SG 08/2014

Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine August 2014

www.ScuppernongGazette.com Photo by Ingrid Lemme

www.facebook.com/maggie.duke.90

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PUBLISHER: INGRID LEMME ~ EDITOR: TIM K. NIELSEN

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Quote of the Month

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“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~ Henry James

DEAR READER

Inner Banks Porches & Decks

Arthur Lee McKinney 252-796-7530 www.facebook.com/arthur.mckinny Almjusticemckunney@gmail.com

October 11th 23rd Annual River Festival

Hands On Projects with Pocosin Arts, Helicopter Rides, All day Music & Entertainment, Local Foods

Much has been written about precious summer afternoons, but I personally like the early mornings, when the air is still cool and I can do a little yoga on the waterfront. Our local produce is growing in abundance, so stop at our local farm stands that are popping up all over, and get a taste of "Summer in Tyrrell." & Products, Canoes & Water Activities, Youth Rides & Amusements, Fireworks on the Waterfront Sponsored by Tyrrell Co. Tourism Dev. Authority. Concerts featuring Blackwater & Jonny Waters & Company. For more

Now please put two events on the calendar that you cannot miss--our 23rd annual River Festival on October 11th and our River Town Christmas on December 4-7th.

And please remember you can order your own print copy online by logging onto www.ScuppernongGazette.com . ...Stay cool! ~ Love Ingrid information, Call 252 796-1371 or visit wwwwwww.tyrrellcounty.org

Keeping y! for ever and for always!

Jennifer Hollie B#ckh!se and Jacob Lee B#ckh!se June 21 2014

Mar#ed by: Rev. Royce Reynolds

At: S!nd Side O#ginal Freewill Bapt%t Church Photo by: Cory Furl!gh

BEES CAN’T WAIT 5 MORE YEARS!

Europe recently put into effect a ban of bee-killing pesticides called neonicotinoids.

Tell the EPA that it shouldn't delay action for five years, it must take immediate action and ban these pesticides today.

since 2006. Widespread use of a new class of toxic pesticides, neonicotinoids, is a significant contributing factor. In addition to killing bees outright, research has shown that even low levels of these dangerous pesticides impair bees' ability to learn, to find their way back to the hive, to collect food, to produce new

www.foe.org/epa-bees Dear Administrator McCarthy,

Honey bees, native bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat.

Bees pollinate 71 of the 100 crops that make up 90 percent of the world’s food supply. Many fruits and vegetables, including apples, blueberries, strawberries, carrots and broccoli, as well as almonds and coffee, rely on bees. These beneficial insects are critical in maintaining our diverse food supply.

Honey bee populations have been in alarming decline

will be 2018, five years from now, before it makes a decision on this deadly class of pesticides.

We request an immediate moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Bees can't wait five more years – they are dying now. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the power and responsibility to protect our pollinators. Our nation's food system depends on it.

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queens, and to mount an effective immune response.

This week, 15 countries are imposing a two-year restriction on the use of several of these chemicals. As you know, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates it

Without bee pollination, there are no tomatoes, melons, coffee beans, cucumbers, lemons, limes, strawberries, apples, lima beans, green beans, almonds, raspberries, cocoa (that means chocolate), grapes and thus wine, pears . . . to see a complete list, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees

www.FullCircleSeafood.com

YOGA ON THE SOUND

BY INGRID LEMME Honestly I never thought I would ever become a yogi, but hey, it's never too late, right?

Yoga, or my inte pretation of what yoga is for me to be, has changed my life, my outlook on life and most likely my appearance as well.

Realizing that my lifestyle had dramatically changed since I made the big move from Montauk to Columbia, I was still holding on to my old ways, and something had to give. I was a swimmer, year round in a king sized pool filled with heated sea water. But now in Tyrrell County, though living on the sound, I could not get myself to swim in the black waters of the Scuppernong River or the Albemarle sound.

So I had to find a form of exercise that would

please this aging body and give me piece of mind. YOGA! Yes, I had taken a few classes and got most of the basics, but who in heaven can remember all the poses and their exotic names?

Early this spring I started with stretching (and this is what yoga really is all about) at home when my sunroom was

finally finished, complete with carpet. Eventually one nice day I moved to the pier on the sound down the road from my house. After all, water is water and the waves have a relaxing effect on most of us.

Though it may seem counterintuitive that twisting myself could promote relaxation, it works!

Studies have shown that yoga provides bunches of benefits; it can boost immunity, fight food cravings, and even help relieve stress. I have developed a sequence of yoga poses that allow me to stretch, and I even get to pray at times. For me it is really not about seated meditation. But I listen to my body and do the stretching that I feel it needs. And with just a few basic poses I have--one day at time-gotten stronger and more flexible. Hey what do you have to lose? Just try it!

READING BETWEEN THE IRONS

BY BARBARA SNELL KREBS

It’s hard to believe it’s already August and summer is winding its way down. In a few short weeks, the kids will be back in school and we’ll start gearing up for the never-ending round of fall holidays.

But during the dog days of August, I like to ignore the upcoming fall schedule crunch, and instead focus on the promise of a new school year. I watch my daughter, Colette, a rising high school junior, carefully prepare. She makes lists and checks them twice to

ensure she has all the jeans, shirts, school supplies, and apps that will help her survive and thrive as the countdown to the first day of school approaches.

However, it also brings back memories of when it was me who was getting ready to go to school. And what I remember is not so much new clothes or notebooks, but of hot, sunny August days in my grandmother’s family room where she taught me to read before I entered first grade. Ah, first grade--back then in Columbia, there was no kindergarten or pre-K. You just turned six (or if you were like me, five and three-quarters) and got onto the big orange school bus for the first time. (And yes, school buses used to be orange in North Carolina.)

So the summer before school started for me for the first time, my grandmother began her project of teaching me to read so I would be ahead when I entered school. Though Alethia Jones Snell never got beyond eighth grade herself, she valued education and was determined that the rest of her family would achieve the academic success she had not had the opportunity to attain.

Now wisely, she had already laid the groundwork over the preceding months. I could sing the alphabet song, and write all my letters. I could count up to 100 without missing a beat (or a numeral), but now she had decided it was finally time for the real deal! So one day early in August when I came to visit, she had out the usual books that she read to me.

But instead of sitting down with me, she said she was busy and that I would have to read them myself.

“But I can’t read,” I protested.

“That’s alright. I’ll teach you,” she replied and calmly set up her ironing board and her big basket of clothes.

This was, of course, long before permanent press and polyester blends. So the sight of her ironing board and her cup of water (it evidently pre-dated a steam iron for her as well) were quite familiar to me.

I enjoyed the ritual of her ironing. First, the shirt would come out of the basket and be carefully placed on the board, strong hands smoothing out all the wrinkles possible.

Next, she would dip her fingers into the water cup, and then

engrossed in her task, I finally asked, “What’s this word?”

The simple task of ironing will forever be linked in my mind with learning to read. fling droplets of water onto it to create a nice little steaming action as the iron did its work.

Under her skilled hands, the iron would glide back and forth, attacking and subduing each wrinkle it came across. And then, when one side was completed, she would pick up the shirt, turn it so the next panel would submit to her calm, patient strokes--back and forth, wrinkle by wrinkle, until a crisply pressed shirt would be placed on the hanger. And then the process would begin again.

So on that day, as she placed the first shirt on the ironing board, nimble fingers dampening the creased and crinkled clothing, I picked up the book and turned to the first page. For a moment, I just looked at the familiar pictures, a boy and a girl and a dog. But after a moment, when I was certain she wouldn’t relent and that she was thoroughly

“Let’s sound it out. What’s that first letter?”

“An S,” I announced proudly.

“And what does an S sound like?”

I obediently hissed back at her. I always liked S’s. They were nice little sssssnake letters, both looking and sounding as the creatures should.

S?”

“And what follows the

“An E!”

“Good, so put the two together and what does it sound like?”

“S, E … ssseee, See!” Triumph! A real word!

A few minutes later, we had managed to get through “See Spot run.” In under five minutes, I had completed an entire sentence. We were on a roll!

And so the morning went.

Clothes onto the ironing boards, water droplets flung, small child pointing to words on a page, grandmother

patiently guiding the sounding out of letters and words. Each word surrendering to my increasing sense of accomplishment and her gentle encouragement of my thirst for knowledge.

Yes, I learned to read between the irons. And to this day, I can’t pick up an iron without evoking a hot, sunny August day, and the thrill of unleashing the power of words under my grandmother’s patient and doting guidance.

A book similar to this one was the pathway to reading for countless kids.

A GLIMPSE OF SUMMER IN COLUMBIA

BY MIRIAM FAUTH

With kind permission of family, friends and neighbors mentioned below, I would like to share this glimpse into summer our corner of Columbia.

Let’s start with Tyrrell County library's summer reading program.

Entitled “Fizz, Bam, Boom, Read,” it began soon after school finished for the summer. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays our librarians were ready and waiting for Columbia’s young readers, and their oral book reports. Children could earn “library bucks” for their required quota of reading. Dedicated readers worked their way to the top shelf of the prize cabinet to spend their ‘bucks‘ on the grand prizes! This year about five made their way to the very top shelf ! Through the weeks of the reading journey, Wednesdays brought special programs, including “Fizz and Soar”: making Alka Seltzer

rockets and “Crazy Chemical Reactions.” July 30th concluded the program with an award ceremony, a special music event with a children’s rock band and the long awaited for and big favorite, the Ice Cream Party!

My children, Jacob and Ruthie, took full responsibility this year, taking themselves to the library to do their reports by themselves ! I was proud of their commitment, along with

all the other young people who participated.

The beginning of summer brought a new experience for Brandi Van Dorpe, a teenage Columbian resident. Her sister in New York invited Brandi to attend Young Life Camp in Saranac Lake,in

upstate New York. It was a week-long camp, offering teenagers “the best week of their lives !” On arrival everyone had to hand in every electronic device. Young Life Camp’s goal is to allow teenagers to experience life and relationships without relying on social media. Here’s what Brandi had to say about it:

“Seriously, it was the best week of my life ! There were 500 of us in attendance, and we participated in activities that allowed us to bond together. For example, volley ball tournaments, rodeos, muddy obstacle courses and relay races.

Evening times we sang together, did karaoke and had devotional times. We also had times where we listened to each other's stories about how we 'turned our chair' around--a time where we could hear how other teenagers decided to trust in God, and change the course of their lives.”

The summer life of the Workmans, Annie and Whitney, has been a responsibility experience, working at Ace

Serving NC’s Inner & Outer Banks

JOHNCRAIL J P C Finish Carpentry & Design historic restoration specialist casework millwork remodeling marine

(757) 282-9581 waterborne30@gmail.com

Hardware in Manteo and Nags Head. They managed to squeeze in some fun by visiting the YMCA in Nags Head and by going to the water park in Kinston. Elijah got to experience some great adventures, like climbing ropes and towers at the Dare County Camp sponsored by the Sheriff ’s department in Dare County. Christopher faithfully attended summer school. The boys both had a great experience going to see the “Steamers” baseball team in Edenton, which was organized

by their church.

I had a chance to ask our three neighbors about their summer, and they all took a break from their favorite activity--playing basketball--to talk with me. Denzell Spruill proudly told me how he helped his teacher move into a bigger new house. He said he enjoyed his Vacation Bible School at church, and has really enjoyed basketball. Richard Spruill also shared his love of that sport and said he has been spending time walking around town and visiting friends. Aquay Spruill,

who is here for the summer, also shared how he loved to play ball ,and how he liked Vacation Bible School.

When asked if they had done anything else in Columbia this summer, they commented that they had not. And each pointed out how he would love it if we had a swimming pool here, or at least a nice play ground with sprinklers.

4 H events have been ticking by during summer.

Electric Congress, OBX Pirate day, Tyrrell County Adventure day and Young Chefs. Coming

Brandi VanDorpe, at "Young Life" camp in NY

events include 4 H Camp Gone Wild, Culinary Academy and Black Land Tour. As always, these camps have been a great way to keep our children active during the summer and are appreciated by all.

The Boy Scouts have been meeting throughout the summer, and J J Roughton and his team of leaders planned a local camping trip, here in Columbia, where the boys learned to use rocket stoves.

They earned merit badges for using a bow saw, an axe, a hatchet and a pocket knife .

They also swam in a sand pit!

Boys that got to experience this camp were Zachary Gregory, Sam Clough, Jacob Fauth , Nick Tighe and Joshua Roughton.

We have three young people here in Columbia that are have begun rehearsals for The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. Bradly Brickhouse, Grace Swain and Layah Fauth will be traveling regularly to Elizabeth City for the rest of the summer to be under the directorship of Dr. Emmerich, Mrs Emmerich, and Mariah Schierer for choreography. The

play will be presented September 11 through 14 in the theater at The College Of The Albemarle.

This summer brings something special our family, as Elana, our eldest, is home for the summer from the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro. She has been busy working at Food Lion and at Pocosin Arts where she has been an assistant at the summer art camps. She has also been very excited to have had the opportunity to share her singing talents a various venues in

Left to right: Denzell, Aquay and Richard Spruill

Columbia this summer.

Going a bit further afield , I will mention a Kitty Hawk resident , David Parsons.

David grew up in Kitty Hawk , and was actually a student to Rhett White our Town Manager, when Mr. White was the principle there some years ago--a Columbia connection!

For 17 years, David Parsons has been living in Jerusalem' serving as the media director for The Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.

This summer he chose to visit his family in Kitty Hawk, with his wife and son. We recently

had the privilege of hearing him speak in Manteo on current affairs occurring in the Middle East.

It is exciting looking forward to a month or so of warmer weather. For some of us this will include a good old camping trip out to Green Acres in Williamston, where I know a little someone by the name of Kaitlynn Van Dorpe, who loves to swim her days away there, will be so happy!

After reading a little into the summer lives of some of the local people here in Columbia,

I hope the rest of your summer brings you all safe, fun and peaceful sunny times.

Mi#am

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT POCOSIN ARTS

BY JOSHUA CRAIG

Pocosin Arts is planning to expand its offerings of Youth Art classes. Building upon the success of Summer Art Camp, Pocosin Arts has developed classes in a wide variety of art media for the coming school Year. Pocosin Arts employee and local school board member, Karen Clough, had this to say

about the after school plans, “We feel that there is a real need in this community for more art programming. Kids need to have something to do after school and Pocosin Arts is excited to offer more classes for our children.”

Currently, the plan is to offer two classes for every sixweek session—one for younger children in grades 2-5 and another for older kids in grades 6-9. “Some of our classes will be general art classes with drawing, painting, collage, sculpting, and mixed media and

others will focus in Pocosin Arts’ main studio areas of ceramics and jewelry. This is a really unique opportunity for our community,” states programming coordinator Joshua Craig. “In addition to reviving our youth ceramics program, we are also going to start jewelry /metals classes for young adults. This is the only program of its kind in eastern North Carolina. Nobody else has a class in jewelry/metals just for young adults.”

Continues ...

The tuition for each class is $65 dollars for six weeks, with classes running from 4-6 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year. “Our hope is that students in Creswell, Edenton, and even the beach will come and participate because there is nothing like this in

the area,� states Pocosin Arts executive director Marlene True.

Scholarships will be available, and like Summer Art Camp parents who want to sign their children up can apply for a scholarship and register online.

A full schedule of classes for the

year, along with descriptions will be posted to the Pocosin Arts website sometime in early August.

Parents who are interested can visit www.pocosinarts.org/ contact-us/ to be added to our email list. www.pocosinarts.org

For more information and access to the 4-H newsletter, please visit www.facebook.com/pages/Eastern-4-H-Center-and-Summer-Camp/70450267797

IT'S NOT BUSINESS, IT'S PERSONAL

BY GABRIELLA CRAIL

I believe there's a revolutionary change, or rather a movement, in our society. People, more specifically consumers, are becoming more aware of what they are consuming. Quality is becoming trendy and transparency is key. We are demanding to know exactly how things are grown, cultivated, prepared and even more so if the practices are environmentally sound and just.

After all, when you put dinner on the table, you're hardearned dollars are at stake and you want to nourish, not simply consume. Our bodies constantly tell us by their reactions what is necessary for peak performance.

Since the dawn of convenience it's been about quantity, not quality. Before this obsession with fair trade or organic, it was how much can we produce for the masses for as little as possible? It has only increased

their bottom line.

Understandably, the growth of our population is truly a major concern, but why are we depending on a few major corporations to put food on our tables? Monsanto, for instance, can't fairly be singled-out for its attempts to feed these staggering

numbers by perfecting the flawless vegetable. In its efforts, however, they created GMO's, which some consider to be simply poison. By that innovation, we might be moving far from quality, thus leaving behind non-nutritive produce. Not to mention, the possible risks it has on our bodies, another story for another day.

I'm always doing my own research, learning and constantly evolving. I will often change my mind or opinion on a matter once I become better informed

on the subject. I encourage everyone to do the same.

I've said so before, that Columbia has the tools to be a self-sustained community. Say for instance, start a co-op, or cooperative. Smaller communities have the opportunity to thrive economically, environmentally and even socially. A coop is simply a group of people who come together on common ground to work with and for each other collectively toward a goal. These volunteers evolve economically and environmentally together for a mutual benefit.

Gardening alone could make the biggest impact by volunteers caring for the crops they will share with each other. There is no monetary profit or gain, simply the basic needs are met based on performance of the group. Isn't this what humans were meant to do? Our fate could be in our own hands, literally. We could secure our own futures and that of our children. We've strayed too far from the basic principles of survival and thrived on a weakening monetary system.

With a co-op, your quality is guaranteed by your own efforts.

You don't dine at a seafood restaurant that can't boast “fresh� or "local" seafood, if its imported from afar. If you want a genetically modified tomato, or poorly raised and hormone injected beef, go someplace like McDonald's. If it's truly nutritious produce you seek, look into your local farms, or simply grow it yourself.

This very concept inspired us to make some changes. I'll briefly explain. At Elements, we specialize in coffee. I can stand behind an excellent cup of coffee with confidence only if I understand

the product as a whole. Pure water and fresh coffee can make a good cup of coffee, but great coffee comes with understanding the essential details. The timing, the temperature, the grind, the freshness of the beans, the source, and even the customer.

We're taking it personal, one cup at a time. By converting our automated mass brewing system to a one cup pour-over system, we're securing those basic values of principle, and we can assure an excellent cup of coffee made for one customer at a time.

Why do we do this?

Business should be personal.

Business after all is about the customer, not the quantity.

When you try it, you'll understand that the quality of everything you consume is far more important than how much, how fast or how convenient it is. This enables us to have the freshest and best possible cup of coffee. I would take a tomato just as seriously, and we should expect the same values from every company. It's time for change, and it starts with each individual. Wake up!

GABBIE CRAIL IS THE OWNER

ELANA AT ELEMENTS

What better place than our very own Elements in Columbia to enjoy an afternoon of live music.

Gabriella Crail, who planned the afternoon for Elana to sing at her cafĂŠ, also has memories of singing at coffee shops with her sister. A sunny July 26 afternoon brought many people out to Elements to hear

Elana sing and play the guitar and keyboard. People sat and chatted quietly and children played chess while Elana performed. Smiles were everywhere. This event was something special for Elana, and also the community. It brought people out to gather together and not only enjoy the music, but enjoy some community friendship.

Thanks Elements. www.facebook.com/ElementsColumbiaNC

I-WANT

BY DEAN ROUGHTON

Warning: I am about to sound like an old fart in this article. Maybe it’s because after a lifetime of better than 20/20 vision, I now wear driving glasses. Maybe it’s because after driving stick shift Mustangs that go “vroom” for the last fourteen years, I am now driving a crossover SUV, which my friends have affectionately referred to as the mommy wagon. Or maybe it’s because in August of this year I will assume a new role at the college, one that without a shadow of a doubt is considered a “grown up” job.

Whatever the reason, I’m about to commence with some old-school preaching on a subject, and I am decidedly ok with that. This is not a new topic by any means, but allow me to put my Tyrrell County perspective on it for a moment.

Too many people today have a sense of entitlement, and no, I’m not even referring to any sort of government program. I’m referring to all too many kids/teenagers/young

adults that I encounter who feel like their parents and grandparents owe them things. I call them the I-Wants. I-Want an iPhone 6. I-Want a PlayStation 4. I-Want the latest KD shoes. I-Want a car, a new one at that. I-Want my insurance paid for. I-Want gas money. I-Want, I-Want, I-Want.

Let’s just pretend for a moment that cell phones even existed when I was 10 years old.

Do you know what would have happened if I told my dad he needed to go buy me a $600 telephone? Nothing. Because I would never have been stupid enough to ask – because my mama ain’t raise no fools, and my daddy ain’t raise no beggars.

They raised me to work for what I-Want.

The first time I ever worked construction, at under ten years of age, I wasn’t even strong enough to pick up a half a bundle of shingles, let alone a full bundle. We would cut open the bundle and carry shingles a handful at a time up the ladder to my father on the roof. When I was eleven years old, I had my own lawn mowing business. I push mowed my Granny Dimple’s yard regularly along with a few others here and there. I still had to help mow our own yard though because that was my house too, and you didn’t pay somebody else to take care of your own responsibilities.

Like many Tyrrell County youth, I took my turn working at one of the many area tater graders. I rode the back of a harvester eating dirt from sun up to sun down while Skippy Woodard laughed at me freaking out as I reached down and almost grabbed a chopped up snake coming up the conveyor belt on more than one occasion. Charles and Peggy Swain were kind enough to give me a job at the age of fourteen.

For years, I worked after school and on Saturdays at Swain’s Clover Farm. When other kids might have been outside playing

ball or swimming in the sound, I was bagging groceries and stocking shelves.

In my later high school years, I went back to work for Roughton & Sons Construction doing grown folks work: digging foundations, framing houses, hanging drywall, painting, doing carpentry trim work, roofing, plumbing, you name it.

I gained skills that allowed me to work for other construction companies along the way and that allowed me to take care of my own home as an adult without having to pay somebody else to do every little maintenance thing.

There were many other jobs along the way before I arrived in the field of education: shrimp boat deckhand, convenience store clerk, handyman, sales rep, bartender, etc. In fact, I am fortunate to be able to say that I have never drawn a day of unemployment in my life. This is for two main reasons: 1) I have never considered any job “beneath” me. A paycheck is a paycheck.

2) Employers knew what kind of work ethic they could expect out of me. Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t tell you all of this out of some desire to

brag about my blue collar work ethic. My story is just one story of many from Tyrrell County.

My work ethic is a Wayne and Frances Roughton work ethic.

It’s a “Buddy Boy” Brickhouse work ethic. It’s a Liverman work ethic. A Cahoon, Hassell, Basnight, Reynolds, Bailey, Hopkins, Creef, Spencer,Davenport, Armstrong, Deaver, Sawyer, Etheridge, Owens, Smith, and so many more work ethic.

And while I have generally been known to most as at least a somewhat intelligent person, ability without effort simply leads to the unemployment line.

Without a Tyrrell County work ethic, I would not be starting my new position at COA soon.

Nor would I have gotten the job that was the springboard to this new job. Nor the one before that. Nor the one before that.

So even if you are better off financially than your parents or your grandparents were back in the day, even if you can afford to give in to all your kids’ I-Wants, even if you are in a position to not ever have to worry about money for anything, just remember that you will not be around forever,

and jobs are increasingly hard to come by in this country. The groundwork for your child to survive and thrive in the future needs to be laid today.

Last time I checked, Tyrrell County still had farms.

It still had commercial fishing. It still had lawns that need mowing. Make your kid put down the Xbox and pick up a crab box. And if you cannot find an outside job, put your kids to work in your home. Let them learn the axiom I have instilled in my son: Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Will they appreciate what you are teaching them?

Probably not for years to come.

But you are a parent and not Santa Claus. Besides you worked all day. Do you really want to come home and scrub toilets? I know I-Don’tWant. I-Want

by Dean Roughton www.deanroughton.com

“ IT’S A GREAT DAY IN TYRRELL COUNTY”

tournament time. Yes, it’s a great time to be here in Tyrrell County.

BY ANN WARD, PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER TYRRELL COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Fall is another great time to be in Tyrrell County. The upcoming Scuppernong River Festival is something to really look forward to!

This year we are planning to have some new activities which will delight the young and old alike. The date for this year’s festival is October 11, 2014 so everyone needs to mark their calendar and save the date. You won’t want to miss the “Goodness Grows on the Scuppernong” festival which will be the 23rd year for this event.

Summer time is a great time to live in or visit Tyrrell County. There is much activity going on with the fishing industry and water sports. I watch boats go in and out everyday, weather permitting. I just can’t imagine living somewhere without water around me! I see and hear families on their boats laughing and tubing. I watch with anticipation to see filled boxes on the crab boats. Bass fishermen zoom by in the river, trying to make the best of their limited

It’s good to see new businesses coming to our county! We all know how challenging times are, and have been for some time, but we have new businesses

opening their doors and I want to encourage everyone to support them as best you can. Remember, buying local keeps tax dollars here at home, and job opportunities as well.

Welcome to these new business owners!

Our Chamber of Commerce has some new changes taking place as well.

We hope to soon hire a parttime employee to help with administrative tasks and publicity. We will soon have an office, providing us a presence on Main Street.

Then when people come to town they will be able to stop in and ask questions other than, “Where is your Chamber of Commerce office?” We are also updating our website which will also improve our visibility. It’s a very exciting time to be involved with the Chamber! www.VisitTyrrellCounty.com

www.FullCircleSeafood.com

COLUMBIA FFA AT THE N. C. STATE CONVENTION BY: ERIC GODWIN AG TEACHER/ FFA ADVISOR

The Columbia FFA Chapter journeyed to the 86th North Carolina FFA State Convention on June 17th-19th, 2014 with 13 members. The

State FFA Convention is the Super Bowl of FFA, and the students embraced downtown Raleigh for all its worth by competing in CDE’s (Career Development Events), walking through the career show, attending motivating sessions, taking part in leadership workshops, dancing at the block party, and networking with other students in FFA from all across the Tarheel State!

The Columbia FFA Chapter was recognized for many accomplishments while at the Convention. The high school and middle school chapters were recognized for having 100% membership; the high school was recognized for having membership growth; 10 students received their State FFA Degrees (highest level of membership an FFA member can receive in the State); we

Pictured from left to right: Shanya Basnight, Kristen Cahoon, Josie Spencer, Amber Davenport, Sarah Swain, Hannah McGowan, Mrs. Marcia Manning (Principal-CHS), Jay Stanton (kneeling), Jose GomezGarcia, Daniel Stanton, Cameron Elliott, Catherine Suter, Briana Gibbs, Drew Brickhouse, and Mr. Eric Godwin (Ag Teacher/FFA Advisor-CMS/CHS)

received the Superior Chapter Award; we received recognition for the PALS program we started at Tyrrell Elementary School; Cameron Elliott got 1st Place in the State in the Agriculture Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Placement Proficiency Award area and also got 2nd in the State in the Agriculture Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area; and finally Mr. Eric Godwin, Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor at Columbia Early College High School, and Mrs. Marcia Manning, Principal of Columbia Early College High School, received

their Honorary State FFA Degrees. We had a blast in Raleigh and we are already looking forward to the 87th North Carolina FFA State Convention!

TYRRELL COUNTY CRABS ARE THE BEST!

PRICE REDUCED to $80.000 !!!

Maggie Duke Antiques & Art Proudly Presents the

Remaining Important Works of

Asa McEwan (widely recognized Outsider Artist)

210 Historic Main St * Columbia NC (252)706-足0534

Tyrrell County’s Country Magazine August 2014

www.ScuppernongGazette.com Photo by Ingrid Lemme