 Lakeside....................................................... 110 B-3 Lakeview .......................................................111

B-5 Lakeview Estates (old) ..................

B-2 Lakewoods ....................................

B-4 Laura Woods.................................

B-3 Lazy Point .....................................

C-6 Lee’s Point ....................................

B-5 Little Emporia ................................

B-2 Little Ponderosa ............................

A-5 Lizard Creek..................................

B-2 Long Branch Shores .....................

B-6 Lookout Point ................................

A-6 Lost Cove ......................................

A-1 Lucy M. Shaw ...............................

B-3 Lyons Creek East ..........................

B-3 Lyons Creek Estates .....................

B-6 Mallard Bay ...................................

C-5 Mallard Point .................................

B-4 Maple Point ...................................

A-1 Maratuck .......................................

B-3 Mariners Cove...............................

A-1 Martindale .....................................

B-2 Matthews Manorwoods .................

A-1 Merrymount ...................................

tates (old) ................................. 112 ................................................. 113 s................................................ 115 ................................................. 116 ................................................. 117 a ............................................... 117 osa ........................................... 118 ................................................. 119 Shores .................................... 120 nt ............................................... 121 ................................................. 122 w .............................................. 123 East ......................................... 124 Estates .................................... 125 ................................................. 126 t ................................................ 127 ................................................. 128 ................................................. 129 ve.............................................. 130 ................................................. 131 anorwoods ................................ 132 ................................................. 133

B-4 Mill Creek Landing ....................................... 134 C-6 Mistipines ..................................................... 135 B-3 Moratuck Manor ........................................... 136 B-2 Morristown ................................................... 137 B-2 Moseley........................................................ 138 B-6 Myrick Estates.............................................. 139 B-2 Nocarva........................................................ 140 B-6 Nollwoods ................................................... 141 B-6 Northampton Heights ................................... 142 B-5 Northern Cove.............................................. 143 B-5 Northern Point .............................................. 144 B-4 North Shore Acres (1) .................................. 145 B-4 North Shore Acres (2) .................................. 146 B-5 Oak Grove.................................................... 147 B-4 Oak Ridge .................................................... 148 B-3 Old Bridge Point ........................................... 149 B-3 Olde Ferry Estates ....................................... 150 B-5 Osprey Point ................................................ 151 A-6 Paradise Point.............................................. 152 B-3 Pasture Gate ................................................ 153 A-6 Pea Hill Estates............................................ 154 A-6 Pea Hill Shores ............................................ 155

B-4 Pigeon Path ................................................. 156 B-4 Pigeon Roost .............................................. 157 B-3 Pine Bluff...................................................... 158 B-5 Pine Ridge Shores ....................................... 159 B-6 Pine View ..................................................... 160 B-6 Pinewood Acres ........................................... 161 B-5 Piney Point ................................................... 162 A-3 Piney Point ................................................... 163 A-3 Poplar Creek Estates ................................... 164 A-1 Portside ........................................................ 165 B-6 Powell’s Mill Point ........................................ 166 A-6 Poythress Estates ........................................ 167 B-5 Quail Ridge .................................................. 168 B-5 Red Bug ....................................................... 169 B-3 River Bend ................................................... 170 B-4 River Forest ................................................. 171 A-1 River Ridge .................................................. 172 B-5 Riverview ..................................................... 173 B-6 Roanoke Shores .......................................... 174 B-4 Roanoke Reserve ........................................ 235 B-3 Robinson Ferry Estates ............................... 175 B-5 Rochelle Cove.............................................. 176

A-6 Rock Island Cove ......................................... 177 B-4 Ross ............................................................ 178 C-4 Salmons Point.............................................. 179 B-5 Sandy Shores .............................................. 180 B-5 Sandy Trace ................................................. 181 C-4 Settlers Cove ............................................... 182 B-4 Shadowbrook Shores................................... 183 A-3 Slouan Shores ............................................. 184 B-2 Six on Sixpound ........................................... 185 B-4 Songbird View .............................................. 186 A-6 Southside Shores......................................... 187 B-6 Speckle Cove ............................................... 188 B-4 Spinnaker Point............................................ 189 B-6 Spring Garden Estates................................. 190 B-5 Springwood .................................................. 191 B-5 Stanleystone Estates ................................... 192 B-5 Starboard Point ............................................ 193 B-4 Sillwater ....................................................... 194 C-4 Stonehouse Acres........................................ 195 A-2 St. Tammy Landing ...................................... 196 B-2 Summer Place ............................................. 197 B-5 Summerwood ............................................... 198

B-5 Sunny Acres ................................................. 199 B-5 Sunset Point................................................. 200 C-5 Tangle Oakes ............................................... 201 A-2 Tanglewood Shores ..................................... 202 C-5 Thomfield Medlin ......................................... 203 B-2 Thornton Place............................................. 204 B-5 Timber Creek ............................................... 205 B-6 Timberline Shores ........................................ 206 B-2 Timbuctu ...................................................... 207 C-5 Triton Point................................................... 208 A-2 Tudor Estates ............................................... 209 B-3 Turkey Run .................................................. 210 B-5 Turtle Point ................................................... 211 B-4 Twin Oak Shores.......................................... 212 B-5 Two Creeks .................................................. 213 B-5 Walker Hill .................................................... 214 B-3 Warren Co. Acres ......................................... 215 B-6 Waterford ..................................................... 216 B-6 Watermans Point.......................................... 217 B-6 Webbs Gate ................................................. 218 B-3 West Winds .................................................. 219 B-6 Whippoorwill Hills ......................................... 220

B-4 Whispering Pines ......................................... 221 B-4 Whitby Cove................................................. 222 C-4 Whit-Locke Point.......................................... 223 B-5 Wildwood Point ............................................ 224 B-6 Wilkins Court ................................................ 225 B-2 Will’s Landing ............................................... 226 B-4 Wilsor Oak ................................................... 227 B-4 Wilsor Pines ................................................. 228 B-6 Windy Pointe ................................................ 229 B-6 Windward Shores......................................... 230 B-3 Woodhaven .................................................. 231 B-6 Woodlake Point ............................................ 232 B-6 Woodlanndhurt............................................. 233 B-4 Woodland Shores ........................................ 234

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 33

Tri-Lakes Flooring WE DO IT ALL! • Hardwood • Carpet • Luxury Vinyl Tile • Vinyl • Tile • Waterproof/Petproof/Lifeproof Flooring

SUMMER IS HERE, TIME TO GET YOUR PROJECTS DONE! Let Tri-Lakes Flooring help you!

We provide & install any type of flooring as well as backsplash, stone accent walls & wood plank walls.

Give us a call today for your free estimate!

Our customers appreciate our honesty, dependability, knowledge & commitment to quality service and products!

WATER PROOF

Residential & Commercial Sales FREE ESTIMATES & Professional Installation Hours: M-F 10-6, Sat 10-2

Serving the public with high quality products and services since 1984!

Insured • Lake Gaston Association Member • NFIB Small Business Member

CALL OR VISIT US SOON 252-629-2475 • www.TriLakesFlooringNC.com 100 E. South Main Street, Littleton NC 27850

34

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Who-cooks-for-you?

Who-cooks-for-you-all?

A Story About Owls of the Lake Gaston Area

Story by LEA BEAZLEY Illustrations by CONSIE POWELL

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 35

This story is about my fascination with owls, especially the barred owl, and a couple of amazing encounters I’ve had with them in the past. The beautiful artwork is generously provided by Consie Powell, wildlife illustrator, visual storyteller, and writer who occasionally writes and illustrates for “North Carolina WILD Notebook,” a monthly 4-page, full-color section for young readers in Wildlife in North Carolina magazine.

I love nature, especially owls, and I stop whatever I’m doing when I hear an owl call to determine if it is the “who-cooksfor-you; who-cooks-for-youall” call made by the barred owl. You see, I prefer barred owls over others, and the reason may be two positive encounters I have had with them. The most recent encounter occurred during a summer golf cart ride in the middle of the day about 3 years ago.

My husband, fatherin-law, and I were exploring the fields and forests behind our Lake Gaston home, simply enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. We crested a hill and were suddenly face-to-face with a large, beautiful barred owl resting proudly on a stump.

Overhead perched a second barred owl on a tree branch. Both o w l s saw us and flew off as we sat there in amazement at what we had just seen! For months after that encounter, every time we drove by that stump we looked for a barred owl.

Unfortunately, we haven’t seen one since.

Another really fun encounter I had with barred owls occurred in the early 1990s when I was working as a state park ranger at Lake Norman State Park in Trout36

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

man, North Carolina. One of my duties as a ranger was to lead nature programs. I decided to lead an “owl walk” one night for the folks staying in the campground. It was my first owl hike, and I wasn’t very good at imitating owl calls, so I had my boom box with me (y’all remember those, right?) so I could play a cassette tape with the barred owl’s distinctive call on it. (This is a naturalist trick. Owls are known to answer back, possibly because they think a rival owl has entered their area.)

The campground road was quite dark, and the participants had a heightened sense of awareness. The anticipation of what we might see and hear had us all amped! I think I was as excited about leading the walk as they were about participating in it!

We walked a short distance, stopped so I could play the call a few times, listened quietly for a response, then continued a short distance and repeated the process when my call got no response.

On my third try, WHAM! SUCCESS! Mama owl answered back with “who-cooks-for-you; who-cooks-for-youall,” and papa owl answered her back with the same call. It was awesome!

To our surprise, the next thing you know the whole family was in on the act! Several owlets, who hadn’t yet perfected their call, answered back. It was adorable! Instead of saying “who-cooksfor-you; who-cooks-fory o u - a l l ” they sounded more like infant monkeys, saying, “Oo-oo-oo, ah-ah-ah, ooeee.” We all burst into laughter at this silly surprise.

It was an unforgettable encounter.

Owls of Lake Gaston The four species of owls that inhabit the Lake Gaston area year-round are great horned owls, barred owls, eastern screech owls, and barn owls.

The great horned owl is the largest owl species in North Carolina. It is named for its two prominent ear tufts of feathers, which resemble horns. Its large glaring eyes are brilliant yellow, giving the animal a cat-like appearance. It stands 18 to 25 inches tall, weighs about 3.2 pounds, and has a wingspan of 54 inches. It preys on mammals up to the size of a woodchuck or skunk; birds up to the size of a Canada goose; and any size insect, reptile or amphibian.

It is found in woodland habitats statewide, including suburbia. Its call is a staccato, Morse-code hooting “hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo.”

The barred owl is named for its horizontal barring on its throat and upper breast.

Its large eyes are darkbrownish black, and set in a l a r g e , r o u n d h e a d t h a t lacks e a r tufts. Exceeded in size only by the great horned owl, it stands 17 to 20 inches tall, weighs an average of 1.6 pounds, and has a wingspan of 42 to 44 inches. It preys on small rodents, frogs, fishes, salamanders, crayfish, beetles, and crickets. Occasionally it takes birds as big as crows or grouse. Found statewide, it prefers swamps, floodplains and moist woodlands.

Despite its name, the eastern screech owl does not screech. Its call is described as a mournful whistle, a musical trill, or like the whinny of a small horse. It is a short, stocky bird, with a large head and almost no neck. Its wings are rounded, and its tail is short and square. It has pointed ear tufts

and stands approximately 8 to 10 inches tall. It weighs approximately 6 to 7 ounces and has a wingspan of 18 to 24 inches. It preys on mostly large insects and small rodents, sometime catching small fish. It generally favors deciduous or mixed woods but may be found in any habitat with open areas and some large trees.

The barn owl likely gets its name from the fact that it commonly roosts in human structures such as churches, steeples, and, of course, barns. It is primarily cinnamon to golden brown in color with a white heart-shaped face that is framed with golden brown feathers. It stands 12 to 16 inches tall, weighs 1 to 1.5 pounds, and has a wingspan of 39 to 49 inches. It preys on small rodents such as mice, rats, and voles. Occasionally, it will prey upon bats, rabbits, and other birds. Unlike many owls that let out a hoot call, the barn owl emits an eerie screech or high-pitched hissing call.

The next time you are sitting around the campfire at night, take special notice of that hooting sound you hear. Is it the distinctive “who-cooksfor-you; who-cooks-foryou-all” call of the barred owl, the Morse-code “hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo, hoohoo” of the great horned owl, the musical trill of the eastern screech owl, or the loud hiss of t h e barn owl?

Better yet, make your own owl nest box.

Owl habitat is getting sparse, and barred, screech, and barn owls use nest boxes. Directions for building owl nest boxes are all over the internet, but one of the sites I found where I could download a pdf file of barred owl box plans is: owlpages.com/ download/Nest_Box_ Plans_for_Barred_ Owls_by_Michael_ Cantwell.pdf

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 37

FUN FACTS ABOUT OWLS Owls have so many amazing adaptations and abilities that I could write an entire book on the topic.

Instead, because Consie explained them so well when she wrote about them in the October 1997 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina, I’m going to share what she wrote verbatim: North Carolina’s Silent Hunters Have you ever wondered how a nocturnal predator can hunt in the inky dark of night?

Large eyes collect more light than small eyes, and the huge eyes of owls enable them to see exceptionally well in the dark. Owls have excellent binocular vision because, like human eyes, owl eyes face forward. This enables an owl to judge with incredible accuracy the size and speed of its prey and the distance it must fly to reach it.

Owls’ hearing is so remarkable that some owls locate prey by sounds alone, and all owls use hearing as much as they use sight. The ears are large openings hidden behind the stiff circle of feathers around an owl’s eyes. This facial disk is actually an extension of the ears, and it acts as an antenna dish to trap, concentrate and funnel sounds to the ear openings.

After detecting prey by carefully watching and listening from a perch, an owl swoops down, glides silently and captures its prey with outstretched talons. It kills the prey with a bite to the back of its neck, then carries it to the perch to eat. Small prey are swallowed whole; large

38

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

prey are torn into smaller pieces.

An owl cannot digest all parts of the prey it swallows. Hair, feathers and bony materials are regurgitated as pellets eight to 12 hours after an owl eats a meal.

What Do Owls Do When They’re Not Hunting?

During the day, an owl rests on a roost and digests the food it caught the previous night. An owl uses the same roosting spot day after day.

This roost might be a crevice, a natural cavity in a tree, or a tree branch, but the owl chooses a roost that is well hidden and protected from the weather. The owl’s coloration and the broken patterns of light and dark feathers help camouflage it while it roosts.

Fabulous Feathers Owls are amazingly quiet as they pursue and capture their wary and elusive prey. Soft body feathers muffle movement noises, and a soft fringe on the edges of flight feathers eliminates the gentle whistle of flying. This enables the owl to listen to its prey as it flies and eliminates any noise the prey might hear.

Why Do Owls Hoot?

Owls hoot for the same reasons as other birds sing. During autumn, owls call frequently as the establish hunting territories. In late winter or early spring, different calls attract a mate. During courtship, a pair of owls sings duets to acknowledge and cement their acceptance of each other.

After a female owl accepts a mate, the pair selects a nesting site together. Depending on the species, owls choose a tree cavity, an old

woodpecker hole, or an abandoned hawk or crow nest. The female lays several eggs two to four days apart and begins incubating as soon as the first one is laid. During this time the male hunts, feeds his mate and defends the nest against intruders.

Owlets Incubation of owl eggs takes from 21 days for small owls to 35 days for large owls. Hatching is staggered, so owlets of different ages share the nest. The father owl hunts and brings food that the mother strips into bits for the various chicks. When the chicks reach 2 to 4 weeks of age, both parents hunt; by then the youngsters are covered with fluffy down and can keep themselves warm. After the fast-growing owlets shed their down feathers, they look much like their parents, but they cannot fly until their wing and tail feathers are fully developed.

Until then, they hop from branch to branch or on the ground as they exercise and strengthen their wings.

Both parents continue to feed owlets even after they learn to fly because it takes months of practice for them to become skillful hunters. Young owls are finally on their own by autumn, but only 50 percent of owlets survive into adulthood. The others die while young, mostly of starvation.

Look Behind You Owls cannot move their eyes in the sockets, so an owl raises, lowers or turns its entire head to see sideways. An owl’s neck is so flexible that it can turn its head completely around, or even upside-down, to look backward.

Licensed in NC & VA

Auto Home Boat Business Medicare Sup Life Motorcycle/ATV/ Golf Carts & RV’s

537-3525

155 Old Farm Road Roanoke Rapids, NC 27850

www.maddrey.com

SALES & SERVICE

RENTALS

Jet Ski

Jet Ski

Detail Upholstery

T-Shirts • Hats Accessories • Gift Ideas

Pontoon Pleasure Boats

Consignments

Grills • Cookers

POWERSPORTS

POWERSPORTS

ATV • Side x Side

UTV

252-586-8686

www.lakegastonjetski.com 417 Lizard Creek Road, Littleton, NC

COMING SOON Spring 2020

Grill-Billies at the Lake

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 39

COMPETITION -STYLE PORK BARBECUE for the backyard pitmaster

By ADAM FOREMAN

E

astern North Carolina has a certain stance when it comes to talking about barbeque.

In fact, the history of whole hog cooking in the region dates back to Colonial and preColonial times. One thing is for sure: to the tried and true Eastern N.C. barbeque afficianadoes, no other style compares.

But this is not the story of Eastern N.C. barbeque. To cook a whole hog calls for a celebration. A gathering where it is necessary to feed a lot of people, and this just isn’t the time to huddle up in masses around a pig pickin’. On a separate note, and with no intentions to 40

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

offend, not everyone enjoys the tang of pork soaked through with vinegar and red pepper flakes.

This is, on the other hand, instruction on how to cook barbeque that can stand alone, no sauce required. This is the story of a smoking pork butt to barbeque competition quality.

The only thing a pitmaster needs is several hours worth of hot coals and a good piece of meat. The product of those two ingredients alone can lead to a barkencrusted finished butt that can be pulled apart with spoons, exposing the smoke ring and glistening wellcooked pork.

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 41

TOOLS

CONSUMABLES It starts with selecting a pork butt, which is a specific part of the shoulder of the animal. The shoulder is broken down into two parts, the picnic or the Boston butt. The butt is normally larger than the picnic and has a different shaped bone. Ideally, the butt will have a medium size fat cap, the thick white fat on one side of the butt, and a healthy amount of fat striations, the thinner white lines running through the meat. Fat is flavor and at the temperature the meat is cooked to, that fat will melt, injecting the butt with moisture.

The next step in preparation is optional, but could be the step that takes the finished product to the next level.

In most competitive BBQ circles, everything gets injected.

For pulled pork, a good injection will include apple juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and a few tablespoons of the rub.

That leads into what the rub should be, and that’s up to the pitmaster. There are a lot of great rubs on the market, but it’s also easy to mix one up at home. The base is usually brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and chili powder.

42

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

While the barbecue is the spotlight, having the right tools is important. A smoker should be able to hold a temperature between 250 and 270 degrees Fahrenheit. A $100 Weber Kettle can cook a butt just as well as a $1,500 Big Green Egg. To power the smoker, a bag of lump charcoal and pecan and applewood chunks should do the trick. Most lump charcoal is made from oak, which provides a nice mellow smoke. Pecan and applewood chunks smolder better than wood chips and also provide a nice, mellow flavor. Mesquite and hickory can be overpowering, cherry wood is okay, but not the best for pork.

There are other exotic options out there; one of the most interesting and delightful flavors comes from using coconut husks, but they’re not always available, and better suited for chicken. After a few pounds of charcoal is lit and smoldering in the smoker, add the chunks and close the lid. The temperature will climb and the smoke will turn from a heavy grey to thin white.

To set up the smoker, obviously the charcoal is on the bottom with some kind of grate below it that allows air flow. On the bottom of the smoker, there should be an air intake control. Setting that control in tune with the air exhaust control on the top of the smoker is key to maintaining a steady temperature throughout the cook.

Above the coals should be a drip pan. This should be something like a nine-inch round cake pan filled with water and covered with aluminum foil. The foil should be depressed to catch the drippings without mixing with the water. When grease burns, it creates a bitter flavor in the meat. Above the drip pan should be the cook grate which the butt will sit on. It’s not a bad idea to add another container with water, which will steam off and add moisture to the air.

Other items inside the smoker could include a heat deflector between the coals and the cooking grate, and a temperature probe at grate level.

At any whole hog pig pickin’, there will be the token old-timers who will talk about how long it takes spit to dry or how long to hold a hand on the top of the smoker to determine how hot it is. They also like to talk about how you know the pig is done; the bones will move freely in the meat. There’s some merit in keeping with the old ways, tradition and all. The variables for error increase considerably.

PULL AND SERVE

COOKING

Controlling and reading the temperature of the smoker and the meat takes away the unknown variables. A smoker, even a cheap Weber Kettle, can be retrofitted with a temperature gauge, which should be located as close to the cooking grate as possible. Some gauges have indicator levels defining where smoking, barbecuing, and grilling happen.

For this cook, the ideal temperature will be between 265 and 275 degrees Fahrenheit at the grate.

An internal leave-in thermometer probe will tell the pitmaster the exact temperature of the meat.

The internal temperature of the meat is important to know exactly when it is perfectly cooked. At 165 degrees F, pork is considered done; it’s also when the meat won’t take any more smoke. To speed up the cook and build bark, the butt can be pulled off at 160 degrees and wrapped in foil. The leave-in probe should be reinserted to the meatiest part of the butt, and left to cook until the gauge reaches 203 degrees F. Throughout the whole cook, flip the butt every hour. Once the internal temperature reaches 203 degrees, all of the fat and cartilage essentially melt back into the meat, and at this temperature, the pork can be pulled with ease. Before digging in, like any other kind of meat, it’s important to let it rest. A low and slow style cook should include a low and slow cooling period, that’s why a lot of pitmasters will put the cooked butt, while wrapped, in an empty cooler for 45 minutes or longer.

Once the butt has rested for a while, the temperature will drop a bit and the juices kind of settle inside. Unwrap it in a large cake pan to save the drippings in the aluminum foil; this can be used in making BBQ sauce or just adding back into the meat when reheating later. Once the foil is removed, the butt can be pulled in the same pan, or transferred to a chopping block. This is a great time to take a short video. Honestly, the meat should be tender enough that it will break up just by pushing down on it, or pulling it apart with forks or spoons or hands.

For Eastern N.C.-style barbecue, this is when the pitmaster squirts it down with the vinegar sauce, which should at least be room temperature, if not heated up to meet the temperature of the meat.

At this point, enjoy at will. Serve with buns, cole slaw, pickled onions, an assortment of sauces, on nachos, in tacos, naked, or however the company sees fit.

Try a cup of butt. Put a few spoonfuls of baked beans at the bottom of a throw-away cup, top with a few ounces of bbq, a few squirts of sauce, and finish with a few spoonfuls of slaw. It’s a Southern style walking taco.

If there’s any left over, it should keep in the refrigerator for about a week, but it also freezes well.

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 43

- Add 2 tablespoons of the rub to the injection.

This helps build flavor from the inside out.

Side Sauce - This barbeque, when done correctly, shouldn’t need sauce, but to make the crowd happy, it’s best to provide options.

- At minimum in Eastern N.C., provide a bottle of original Sweet Baby Ray’s and an Eastern N.C. vinegar-based sauce on the side.

- Sauce options depend on the taste of the guests and the region where the barbecue is being served.

Ingredient list and everything else 1 Pork Butt or Picnic 1 ½ c. Dry Rub 1 c. Apple Cider ½ c. Apple Cider Vinegar ½ c. Olive Oil Barbecue Sauce for serving Aluminium Foil or Butcher’s Paper Insulated Cooler Leave-in Thermometer** (This is very important)

Ingredients and a little about them Selecting a butt, or picnic - Obviously the smaller the product, the faster it will cook.

- Take some time when selecting. It’s important to find a piece with nice fat striations running through the meat; fat is where the flavor comes from.

Making or purchasing a rub

- Though a rub is not necessary, it helps to build the bark and adds flavor.

- A typical rub will be made up of brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and extra spices like cumin, cayenne pepper, and chili powder.

The secret sauce

- Injections, also not necessary, but think of it like replacing moisture in the meat and adding steam that will permeate while cooking, keeping the meat moist.

- 1 cup of apple cider or juice, but stay away from anything low calorie or diet because it will add an off flavor to the finished product.

- Mix with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar and ½ cup of olive oil; these help tenderize the meat from the inside.

44

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

The cooking sequence For an average 8-pound butt, it takes about 10 hours of on-heat cook time. There are some tips to speed up cooking later on, but it’s safe to plan for at least 10 hours. Prep time depends on the grill or smoker, and it’s important to leave at least a half hour on the back end to let the butt rest.

The Night Before 1. Inject the meat the night before the cook, or give it some 6 hours in advance to really soak in there. To avoid a huge mess, place the butt bone side down in a big bowl while still in the plastic wrapper. Cut the top off, but leave the wrapper on the rest of it. Inject the meet as far as the needle can go in at about 6 different spots. Once the plunger is all the way down, slowly pull it out and try to use a finger to plug the hole in case the liquid wants to squirt out.

It’s normal to see the meat expand while it’s being injected and for some of the liquid to seep out from other injection spots, but the full two cups of liquid should fit with minimal runout.

Cover the exposed area with plastic wrap or aluminium foil and put the butt, while in the bowl, in the refrigerator.

2. Prep the grill or smoker. Clean it and make sure there is enough charcoal, pellets, wood chunks or whatever the heat source will be.

The Day Of 1. Pull the butt out of the refrigerator, cut the plastic wrapper off and flip around a few times in case any of the injection wants to run out. Place on a plastic cutting board and pat dry with paper towels.

The drier the butt, the crispier the bark.

2. Trim off any weird fat pieces or miss-cuts that might be hanging off the butt, but leave the squared off white fat cap.

3. Generously coat every side with rub and pat it in.

4. Start the smoker and give it time to get up to temperature, and the wood chunks and charcoal time to start smoldering without smoking too heavily. Clean whitish blue smoke is the goal, not heavy grey smoke.

5. Once the smoker is set up and at temperature, place the butt on the cooking grate above the drip pan.

6. Insert the temperature probe into the thickest, meatiest part of the butt, but away from the bone.

7. Flip every hour.

8. Once the butt reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, take it off of the smoker and wrap it in aluminum foil. It helps to lay two long pieces of foil

out beforehand in an X shape. That will help get every side wrapped.

9. Replace the temperature probe and put the wrapped butt back in the smoker. The temperature should start shooting up a little faster now, but it is still several hours away from being done.

At this point, some cooks might open up the vents and increase the temperature or even finish the barbeque in the oven.

10. Continue to flip every hour until the butt reaches 203 degrees F. At this temperature, most of the cartilage and fat have rendered, the bone should be loose in the meat, and it will easily fall apart.

11. Keeping the butt wrapped in the foil, place it into an empty cooler to rest for at least 45 minutes. The temperature gauge can stay in the butt and the internal temperature may rise a few more degrees. After 45 minutes or so, the temperature should fall just below 200.

12. Unwrap and pull it apart.

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 45

Life on the farm

By JOANNA BUCK

P

olly, John and Blackie, the three farm mules of my childhood. All different in color, wisdom and temperament. My favorite was Polly. She was not a large mule, red and the wisest and oldest of the trio. She was gentle, dependable and obedient. Slow and steady was her mantra. I often trucked tobacco with her, bringing full slides to the bench at the barn, where it was tied onto sticks. Returning to the field with an empty slide was often a treat for Polly and me.

I would run ahead of Polly and get apples or a watermelon. Smashing the watermelon on a rock, I would dive in nose first, then share big chunks with her. She quickly learned to stop when she reached me, for she knew a treat awaited. I don’t

46

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

remember treating John or Blackie. I reckon I didn’t think either of them deserved a treat.

John was a large brown mule, obstinate and not very bright. He could have been the poster boy for the adage “stubborn as a mule.” He never learned the difference between gee and haw, so I just had to tug the rein in the direction I wished him to go.

He still would often go the opposite way.

Much to my chagrin, the word “whoa” meant nothing to John. Sometimes rather than going down the middle between rows, he just as soon would take off right across the rows, leaving a toll of crop destruction in his wake.

When changing from a full slide to an empty one, John would have to back up so the single

SELL BUY RENT

SHOP OUR NEW GIFT SHOP! LOCAL ARTISTS ART WORK FOR SALE

Experienced Agents For All Your Real Estate Needs!

(252) 586-7600 To Browse for Any Lake Property Click Our EASY SEARCH Button at

www.VisitWaterfrontProperties.com Questions or Comments: wplakeinfo@earthlink.net 1698 Eaton Ferry Road, Littleton, NC 27850

Mobile 732-535-0171

Home Home Maintenance Maintenance andRepairs Repairs and

Deck’s• •Deck’s Patio’s Siding

Mark Rhodes, Rhodes, Owner Mark Owner

Bathrooms • Patio’s • Additions Basements

Garages

Service contracts available to keep your vacation home maintained all year long.

Tile & Hardwood FloorsMaintenance Lawn AndMore More and

Call Us For FREE ESTIMATES We Accept Major Credit Cards Locally Owned Business

Office Mobile

252-676-0691

SELF STORAGE UNITS AVAILABLE

The Salon & Gift Shop at Lake Gaston

• Color • Foil Highlights • Upstyles • And More 326 Lizard Creek Road, Littleton, NC • 252-676-1493

Fun YOUR

Fulsluyred In Office 252-676-0691

Tuesday-Saturday 9:30-4:00 Evenings and other times available by appointment

Cathy Rhodes, Hairstylist Mani and Pedi’s by Liza Brazilian Blowout Smoothing Treatments Redken & Brazilian Blowout Products Gift Certificates Available

Lake Gaston Starts Here

• Live Bait & Tackle Shop • Relaxing Atmosphere • Beach Area & Decks • Gas Docks • Boat Landing & Covered Slips • All Our Rentals Are Fully Equipped • Waterfront & Log Cabin Rentals • Premier Tritoons • Pontoons & Fishing Pontoons

STONEHOUSE TIMBER LODGE, INC. LAKEGASTONFUN.COM 154 Stonehouse Lodge Drive, Littleton, NC 27850 Phone 252-586-3012 • Toll Free 877-846-2379 Email: stllg@lakegastonfun.com

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 47

tree could be dislodged. When trying to reverse him, if the single tree hit the back of his ankles, he’d sooner than not kick the stuffing out of you. It only took once for me, a hard lesson well learned—a shod hoof right to my chest. Backwards I went sailing. Didn’t think I’d ever catch my breath. You can believe I never again let go of a single tree.

As Polly was aging out of farm work, she was put out to pasture, and Blackie was brought in as her replacement. He was a pretty mule, medium in size, sleek, fast and, you guessed it, black. But, oh Lord, what a mistake. He was from the get-go as wild as a buck and refused to be confined to a stable stall or sometimes even to a fenced pasture. He often kicked the stall door open, and, at other times, would just run right through the pasture fencing. His choice escape route

48

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

was right down the highway.

One day while eating lunch, we saw Blackie run past the window, already in high gear, a black streak long gone. Sonny Boy was charged with capturing the beast, while Daddy repaired the fence. I, of course, tagged along. I adored my older brother and was his shadow when he allowed. So the two of us hopped in the car, and the chase was on.

We spotted Blackie about half a mile from our house, and sure enough, right in the middle of the road. He luckily had slowed to a trot, and we were able to get a rope tied to his bridle.

Sonny Boy devised a unique plan for getting Blackie home. While he drove, I was to sit in the boot with the lid up and hold Blackie’s rope and lead him home.

That worked well for a short distance as Blackie trot-

ted along. For some unexplained reason, Sonny Boy began to accelerate. Faster and faster we rode, and faster and faster the mule ran. I was having trouble holding Blackie, so I wrapped the rope around my hand, braced my feet against the inside of the frame, leaned back and held on for dear life. Needless to say, that did not go well. After a few seconds, Blackie jerked me right out of that car, and I face planted right onto the pavement. Blackie ran right over me, miraculously stepping on me only once—across my shoulders.

As Blackie continued up the road, Sonny Boy stopped and helped me to my feet, and Lord knows I needed help. Not only had I had the breath knocked out of me, but I had severe road rash on my forehead, nose, chin, hands and forearms, knees and

even the top of my feet. That was one of the near death experiences of this farm girl. Sonny Boy took me home where more pain awaited.

Mama cleaned away the blood and grits and generously daubed me with mercurochrome methylate.

I don’t know which, but I do know it was red and set me on fire. I could barely move for several days, so I sulked around and fed my hatred for Blackie and short-term hatred of my brother.

Sonny Boy and Daddy somehow retrieved Blackie and that very day devised a plan for a stock market trip, where Blackie was sold and replaced with our first tractor. As best as I can recall it was a Ford Cub, gray with red trim. It serviced us much better than the mules and never escaped.

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 49

Revolutionary War patriot lived at Lake Gaston

By LUCI WELDON

W

hen you think of the Revolutionary War, you might think of sites such as Bunker Hill, Yorktown and Philadelphia. But, have you ever thought about how Lake Gaston is connected with the United States’ quest for independence?

Buck Spring Plantation off Eaton Ferry Road was the home of Nathaniel Macon, who served in the American 50

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Revolution, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Several years ago, the Halifax Resolves Chapter, North Carolina Society, Sons of the American Revolution honored Macon’s memory with a patriot grave marker dedication at Buck Spring.

The Halifax Resolves Chapter provided a glimpse

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 51

52

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Nathaniel Macon’s gravesite SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 53

The corn crib at Buck Spring Park. The park, owned by Warren County, is at 217 Nathaniel Macon Dr., Littleton.

THE Boat Lift Store, Inc. Manufacturer of

Doozie Boat Lifts Lift Installation & Service Serving Lake Gaston and the World Since 1984 1557 NC Hwy. 903, Littleton NC

www.doozieboatlifts.com 54

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

252-586-5437

into Macon’s life, describing him as someone who loved North Carolina deeply.

The son of Gideon and Priscilla Macon, he was born Dec. 17, 1757, in what is now Warren County, and attended a school operated by Charles Pettigrew.

Macon studied at the College of New Jersey — what is Princeton today — and joined the New Jersey militia in 1776. The next year, he returned to Warrenton to study law at the Bute County Courthouse.

In 1780, Macon joined the Army and became a lieutenant in the company of Col. John Macon, his brother. However, he did not agree with the appointment and became a private instead.

Macon remained in the Army until the provisionary Treaty of 1782, serving at the surrender of Fort Moultrie, the rout at Camden and with General Nathaniel Greene during his retreat across North Carolina.

During the patriot grave marker ceremony, Halifax Resolves Chapter SAR member Ken Wilson gave insight into Macon’s character and the reputation he had gained.

Without his knowledge or consent, Macon was elected to the North Carolina Senate for the 1781-82 session. He later served in the U.S.

L ake Life Clothing Company

New n Locatio

YOUR LOCAL SURF SHOP AT THE LAKE ALL YOUR FAVORITE SURF BRANDS BOUTIQUE LINES & SOUTHERN LIFE CHECK OUT OUR LARGER STORE AT OUR NEW LOCATION 2471 Eaton Ferry Road • 252-586-0838 Summer Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-5 • Fri & Sat 10-6 Check FB for extended Holiday Hours

Wakeboard Willie’s Ice Cream, Sundaes, Milkshakes 2475 Eaton Ferry Road

Hours: Mon-Thurs Noon-8 • Fri-Sun Noon-9

DELICIOUS DINING With dozens of delectable menu options including steak, chicken, seafood and pork chops, we have something for everyone to enjoy!

Come in and join us!

414 Becker Drive, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

252-541-3361

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER

Monday-Friday 11:00am-9:00pm | Saturday 4:30-9:00 | Sunday Closed

Your heating and cooling specialists!

308 Ridgeway Street, Warrenton

252-257-1454 SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 55

2012 Jackson Bypass Road, Seaboard NC

252-534-1430

House of Representatives from 1791-1815 and the U.S. Senate from 1815-28.

Wilson noted that Macon refused being paid for serving in the Army and also refused his pension.

Afton Macon married the former Hannah Plummer on Oct. 9, 1783, the couple did not choose to live in the large cities of the time.

Instead, they made their home at Buck Spring at Lake Gaston.

Wilson said that Macon was quoted as saying, “a man should not live near enough to his neighbors to hear his dogs bark.”

Macon went on to serve as the fifth speaker of the House of Representatives, but twice refused the position of postmaster general.

“The Senate during Macon’s tenure was changing from a ‘rubber stamp of the controlling party’ to a body that was to become an arena of debate and political contest like none the world had ever seen,” Wilson said during the ceremony.

56

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

All types of Fences, Vinyl, Custom Wood, Decorative Aluminum, Chainlink

WE DO MORE

THAN JUST FENCES Decks • Rails Vinyl Siding Replacement Windows & Doors Screenporch Enclosures Pergolas Porch Additions Porch Covers Enclosed Porches Concrete Drives Sidewalks • Patios

Jones Fence & Custon Vinyl

www.jonesfencecompany.com

Your Lake Gaston Realtor

STEPHANIE GAINEY 252-578-3494

Search ALL Lake Gaston Properties...

LakeGaston-RealEstate.com

434-212-1260 SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 57

Macon served as president pro-tempore of the Senate from 1826-28 and chaired the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses. He unsuccessfully ran for vice president in 1825.

Wilson noted that it was said of Macon that he “spoke more good sense while getting in his chair and getting out of it than many delivered in long and elaborate speeches.”

Macon’s friends included Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Andrew Jackson and John Randolph of Roanoke. Jefferson called Macon “the last of the Romans.”

Randolph described Macon as “the wisest, the purest, and the best man that I ever knew.”

Wilson noted that Macon always felt a strong devotion to North Carolina and remained an advocate for the state’s agricultural, social and economic values.

Today, the patriot marker at Macon’s grave at Buck Spring, shown at left, serves as a reminder of his role in the American Revolution and the early government of the United States. It also serves as a reminder that people from communities like Lake Gaston can have a major impact on history.

Keep In Touch With What’s Happening At Lake Gaston

Subscribe to the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer today for only $56 per year for Halifax, Warren and Northampton, NC and Brunswick and Mecklenburg, VA. $74 in all other areas.

56 $ 74 $

Only

Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer Name: ______________________________________________

/Year

in 5 surrounding counties

And

/Year

outside Lake gaston region

Street: ______________________________________________ City: ___________________ State: ________ Zip: ____________ Phone: _____________________________________________ Email Address: _______________________________________ ❍ New ❍ Renewal

❍

❍

❍

❍

Card Number: ________________________________________ Exp Date: _______________________ vCode: ______________ Clip, mail or drop off this coupon: Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer 378 Lizard Creek Road, Littleton, NC 27850 or call 252.586.2700

Re d ReA YOuR P eR PAP OnLIne! SIGn uP TOdAY d ! dAY

Never miss an issue of the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer!!

View the electronic edition at www.lakegastongazette-observer.com ($44/Year)

Call 252.586.2700 today for details!

58

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

10 Reasons to Visit

252-430-1300

Wildwood Nursery & Garden Center, Inc.

www.satterwhitept.com

1. perennials 2. soy Candles 3. Ceramic Grills 4. Bedding plants 5. Trees & shrubs 6. Garden art & Decor 7. Flags & Windchimes 8. Backyard, etc. Outdoor Furniture, proudly made here in the Usa 9. Lake Gaston T-shirts 10. Our Helpful, Friendly Staff

WildWood Nursery & Garden Center, Inc. We are a Full service Garden Center & Gift shoppe

(252) 586-3685

847 Lizard Creek Road, Henrico, NC 27842 OpeN 7 Days a Week!

TWO MARINAS on Kerr Lake To Serve You!

High Octane No-Ethanol Gas Available

434-738-6500

www.ruddscreekmarina.com

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 59

60

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

LOOKING BACK

Nancy Clayton Moorefield, of Tanglewood Shores, submitted this Looking Back photo of her daughter, Melissa Spillman, and her mother, Hazel Barden, fishing at one of their favorite spots on Lake Gaston in the 1970s.

SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

n 61

LOOKING BACK

Linda Garden submitted the following photo taken July 2018 of Sean, Mike and Jessica celebrating the country’s birthday. The picture shows them jumping off the deck of Tom & Linda Garden’s deck.

62

n SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE

Established in May 1971, Overby Marine Sales and Service offers boaters the best in name-brand boats, motors, & trailers.

We are family-owner and operated and have grown for over 40 years becuase of our commitment to satisfied customers.

Lake Gaston Triangle Area 1847 Eaton Ferry Road 480 Bobbitt Road Established in May 1971, Overby Marine Sales Service Littleton, NCand 27850 Kittrell,inNC 27544 Established May 1971, Overby Marine Sales and Service offers offers boaters the best name-brand boats, motors, & trailers.

Established in Overby Marine and& Service offers 252-586-3593 boaters theMay best1971, ininname-brand boats,Sales motors, trailers.

704-438-5338 boaters the best in name-brand boats, motors, & trailers.

are family-owner and operated and have grown for over 40 years We areWe family-owned and operated andgrown haveforgrown We are family-owner andcommitment operated and over 40 for yearsover 40 becuase of our to have satisfied customers. years because ofofour to satisfied becuase our commitment commitment to satisfied customers.customers.

Established in May 1971, Overby Sales and Service offers Established in MayMarine 1971, Overby Marine Sales and Service offers Lake Gaston Triangle boatersArea the bestboaters in name-brand boats, motors, & trailers. the best in name-brand boats, motors, & trailers.

1847 Lake EatonGaston Ferry Road Triangle Area 480 Bobbitt Road Eaton Ferry Road Littleton, NC 27850 480 Bobbitt Road Kerr Lake 1847 NC 27544 LakeKittrell, Gaston Raleigh We are family-owner and operated and have grown for over 40 years We are family-owner and operated and have grown for over 40 years Littleton, NC 27850 252-586-3593 Kittrell, NC 27544 commitment to satisfied 704-438-5338 252-586-3593 252-438-5338 becuase of our252-438-5338 customers. becuase of our commitment to satisfied customers.

252-586-3593 704-438-5338 1847 Eaton Ferry Road 480 Bobbitt Road 472 US Hwy 1 Littleton, NC

Kittrell, NC

Youngsville, NC

Lake Gaston Lake Gaston Triangle Area Triangle Area 1 847 Eaton Ferry Road 480 Bobbitt Road 1847 Eaton Ferry Road 480 Bobbitt Road Littleton, NC 27850 Kittrell, NC 27544 Littleton, NC 27850 Kittrell, NC 27544 SUMMER 2020 LAKELIFE n 63 252-586-3593252-586-3593 704-438-5338704-438-5338

Call “Beth & Beth’s REALTORS” for all your real estate needs

EXIT TOWN & LAKE REALTY 2 Locations to Serve You 231 E Atlantic Street South Hill, VA 23970

14 Bracey Drive Bracey, VA 23919

434-689-2766

LakeGastonMLS.com ✔ Selling ✔ Buying ✔ Leasing ✔ Property Management

Visit Us Online

Independent Member Broker