North Beach Sun Summer 2019

NORTH BEACH SUN

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ummers are for celebrating—especially this one! And what better way to celebrate than with one of Big Buck’s ice cream cakes made with homemade ice cream, fresh cream, strawberries, Belgian chocolate, M&M's, and mini peanut butter cups.

This summer is Big Buck’s turn to celebrate. Since 1994, Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop has been satisfying sweet tooths with homemade ice cream and fresh fruit smoothies. Fast forward 25 years and many unique ice cream flavors later, Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop has expanded to four locations spanning the Outer Banks: two in Manteo, one in Kitty Hawk and their flagship Corolla store. Along the way they’ve racked up countless “Best of the Beach” accolades and created Distinct Delights—a handmade small-batch chocolate business.

After all these years, the Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop tradition lives on. Come see why Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop has been known as the Outer Banks favorite sweet tooth station sensation for the past 25 years…and counting!

cream 25 years ago I dreamed of having an ice shop that made everything with the finesthere could ingredients that ice cream lovers everywI would have enjoy. 25 years later I never imagined nks that I four locations on the beautiful Outer Ba e true. call home. It has truly been a dream com Thank you for your support!

– owner Belinda Pleva

Order ahead for fresh ice cream cakes!

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Waterfront Shops Manteo 252-423-3118

Buccaneer’s Walk MP 4.5, Kitty Hawk 252-715-0779

bigbucksicecream.com • distinctdelights.com SUMMER 2019

Timbuck II Corolla 252-453-3188

ORDER ONLINE!

106A Sir Walter Raleigh St. Manteo 252-423-3400

WINNER! best ICE CREAm SHOP best chocol

ate shop

Like us on Facebook for updates, store hours, specials and more.

Just Over the Bridge in Harbinger

Traditional Southern Fare HA

RBINGER, NC

(252) 491-8100 | 8627 CARATOKE HWY., HARBINGER | SIMPLYSOUTHERNKITCHEN.COM

Beer, Bourbon

Barbeque

NAGS HEAD: (252) 449-6465 | 3919 S. VIRGINIA DARE TRAIL, MP 12.5 COROLLA: (252) 453-4423 | 807 OCEAN TRAIL | SOOEYSBBQ.COM

LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD TAVERN WITH

southern hospitality

(252) 261-2243 | 300 W. ECKNER ST., MP 2.5 | KITTY HAWK | SANDTRAPTAVERN.COM NORTH BEACH SUN

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Love N’ Life Arts & Crafts The only craft store located on the Outer Banks also offers an open crafting atmosphere and full coffee bar.

1 600 US Main Hwy 64/264 252-473-2630 • lnlop.com

Family fun awaits with OBX Ghost Tours. Lantern-guided tours through the “haunted" streets of downtown Manteo. Book now for the time of your afterlife! New for 2019, our OBX Pirate Walk!

2 252-305-2976 • OBXWalkingTours.com

Downtown Books The independent bookstore that puts the right books in the right hands.

Large selection of Outer Banks titles, best-sellers, cookbooks and children’s books, greeting cards, gifts and more.

3 105 Sir Walter Raleigh Street 252-473-1056 • duckscottage.com

My Secret Garden

Known for its excellent service, warm hospitality and outstanding innovative cuisine. Stroll downtown Manteo, then enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer before dinner in the bistro.

The oldest gift shop in Manteo specializes in treasures and happiness. Baby, birdhouses, puzzles, pet gifts, fun socks, jewelry, gardens, Spartina, Mudpie, mermaids, and more. 2017 Best of the Beach winner.

4 319 Sir Walter Raleigh Street 252-473-9851 • whitedoeinn.com

8 101 Sir Walter Raleigh Street 252-473-6880 facebook.com/MySecretGardenOBX

The Coffeehouse & Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream

Outer Banks Distilling From molasses to glasses, visit the first legal distillery on the Outer Banks. Offering Kill Devil Rum tastings, distillery tours (reservations required), and a retail area. Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday.

Piping hot coffee, lattes, espresso, teas, fresh baked muffins, bagels, croissants and pastries. Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream, fudge and chocolates. Saltwater taffy, ice cream cakes and smoothie bowls.

5 106A Sir Walter Raleigh Street 252-423-3400 • bigbucksicecream.com

Sleeping In, Ltd. Stop in and enjoy one of Manteo's most pleasurable shopping experiences. Fashion, gifts, jewelry, home textiles and more.

6 101B Fernando Street 252-475-1971 • Like us on Facebook

Charlotte’s Full-service ladies’ boutique specializing in fashions that are traditional with a contemporary flair.

7 103A Fernando Street 252-473-3078 • shopcharlottes.com

9 510 Budleigh Street 252-423-3011 • outerbanksdistilling.com

nest

OBX Ghost Tours

White Doe Inn

nest Distinctive clothing by CP Shades and Wilt and many other niche brands. Sophisticated accessories, jewelry and fragrances for you and your home.

10 Magnolia Lane 252-473-5141

Jumpmasters Trampoline Park & OBX Axe Throwing Trampoline park, Ninja Warrior, climbing wall, dodgeball and battle beams. Fun for the whole family.

Axe throwing for ages 10+! Perfect for families, friends, groups and parties!

11 728 US Main Hwy 64/264 252-423-3177 • jumpmastersobx.com

DISCOVER

MANTEO Upcoming Events

FIRST FRIDAYS

First Friday of every month, 6 - 8 p.m.

Stroll the streets of Manteo enjoying food, live music, beer specials, book signings, local art and more.

FARMERS’ MARKET

Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Local vendors can be found at the George Washington Creef Park on the waterfront.

JUMPMASTERS SUMMER CAMPS Every week, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Choose from weekly or daily drop offs during these summertime camps.

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SUMMER 2019

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE LOST COLONY BREWERY & CAFE

Mondays, 7:30 p.m.

Join Trivia Master Tim Hass for an evening of arcane minutia. Compete against other teams for prizes and mad geek creds.

LIVE MUSIC AT AVENUE WATERFRONT GRILLE

Every Friday 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Enjoy live music while you sip cocktails and enjoy views of Shallowbag Bay.

SHAD BOAT RIDES

Every Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m.

Departs from the Maritime Musuem, weather permitting.

JUMP WITH A PIRATE

Tuesdays (June 11 - August 27) Visit Jumpmasters to jump with a pirate or conquer the warrior course while trying to avoid being captured by one. If jumping isn‘t your thing, try your hand at axe throwing with a pirate. Arghhh you ready to be Axcited?

Dressing up is encouraged and there are lots of great photo opportunities!

DARE DAY

Saturday, June 1 An outdoor celebration of all things Dare County: food, games, arts and crafts, kids’ activities and more.

Capt. Johnny’s Outer Banks Dolphin Tours

Kitty Hawk Kites

The “see dolphin or ride again” boat since 1995. Open June through October for sightseeing and dolphin watching. Enjoy breathtaking views on your two-hour cruise. Ideal for all ages.

19 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252-473-4800 • avenuegrilleobx.com

Hungry Pirate Waterfront Cafe & European Deli

Sam & Winston A southern family-owned shop with fine art, books, gourmet kitchen goods and high-design gifts for ladies, gentlemen, children and dogs.

The Lost Colony Brewery & Cafe

European-style paninis, handcrafted sandwiches, organic salads, fresh baked breads. Imported meats and cheeses. Serving breakfast Saturdays, fresh crossaints, bagels, mimosas and espresso bar.

13 105 Fernando Street 252-475-9764 • samandwinston.com

Largest growing local brewery on the Outer Banks. Award-winning craft beers and creative cuisine served for more than 20 years. Outdoor, pet-friendly dining available. Dinner reservations accepted.

17 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252-423-3133 • hungrypiratecafe.com

Muzzie’s Estate & Fine Jewelry

20 208 Queen Elizabeth Street 252-473-6666 • lostcolonybrewery.com

Dare County Arts Council

Since 1999, Muzzies has been THE place for estate and fine jewelry.

Diamond engagement rings, art deco, and I. Reiss designer pieces.

New: our April Cornell Boutique, clothing and home decor.

Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream

The cultural hub of downtown Manteo, DCAC offers art classes and events, performances and a gallery featuring more than 100 local artists in the historic Dare County courthouse.

14 107-A Budleigh Street 252-473-1211 • muzziesantiques@obx.com

57 homemade ice cream varieties, frozen yogurt, smoothies, shakes, sundaes, handmade Belgian chocolates, fresh fudge and an Italian espresso bar. Open late!

300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 18 252-473-5558 • darearts.org

Sisters Boutique & Gifts Women’s clothing, sandals, home goods and more!

R PA

207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252-305-8582 • @sistersofmanteo

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DOWNTOWN BOOKS SUMMER BOOK SIGNINGS & EVENTS 5/26 6/1

6/5 6/7 July 7/2 7/5 8/2

Mary Kay Andrews (3 p.m.)

Andrew Lawler: How the Lost Colony Got Lost (1 p.m.)

Sarah Downing (3:30 p.m.)

Amy Gaw Find Waldo in a town-wide scavenger hunt for the whole family! (all month) Suzanne Tate (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

Joseph Terrell and Greg Smrdel (6 p.m. - 8 p.m.)

Steven Lewis

FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS AT DARE COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL 6/7 7/5 8/2 9/6

Dare County Schools music night Fred Vallade solo exhibit The Ramble Taylor Williams solo exhibit Mojo Collins and Triple Vision Ray Matthews solo exhibit Seagrass Ocracoke artists’ group exhibit

“WHO’S YOUR DADDY? ” ARTS AT THE INN EVENT

June 15, 4 - 6 p.m.

Visit White Doe Inn for classic noir with crime writers Eryk Pruitt and Shawn Cosby. Get your crime fiction fix with hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings.

207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252-423-3118 • bigbucksicecream.com

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Local seafood, all natural proteins, specialty burgers and pizzas. Craft beers, wine and Outer Banks cocktails. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan selections. Outdoor waterfront patio.

16 307 Queen Elizabeth Ave 252-473-2357 • kittyhawk.com

12 400 Queen Elizabeth Avenue 252.473.1475 • outerbankscruises.com

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Avenue Waterfront Grille

Kites, toys, wind art, t-shirts, footwear, kayak and SUP rentals and tours, bike rentals, dolphin tours, parasailing, JetPak and Flyboard, air tours and hang gliding.

’ RS ME ET R FA A R K M

YOUTH SAILING CAMP

June 21 - August 2 Open to kids ages 8-16. Fourteen different five-day sessions offered (morning or afternoon). Call 252-475-1750 for details.

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MARSHES LIGHT

17TH ANNUAL ONE-DESIGN REGATTA

Saturday, July 27 This regional regatta is open to Optimist, 420, and Sunfish boats.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Thursday, July 4 Festivities start at 3 p.m., with fireworks at dusk.

NORTH BEACH SUN

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

34 HOME GROWN The burgeoning restaurant scene in Wanchese 36 STRAWBERRY FIELDS TOGETHER Pick the perfect berry REAL ESTATE

40 BUSINESS BRIEFS 42 TOWN REPORT What's happening all over the beach

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46 HOME SPOTLIGHT The Neal home in Southern Shores 50 IN LIVING CORAL Decorating with Pantone's color of the year 52 D.I.WHY NOT? The space between 54 OUT TO SEA Escape the world on a private island

67 Summer 2019 8

FROM THE DESK

11 BUT FIRST...

12 SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR OUTDOORS

16 LET THE GAMES BEGIN The Triple-S Invitational brings growth to Hatteras Island 20 TRUE BLUE BLOODS Harnessing horseshoe crab blood for science

22 GATEWAY TO ADVENTURE Checking in at the U.S. National Wildlife Refuges Center 26 SHORE SCIENCE Animals gone wild LIFESTYLE

28 FOUR IF BY SEA A tale of two beaches 30 UNDER THE SUN Floating art 32 THREE QUARTER SPEED Commuting to Carova by boat

ABOUT THE COVER: A bird's eye view of Jennette's Pier captured by Rich Coleman.

PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY OF: Cory Godwin, Rich Coleman, and Elizabeth Neal (clockwise from top).

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SUMMER 2019

58 SUMMER STYLE Refreshing your space for summer 60 MOOD BOARD Multi-functional and modern 62 SUN SALUTATIONS 64 FIVE FACTS Things you didn't know about Ocracoke's Berkley Manor FEATURE

67 SCENE FROM ABOVE A different look at some familiar Outer Banks locations FOLKS

73 OUR TOWN Five locals show how to do their towns, their way 80 FLIGHTS OF FANCY The Man WIll Never Fly Memorial Society THE LOCAL LIFE

84 JO LANGONE Chief operating officer of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund

N LEAOW SING

Coastal Living

A TA S TE OF

ON THE BEACH

AT ITS FINEST

KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC

First Class Amenities: Clubhouse Pool & Hot Tub Fitness Room Game Room Theater

Impeccable Interiors: 1-3 Bedrooms Stainless Steel Appliances Quartz Countertops Hardwood Style LVT Flooring Washer & Dryers Included

From $1380 per month • ACCEPTING PRIORITY RESERVATIONS FOR PHASE 2

RunHillApartments.com • 866.364.9534 • 1004 Run Hill Court, Kill Devil Hills Photos by Milepost Portraits • Professionally Managed by VR Real Estate Advisors, LLC

LUNCH • DINNER • TO-GO PARTY TRAYS Waterfront dining at the Wright Memorial Bridge 252-863-3001 • MasalaBayGrill.com

NEW! -Jump by the HourAsk about Weekly and Daily Summer Camps

728 US HWY 64 • Manteo • info@jumpmastersobx.com

jumpmastersobx.com • 252.423.3177

$1 OFF

OPEN JUMP TICKET Cannot be combined with other promotions.

Must bring coupon to redeem. Not for toddler time. Can be used for all guests.

NORTH BEACH SUN

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FROM THE DESK

STAFF PUBLISHERS

Adam & Cathy Baldwin EDITOR

Amelia Boldaji ART DIRECTOR

Dave Rollins The Outer Banks from above by Rich Coleman.

Adam Baldwin Dylan Bush WRITERS

Sometimes, it's just a matter of perspective.

WHILE WE’RE OFTEN ASKED WHAT IT TAKES to put together a quarterly magazine, the one thing people seem to want to know most of all is how we come up with our stories. And it’s a great question. Because, honestly, that’s half the battle – and it’s definitely one of the hardest parts of what we do.

Not too long ago we were trying to explain this process – and the constraints we often have to operate under – to a new graphic designer who was interested in contributing some ideas.

“Okay, so first we have to be able to relate the idea to the Outer Banks – but it doesn’t only have to be about the beach. Our slogan is ‘Good News for the Outer Banks,’ so we want it to be uplifting, but not too trite. And we don’t want to do anything that’s been written about a thousand times before – so, we wouldn’t necessarily try to explain that the first flight happened here in 1903, but we could do a piece on the Wright brothers’ sister.” [Ed note: That story on Katharine and her invaluable contributions to her brothers’ historic achievements ran in our Summer 2018 issue.]

It’s a process that can seem infinitely complicated and hard to explain, but oftentimes it’s really just a matter of perspective. You take an idea and look at it from all angles until (hopefully) you eventually begin to recognize some side of it that’s new and exciting – or even simply surprising.

When it’s all said and done, it’s never a bad idea to try and see things from a different point of view, after all. Take summertime on the Outer Banks, for example. It may seem cliché to say, but when you live here year round, it can be easy to lapse into taking our area a bit for granted – and wind up becoming overly preoccupied with the long lines and traffic that go hand in hand with our busy season. But if we can remind ourselves – even every so often – to see our area through the eyes of someone visiting for the first time, we might begin to regain a certain appreciation for our lives here.

Case in point: This past winter we got a phone call from a woman in the Midwest who was planning her annual weeklong trip to the Outer Banks in July. Leafing through old North Beach Suns, she chatted excitedly about decades’ worth of memories that included everything from discovering new things and missing some old ones to watching her children grow up enjoying the beaches here for seven full days year after year. Making the journey to the Outer Banks was something she routinely started planning months in advance, because for her it wasn’t simply a vacation, it was about returning to a place deeply rooted in her life story.

And it was a good reminder for us at the magazine that it’s a worthwhile practice to both look ahead while also staying present in the moment, because perspective isn’t only about the angle. It can also mean taking the long and short view of things into account.

As always, we hope you enjoy this issue!

Publisher

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Editor

Cathy Baldwin • Amelia Boldaji Brian Boutin • Steve Hanf Catherine Kozak Katrina Mae Leuzinger Fran Marler • Amanda McDanel Meg Puckett • Arabella Saunders Abby Stewart • Kip Tabb Michelle Wagner Chloe Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rich Coleman • Lori Douglas Cory Godwin • Ryan Moser Lauren Nassetta Bell Elizabeth Neal Outer Banks History Center Daniel Pullen • Kati Wilkins SALES MANAGER

Helen Furr ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Sue Goodrich Tori Peters DISTRIBUTOR

Amy Boutin

The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by Access Media Group. All works contained herein are the property of the North Beach Sun and/or its contributors. Opinions, responses, and inquiries are always welcome.

NORTH BEACH SUN 115 West Meadowlark St. Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252.449.4444 editor@northbeachsun.com

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SUMMER 2019

GREAT SELECTION • GREAT PRICES • GREAT T-SHIRTS OVER 70 YEARS OF OUTER BANKS STYLE

Famous Big Duck towels, t-shirts and gifts

Corolla, NC TimBuck II • 252-457-1058 Duck Village Scarborough Faire • 252-261-1740 Duck Village Waterfront Shops • 252-255-5768 Kitty Hawk MP 4 Bypass • 252-261-1776

shopgraysobx.com • info@grays-sportswear.com • 1-800-382-5006

NORTH BEACH SUN

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Unique gifts worth making that “side trip” for

KITTYHAWK.COM • 1.877.FLY.THIS

ADVENTURE CENTER The Cliff Morrow Gallery

OVER 25 ADVENTURES

Fine Art • Photography • Pottery • Maps • Gifts for the Home

HANG GLIDING

Whimsical t-shirts, drinkware and more.

Find it all at

PARASAILING

The Cape Hatteras Motel

DOLPHIN TOURS

KITES • TOYS • GIFTS • APPAREL • JEWELRY • FOOTWEAR

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3 Plexicushion Indoor Courts 2 Outdoor Har-tru Clay Courts Fully Stocked & Equipped Pro Shop Racquet Stringing Fitness Center • Yoga Classes

Lessons Adult & Children's Clinics Video Analysis

PTR Professional Rick Ostlund

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ALL THE BEST SURF BRANDS

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SUMMER 2019

252-453-8525 court reservations suggested

252.441.6800

290 Audubon Drive • Corolla • Located across from The Hampton Inn

website: pineislandrc.com • email:pineislandrc@pineislandrc.com

Open to the Publ ic

BUT FIRST...

A NAGS HEAD ICON FOR DECADES, the fiberglass shark that graces the roof of the Austin Fish Company building near Jockey's Ridge is actually a full-size replica of the famous Great White shark caught by legendary Captain Frank Mundus and angler Donnie Braddick about 28 miles off New York’s Montauk Harbor in 1986. At 16 feet and 2 inches, and weighing in at 3,427 pounds, it was, at the time, the largest fish ever caught by hook and line.

Pictures celebrating the original catch are also on display inside the market, which the replica has called home since it was purchased by Jimmy Austin in the ‘80s from the Etheridge family in Wanchese. While Mundus is widely believed to have been the inspiration for the character Captain Quint in Jaws before he passed away in 2008, Braddick opted for a more peaceful life in Skyco on Roanoke Island where he still works as a commercial fisherman to this day.

The Great White replica atop Austin Fish Company in Nags Head (above). Donnie Braddick and Frank Mundus pose with their then record-breaking catch in 1986 for Good Morning America (inset left). Just prior to the catch, Donnie spotted a number of sharks feeding on a dead whale – and promptly jumped on the whale to get a shark’s attention with a piece of cantaloupe (inset right). "It seemed like a good idea at the time," he says. Inset photos courtesy of Donnie Braddick.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, A MASSIVE OLD SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA in downtown Manteo came to the attention of

A TREE GROWS IN MANTEO

North Carolina Forest Service Ranger John Van Riper. After taking some measurements, the Forest Service awarded the tree a final overall score in a bid to upset the reigning state champion in Martin County – but although it came up slightly short, it definitely made a mark. “Unfortunately, it’s not the champion,” John says. “But like many coastal species here in Dare County, it’s impressive all the same.”

CHEERS!

The North Beach Sun’s Holiday 2017 issue featured the Outer Banks’ four local Certified Sommeliers – John Wright of Sanctuary Vineyards, Sharon Huttemann of Trio Restaurant & Market, Dan Lewis of Coastal Provisions Wine Bar & Oyster Bar Café, and Simon Kaufmann of The Blue Point – and just this past October, Simon was the first among them to take things to the next level by becoming an Advanced Sommelier through the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers.

DARE COUNTY, DOWNTOWN MANTEO Height 69 feet Canopy (spread) 80 feet Trunk (girth) 156 inches Final overall score 246 points STATE CHAMPION, MARTIN COUNTY Height 59 feet Canopy (spread) 67 feet Trunk (girth) 246 inches Final overall score 322 points

(Info provided by the North Carolina Forest Service’s N.C. Champion Big Tree Database.)

Photo by Brooke Mayo.

Calling the three-day exam “immensely more difficult” than the one that earned him his certification, Simon (left) took the test along with 70 others in St. Louis, and was only one of 20-some people who passed. After taking a slight break, Simon plans to apply this fall for a chance to take the final level exam in 2020, and become a Master Sommelier – a title that’s been held by only about 255 people worldwide since the court was established in 1977.

NORTH BEACH SUN

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summer

Events 2019 ONGOING PICKIN’ ON THE PORCH CONCERT SERIES Select dates throughout the summer

Enjoy free bluegrass and acoustic bands throughout the summer in historic downtown Manteo. pickinontheporchobx.com SHAD BOAT RIDES Tuesdays throughout the summer

Boats depart from the Maritime Museum in downtown Manteo at 6 p.m., weather permitting. townofmanteo.com MANTEO FARMERS’ MARKET Saturday mornings throughout the summer

Buy fresh local fruits and veggies at this farmers’ market every Saturday morning in downtown Manteo. townofmanteo.com OBX 5-MINUTE BEACH CLEANUPS Select dates from May - September

Come prepared to clean up the beach, enjoy drinks, learn about single use plastics and local recycling programs, and, best of all, win some awesome local prizes. All cleanup supplies will be provided. Check Facebook for dates. facebook.com/obx5minutebeachcleanup ACOUSTIC SUNSETS May 2 – end of September (Thursdays evenings)

Sip local wine and listen to great acoustic bands on the north lawn of The Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg. sanctuaryvineyards.com OUTDOOR CONCERTS May 22 – mid-August (every Wednesday night)

Enjoy live music at the open-air venue of Dowdy Park in Nags Head. nagsheadnc.gov FARMERS’ MARKET

May 23 – October 10 (second and fourth Thursday of every month)

Stop by Dowdy Park in Nags Head each month for fresh fruits and veggies. nagsheadnc.gov ISLAND ART SHOW May 27, July 5, August 29, October 10

More than 20 local artisans showcase their work along with live musical entertainment at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center on Hatteras Island. Admission is free.

(443) 243-5870 CURRITUCK CORNHOLE TOURNAMENTS May 29 – September 11 (Wednesdays only)

Compete in weekly games at Whalehead in Historic Corolla Park for a chance to win a beach vacation donated by Brindley Beach. visitcurrituck.com WHALEHEAD WEDNESDAYS May 29 – September 11 (Wednesdays only)

Sample local wines and beer while listening to live music on the lawn of the Historic Corolla Park. visitcurrituck.com 12

SUMMER 2019

CHILDREN’S INTERACTIVE THEATER

June 25 – August 20 (select Tuesday mornings)

Bring the kids to weekly interactive shows at the Duck Amphitheater, featuring animals from the North Carolina Aquarium, performers from The Lost Colony and more. townofduck.com

Vacationing runners will enjoy this fun 5K series through the historic village of Corolla. Check the website for exact dates. theobxrunningcompany.com THE LOST COLONY May 31 – August 23

This fascinating drama – the longest running outdoor historical drama in the United States – brings to life the mysterious disappearance of the first English colonists, which happened right here on the Outer Banks. thelostcolony.org FIRST FRIDAY June 7, July 5, August 2

Downtown Manteo comes alive on the first Friday of each month from 6-8 p.m. townofmanteo.com BREW & ARTS June 10 – August 26 (Monday evenings)

Kids can play on the pirate ship while adults shop the artists' booths in the backyard of the Outer Banks Brewing Station at this free event. obbrewing.com CONCERT ON THE DUCK TOWN GREEN June 13 – August 29 (Thursday evenings except July 4)

Enjoy a free live concert with music ranging from modern indie rock to bluegrass on the Duck Town Green. townofduck.com FAMILY MAGIC SHOW June 19 – August 21 (select Wednesday mornings)

Illusionist Clive Allen of OBXtreme Magic performs incredible illusions and mind-bending tricks at the Duck Amphitheater. Tickets are required. townofduck.com WHALEHEAD KIDS’ DAY June 20 – August 15 (Thursdays only except July 4)

Bring the kids for a day of fun in Historic Corolla Park, including a bounce house and a mobile pirate ship brought by Will You Escape the OBX. visitcurrituck.com ROYAL TEA WITH THE LOST COLONY June 20 – August 22 (Thursday evenings)

Enjoy tea and sweets with the Queen’s Master of Ceremony and Sir Walter Raleigh, while waiting to be presented to Queen Elizabeth I. thelostcolony.org WANDA’S MONSTER – CHILDREN’S THEATER June 25 – August 21 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays only)

This charming children’s musical reminds the audience to that if they embrace what they fear, they just might find a friend. thelostcolony.org

June 27, July 18

These lively events feature the creativity of leading regional and Outer Banks artists, with raffles to benefit student scholarships through the Hatteras Island Arts & Craft Guild.

(252) 305-2220

MAY MEMORIAL DAY BEACH BLAST

ROCK THE CAPE FESTIVAL

Shake a leg on the lawn of the Historic Corolla Park to the music of Soul Intent in this free, familyfriendly outdoor concert. visitcurrituck.com

This celebration of local and regional music and art offers a full slate of activities from Rodanthe to Hatteras Village over the course of more than two weeks. rockthecapeobx.com

May 26

LIGHTHOUSE 5K

May 29 – September 11 (select Wednesdays)

AVON ART SHOW

May 27 – June 14

JUNE DARE DAY FESTIVAL June 1

Vendors and artisans line the Manteo waterfront during this long-running outdoor, family-friendly festival. townofmanteo.com WIND VOYAGER TRIPLE-S INVITATIONAL June 1 – 7

World-class kiteboarders compete in this multiday event at REAL Watersports in Cape Hatteras, complete with parties featuring Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys and The Roots. triplesinvitational.com OUTER BANKS FOOD TRUCK SHOWDOWN June 2

This event is guaranteed to be a tummy-tempting, toe-tapping good time as food trucks, breweries and local performers show off their stuff at The Soundside event site. soundsideevents.com MOVIE NIGHT June 6 – mid-August (every Thursday night)

Watch a movie under the stars at Dowdy Park in Nags Head. nagsheadnc.gov OUTER BANKS TINY HOME FESTIVAL June 8 – 9

This two-day festival features various tiny homes and their manufacturers. soundsideevents.com 9TH ANNUAL FAMILY FISHING TOURNAMENT June 8

Get hooked up in this family-friendly fishing tournament held at Jennette’s Pier. ncaquariums.com 8TH ANNUAL OUTER BANKS SUNRISE 5K & LITTLE KIDS’ CRAB CRAWL June 13

Rise and shine for this early morning, familyfriendly running event at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. theobxrunningcompany.com RUN, SWIM, RUN & 5K June 13, June 20

This land-to-sea race includes a 400-meter ocean swim near Jennette’s Pier. theobxrunningcompany.com

4TH ANNUAL SOUNDSIDE FUNFAIR June 13 – 16

Kick off summer with carnival rides, a giant Ferris wheel, cotton candy and more at The Soundside event site. A portion of proceeds benefits the Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County. outerbanks.org 37TH ANNUAL ROGALLO KITE FESTIVAL June 14 – 16

This free kite festival at Jockey's Ridge honors Francis Rogallo, inventor of the flexible wing, and features stunt kites, kite displays, kite instruction, kite making and more. kittyhawk.com UNDER THE OAKS ARTS FESTIVAL June 18 – 19

This two-day free art festival features talented artisans on the waterfront grounds of Historic Corolla Park. visitcurrituck.com THE FRITZ BOYDEN MEMORIAL YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT June 19

This catch-and-release style fishing tournament held at Avalon, Outer Banks, Nags Head and Jennette’s piers is open to anglers ages 16 years and under. ncaquariums.com CROWDER WITH COLTON DIXON – PRESENTED BY HIS GENERATION June 19

Spend the evening enjoying the sounds of Christian artists Crowder and Colton Dixon at Roanoke Island Festival Park. hisgen.org 8TH ANNUAL SUNSET 5K AND CAROLINA PIG PICKIN' June 20

Pirate’s Cove Realty presents this family-friendly running event at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. theobxrunningcompany.com SUMMER SLAM KAYAK FISHING TOURNAMENT June 22

This slam-style tournament targets drum, flounder and trout, and is a great warm-up event for the annual Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Tournament in September. kittyhawk.com NAGS HEAD BEACH RACE SERIES June 27 – August 15 (Thursdays)

Village Realty presents this 5k/1-mile race series through the Village of Nags Head. theobxrunningcompany.com

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summer

Events 2019 JULY 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE MOVE

27TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FIREWORKS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Celebrate the anniversary of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move with free lighthouse climbing, children’s activities and interpretive ranger talks. nps.gov KILLER DUNES 2-MILER & FUN RUN

Marvel at fireworks on the lawn of Historic Corolla Park while listening to live music and enjoying family-friendly activities. visitcurrituck.com TOWN OF KILL DEVIL HILLS FIREWORKS SHOW

July 1

July 4

Conquer the dunes at this run/walk event over Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head. outerbanksrunningclub.org FREEDOM 5K, 1-MILE RUN & FUN RUN July 4

Get the whole family into the race with these three events presented by Sun Realty at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall. theobxrunningcompany.com 15TH ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY PARADE & COMMUNITY CELEBRATION July 4

Cheer on this festive parade in downtown Duck followed by a celebration with live music at the Duck Town Park. townofduck.com

July 4

Watch a pyrotechnic display off Avalon Pier. kdhnc.com TOWN OF MANTEO 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4

Commemorate this national holiday with day-long festivities, including a concert by the 208th Army Band, an apple pie contest, a parade and fireworks. townofmanteo.com TOWN OF NAGS HEAD FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR July 4

Celebrate the Fourth with an evening of fireworks off Nags Head Fishing Pier. nagsheadnc.gov

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SUMMER 2019

Learn to fly stunt kites and watch large kite displays during this kiting event at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. kittyhawk.com

July 20 – 21

Watch talented skimboarders glide across the shoreline as they compete in this regional tournament in Nags Head. skimusa.org “LIGHT UP THE NIGHT” SUP EVENT & MOVIE NIGHT July 25

Attach a NOCQUA light to the bottom of an SUP for nighttime water fun at this fourth annual event at Waves Village Watersports Resort that includes a movie under the stars and free demos. kittyhawk.com 17TH ANNUAL ONE-DESIGN REGATTA July 27

This regional regatta held in Manteo is open to Optimist, 420 and Sunfish boats. townofmanteo.com

AUGUST OUTER BANKS WATERMELON FESTIVAL

NEW WORLD FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

There’s plenty for the kids to do at this summery event at the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head, including an inflatable waterslide, face painting, watermelon seed spitting contests and more. kittyhawk.com SURFING FOR AUTISM

Artists from all over the East Coast participate in this 38th annual juried outdoor art show in downtown Manteo. darearts.org RIP CURL GROM SEARCH

August 1

August 10

This autism awareness surfing event at Jennette's Pier partners two surfers and a therapist or a teacher with an autistic child. surfingforautism.com 6TH ANNUAL YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT August 10

Hook a big one at this annual fishing tournament in downtown Manteo. townofmanteo.com OUTER BANKS PIRATE FESTIVAL August 14 – 15

Learn pirate lore, meet Blackbeard’s crew and enroll the little ones in Scallywag School during this fun festival at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head. kittyhawk.com

August 14 – 15

August 15 – 16

Watch young surfers compete at this Rip Curl event at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. ripcurl.com OBX WEDDING FEST August 25

Meet and mingle with local wedding vendors at this wedding expo held at two venues: Jennette’s Pier and the Kitty Hawk Pier/Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom. obxwa.com WRV OUTER BANKS PRO August 28 – September 1

Top-rated surfers from around the world compete at this WSL QS1000 Event at Jennette’s Pier. wrvobxpro.com

OBX ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

DUCK JAZZ FESTIVAL

This annual show at the Hilton Garden Inn features paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, glass and more. A portion of artists' entrance fees are donated to the charities N.E.S.T. and Friends of Youth. facebook.com/obxartfestival OUTER BANKS TRIATHLON

This free, all-day event features national, regional and local acts at the Duck Town Park. duckjazz.com MUSTANG ROCK & ROAST

September 14 – 15

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July 13 – 14

September 4 – 5

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Love running and beer? Try the Outer Banks Independence Beer Mile presented by the Outer Banks Brewing Station, and join in on the fun after-party, too. theobxrunningcompany.com 41ST ANNUAL WRIGHT KITE FESTIVAL

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Participants can choose from Sprint, Olympic or Half in this annual test of endurance. obxse.com THE LOST COLONY WINE FESTIVAL September 28

This year’s festival features wines from around the world, regional cuisine, entertainment and seminars – all with a dramatic view of the Roanoke Sound from backstage at the Waterside Theatre. thelostcolony.org PARADE OF HOMES October 10 – 13

Tour a select group of new, remodeled or green homes all along the Outer Banks. obhomebuilders.org

October 12 – 13

October 19 – 20

Jam the weekend away listening to live bands while enjoying an oyster roast and a BBQ cook-off at Mike Dianna’s Grill Room in the Timbuck II Shopping Village in Corolla. Proceeds benefit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund and the Mustang Outreach Program. mustangmusicfestival.com OUTER BANKS SEAFOOD FESTIVAL October 19

Enjoy fresh, local seafood, cooking demos, mullet tossing, live music and more at this family-friendly event at The Soundside event site in Nags Head. outerbanksseafoodfestival.org

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What started out as an excuse for kiteboarding buddies to get together and earn some bragging rights has grown into the biggest annual event on Hatteras Island — and an economic boon for the local community.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

By Steve Hanf

16

SUMMER 2019

OUTDOORS

B

eyond stoked for her first-ever visit to the Outer Banks for the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational, Karolina Winkowska endured the nine-hour flight from her native Poland to New York City, a shorter hop to Norfolk, and then a rental car ride to Hatteras Island.

The ultimate downer awaited her.

“It was pouring rain for like a week. I had never seen such a heavy rain – our house was flooded,” Karolina recalls. “But as soon as it stopped, we enjoyed amazing flat-water kiteboarding spots and surfing conditions. It’s great to have such a variety of water conditions in one area.”

Those kinds of stories – minus, perhaps, the torrential downpours – are shared by many of the world-class competitors who descend upon Waves, Rodanthe and Avon for the annual kiteboarding festival. Those stories of falling in love with the wind and water of the Outer Banks also underscore the value of hosting marquee events such as the weeklong Triple-S, which takes place in Hatteras every June.

“It’s an international event,” explains Lee Nettles, executive director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. “I think that really helps build our brand, and supports our claims of having world-class water and world-class wind.”

This summer, the 14th annual Triple-S features 34 of the world’s bestknown wakestyle kiteboarders for seven days of “high-stakes heats and laid-back freeriding sessions” – as their website describes it – plus seven nights of rollicking parties after the sun goes down. More than $70,000 in prize money is also up for grabs in an event that is widely regarded as the crown jewel of competitive wakestyle kiteboarding.

Last year’s winners – Brandon Scheid of Oregon and Poland’s Karolina Winkowska – will be back to take on the world’s biggest and most advanced slider park, which is set up directly south of REAL Watersports in Waves.

And for the first time this year, men and women will earn equal shares of the prize money.

Not bad for an event that began almost a decade and a half ago when REAL Watersports founders Trip Forman and Matt Nuzzo simply invited some folks to their neck of the woods for a little fun.

“The first one came about as a very, very grassroots event,” Trip says.

“We basically invited all the slider riders in the world for a week of building features and riding them. We also had a self-judged event – riders voted on who was the winner. There was no trophy, no prize money.”

The event has grown over the years thanks to more sponsors, more competitors and more notoriety for the shallow, butter-smooth water of the Pamlico Sound. Prize money was awarded for the first time in 2011.

Concerts were added to provide evening entertainment. And there’s even a huge charity component to the event now.

“Over the course of 14 years it’s gone from being completely grassroots with nothing more than bragging rights, to the biggest kiteboarding event anywhere,” Trip says. “This is [the competitors’] favorite event of the year, hands down, for everything from the quality of the kiting conditions to the parties and the bands that come into town.”

The event is free for spectators except for three special nighttime events. The musical acts keep getting bigger and bigger, too – an appearance by 2 Chainz last year created plenty of buzz – and this year the Triple-S will host ticketed concerts featuring Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys and The Roots. The Sunset Swim Charity Fashion Show is another ticketed event that often includes some models from the community.

Even more impressive? Over the last three years, proceeds from the combined ticketed events have raised more than $113,000 for the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund.

“It’s epic,” Trip says. “There’s so much excitement and energy, and to be able to take something that big and then redirect the spotlight on the youth of Hatteras Island is just awesome.”

That’s exactly what Lee and others at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau love about the Triple-S as well. While it’s incredibly challenging to judge

continued> Brandon Scheid, the men’s 2018 Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational winner, hitting the Liquid Force reverse rainbow slider. Photo by Toby Bromwich, courtesy of REAL Watersports.

NORTH BEACH SUN

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“This event really puts Cape Hatteras on the map as

Clockwise from bottom left: REAL Watersports presenting a check to benefit the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund (Photo by Ryan Osmund); The Roots’ live waterfront concert at REAL in 2018 (photo by Nate Appel); Rider Colleen Carroll on the ION slider (photo by Toby Bromwich); From left to right, the top three women riders in 2018 were Annelous Lammerts in third place, Karolina Winkowska in first and Julia Castro coming in second (photo by Nate Appel). All photos courtesy of REAL Watersports.

the full economic impact of a non-ticketed event that lasts seven days, there’s little doubt that the community impact is tremendous. destinations world-wide, Case in point: Competitors often come from about 13 different countries. They bring friends and and that brings people here family with them. Other friends and family see them in action, and think about planning their own trips to the year round.”

Outer Banks. And the beat goes on.

“This event is covered in every kiteboarding -Trip Forman, magazine, on every kiteboarding website, and on REAL Watersports every kiteboarding social media platform,” Trip says.

“This event really puts Cape Hatteras on the map as one of the top kiteboarding destinations world-wide, and that brings people here year round.”

Because of that, the Visitors Bureau is happy to serve as a sponsor alongside Wind Voyager, Outer Beaches Realty, Cape Hatteras KOA Resort and many others.

Lee explains that an event like Triple-S is especially beneficial because it takes place during what the Visitors Bureau considers the “shoulder season” – the

one of the top kiteboarding

18

SUMMER 2019

time just before the largest number of out-of-town visitors arrive from late June throughout August.

“We spend most of our time, energy and dollars trying to grow the shoulder seasons and the offseason instead of cramming more people in during the summer,” Lee says. “We see value in supporting this event, because our message gets out to audiences beyond just the people who are already in our market.”

Of course, the Triple-S is only one event of many that does exactly that. From the Outer Banks Seafood Festival to the Hang Gliding Spectacular and other preeminent watersports events such as the Cape Hatteras Wave Classic, the OBX-Wind and the ESA’s Easterns Surfing Championship, a number of events help to positively reinforce how different the Outer Banks is from all the other beaches out there.

Brandon Scheid can vouch for that. The defending men’s champion, who is originally from Michigan and now resides in Oregon, lived on Hatteras Island from 2005 to 2014 while he worked for REAL. “I've been to a few places that are similar, but nothing quite compares to Hatteras Island,” Brandon says. “It’s special to be able to compete year after year and defend my championship. I love coming back, seeing my friends and riding some of the best conditions the East Coast has to offer.”

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19

OUTDOORS

By Arabella Saunders

WITH ABOUT 450 MILLION YEARS

horseshoe crabs have learned a thing or two about survival.

And for the past six decades, these coastal water dwellers have been helping humans out as well. Ever received a vaccination, an IV drip, or an epidural injection? The credit for that goes to a horseshoe crab’s exceptional immune system.

In 1956, Fred Bang, a researcher at the Marine Biology Laboratories in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, discovered a unique extract within the invertebrate's blood called limulus amoebocyte lysate – or LAL. When it comes in contact with potentially toxic bacteria, even at parts per trillion, LAL forms a clot around the toxins almost instantaneously, allowing scientists to easily detect if a substance has been contaminated with harmful bacteria.

“Currently, the way that most pharmaceutical and biomedical device companies test their product to make sure it’s not contaminated with potentially fatal bacteria is by using the LAL test,” says Kristen Dellinger, a senior researcher at Kepley BioSystems in Greensboro. “So a company doing quality control will be able to say, ‘Okay, this batch isn’t good.

It’s contaminated somehow and we need to go back to the process line and figure out what happened.’ Or, ‘There's no endotoxin contamination, and it can be distributed to hospitals or doctors or wherever healthcare professionals may be using it.’”

To extract the blood, a crab is placed in a metal harness and a needle is inserted into a soft spot underneath the back of its shell.

Oh, and another thing about their blood: It’s blue. Carolina Blue.

“These guys are true blood bloods,” says Terry Kirby Hathaway, a marine education specialist for North Carolina Sea Grant.

“Human blood turns red when it hits oxygen because it has hemoglobin in it, which is an iron-containing pigment. Horseshoe crab blood has hemocyanin in it, which turns blue when it hits oxygen, so it’s this milky-blue color when it comes out.”

Currently, major biomedical companies – many of which are concentrated in Delaware, South Carolina and Massachusetts – take anywhere from 10 to 30 percent of a horseshoe crab’s blood during the bleeding process.

“Companies get horseshoe crabs by contracting fishermen to pick them off from the shoreline during the May through June UNDER THEIR BELT,

TRUE BLUE BLOODS A common sight on Carolina beaches, Horseshoe crabs fulfill a vital role in the biomedical industry 20

SUMMER 2019

season when the crabs come up to lay eggs and breed,” Kepley BioSystems President Anthony Dellinger says. “Either that, or they’ll go out with nets and trawl for them.”

While this practice has transformed the biomedical industry, and is generally considered fairly sustainable, it has also contributed to a 26 percent mortality rate for the approximately 600,000 crabs collected each year, according to a 2017 report by Kepley BioSystems.

There are a couple of factors involved in this. After collection, the crabs are sometimes placed in uncontrolled environments – like in a pile on the bottom of a boat – to be transported. Eventually, a number of the crabs can be tossed back into the water without any restorative food or progress check-ups.

“Throughout the whole process, you can see figures anywhere from between a 15 to 30 percent mortality of the horseshoe crabs that are involved in this process,” Anthony explains. “And then there’s recent literature showing a lot of downstream effects where the horseshoe crabs are demonstrating differences in breeding and activity up to two years after the bleeding process.”

Due to these concerns, Kepley BioSystems launched the Horseshoe Crab Project in 2016, and it’s an impressive initiative that they hope will further transform the horseshoe crab harvesting industry.

“We felt comfortable with our background, as most of us have biomedical expertise, that we could employ some significant advancements in the way that the blood is being used for the industry,” Anthony says.

In September 2018, the National Science Foundation awarded Kepley BioSystems a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research feasibility grant to help fund the “ranching” aspect of their project. As part of implementing this model, the Dellingers and their team have collected approximately 50 horseshoe crabs to form a horseshoe crab farm.

“We can keep them in a semi-natural environment, and rather than bleeding them one time a year, we bleed them more often for less time. And we’re also able to monitor their health the whole time they’re with us,” Kristen says. “The companion to that includes developing a way to bleed them that’s different from the way it’s currently done.”

The Dellingers hope to have the opportunity to extend their grant from the National Science Foundation into Phase II, and discover other tangible ways to reform the horseshoe crab blood harvesting industry and improve the invertebrate’s quality of life.

“Fulfilling this mission would provide the framework required to ensure healthy and robust horseshoe crab populations that are necessary both ecologically and biomedically,” Anthony says.

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OUTDOORS

From their sprawling facility tucked away on the northernmost point of Roanoke Island, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service keeps our refuges flourishing by managing fire, water and humans

Gateway -TO -

THERE ARE 11 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES within a day trip’s distance from the Outer Banks, and all of them – along with a fish hatchery – are managed by the hardworking folks at the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center on Roanoke Island.

“With thousands of visitors to the Outer Banks, we decided to use this as a gateway to the other refuges,” says Bonnie Strawser, the center’s visitor services manager.

You might already be familiar with some of the closer refuges, like Pea Island and Alligator River, but you’re probably less familiar with the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center itself. Located at the northernmost point of Roanoke Island just before the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge which links the island to mainland Manns Harbor, it’s not nearly as well known as the neighboring Fort Raleigh National Historic Site or The Elizabethan Gardens.

But their sprawling LEED-certified facility includes a free museum stuffed with interactive exhibits and five surrounding walking trails.

And it’s also an office building for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees who manage refuges as far north as the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach and as far south as the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge.

That’s a huge area with a wide variety of terrain, including woodlands, marshes, beaches, farm land, rivers, lakes and estuaries. All kinds of native plant and animal life also call these refuges home, including more than 400 species of birds alone.

Adventure Photos by Ryan Moser / Story by Katrina Mae Leuzinger

22

SUMMER 2019

LIVE HARDWOOD GRILLED STEAKS AND SEAFOOD But refuges don’t always thrive on their own, and that’s where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service steps in. Their job is to make sure these refuges flourish, even as development continues to encroach on them.

“Our areas of wild lands are shrinking. More and more areas are being developed,” Bonnie says. “The animals have been squished into what’s left, so we have to manage every bit we’ve got.”

They do that primarily by managing water, fire, and people.

“Most people assume we spend a lot of time holding baby red wolves, but when you manage wildlife, your job is to provide food, water, shelter and a safe habitat,” Bonnie explains.

“Quite frankly, our job is managing dirt.”

Many people are familiar with controlled burns done to create better habitat for wildlife and provide a safe buffer for communities.

They may be less familiar with water management, in part because, as far as habitat management techniques go, it’s relatively new.

“Habitat management has evolved,” Bonnie says.

“Historically, all the wetlands were ditched and drained for lumber opportunities and such. But we’ve learned that if we manage the water level, we manage what plant life comes in – and having wetlands with a variety of plants is better for the local wildlife.”

It’s a lot better for humans, too. In 2011, the Pains Bay Fire burned through 61,000 acres of drained wetlands in and around the Alligator River The National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center facility Wildlife Refuge. That fire on Roanoke Island houses an information desk for visitors and a free museum (left). The museum has burned for more than 100 a number of interactive exhibits that help people days, but since then the U.S. learn more about wildlife and the ways the refuges Fish and Wildlife Service are managed (above). raised the water table in that area by 10 to 12 feet, preventing future wildfires on that scale.

And finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is responsible for managing the people frequenting the refugees. The service closes areas to human visitors as needed, regulates what they’re allowed to hunt or fish while there, and sometimes has to remind people not to bother the animals.

“If they’re moving away from you, you need to stop moving towards them,” Bonnie cautions. “You should be taking pictures of animals as they normally look anyway, not how they look when they’re running from you.”

That’s why educating the public is a huge part of what they do – and the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center was designed with that mission in mind.

It’s a state-of-the-art facility that might be a bit out of the way, but spending some time there is well worth it if you’re looking for an indoor wildlife experience on a rainy day. With a number of programs on offer and plenty of interactive exhibits that feature lifelike dioramas, historic re-creations and audio-visual productions, it provides the perfect opportunity to learn more about the plants and animals that call North Carolina and southeastern Virginia home.

And when it's time to venture outside, you’ll find black bears, alligators, sea turtles, red wolves, all kinds of migrating birds, and even several varieties of endangered plant life in abundance at the 11 wildlife refuges closest to our shores.

With a little bit of direction, the National Wildlife Refuges Center helps people find whatever they’re looking for outdoors – while also making sure that it’s all still there for generations to come.

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C A P E H AT T E R A S N AT I O N A L SEASHORE

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NORTH BEACH SUN

per u o r g d e r

ANIMALS GONE

d l i W

BY BRIAN BOUTIN, PH.D.

AH, SUMMERTIME. NICE WEATHER, WARM WATER AND PLENTY OF VISITORS FROM ALL OVER. And I’m not just talking about the crowds of vacationers who fill up the

beaches and restaurants. Summer also brings a whole host of temporary inhabitant wildlife to the Outer Banks – from the ubiquitous osprey and bright golden-yellow prothonotary warbler to toothy sheepshead and hard-fighting cobia – all here to make use of this region’s abundant resources. Many of these species are a common sight, though others might make you question whether you’re on the Outer Banks or somewhere more tropical.

Once on the brink of extinction, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) was historically rarely seen north of southern Florida. As the population rebounds (currently around 8,000 individuals), thanks to effective conservation measures, manatee sightings are becoming much more commonplace in areas not typically associated with the species. Since 1994, “Chessie” has been making a regular migration from Florida to the waters of Chesapeake Bay, while several other manatees have been documented traveling as far north as Cape Cod in recent years.

Here on the Outer Banks, manatees are regularly spotted leisurely lounging around Oregon Inlet Marina, Kitty Hawk Bay and even Currituck Sound. These aquatic cousins of the elephant are coming here for one reason: food. Seagrasses and freshwater submerged 26

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rk o t s d o o w

T a r po n

ent magnific ird frigateb

s p o t f i n ly f i s h butterf

SHORE SCIENCE

f lo r man ida atee

aquatic vegetation, the manatees preferred food sources (they are colloquially known as sea cows for good reason!), can be found in abundance in our estuaries and backwaters – and a prime manatee season for our region is July through September as the waters warm to their preferred temperature range.

But manatees are only one of several typically tropical/subtropical aquatic species that visit our waters in the summer. Come August, huge 100-pound-plus tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) become the target of many anxious anglers waiting to put their skills to the test against one of these “silver kings.”

Tarpon frequent the mouths of the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers, as well as the shoals and shallows of Hatteras Island in late summer, patrolling for mullet, crabs and other tasty morsels. Juveniles of reef fishes like the spotfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellatus) and red grouper (Epinephelus morio) also settle into the safe refuge of the Outer Banks’ seagrass beds and oyster reefs during June and July after catching a ride north on the Gulf Stream.

These species make the long migration offshore to hardbottom habitats in deeper water as temperatures cool in the fall.

More aerial wildlife make the trip to our sandbar during the heat of the summer as well – whether on purpose or by accident. Wood stork (Mycteria americana) breeding colonies have only been documented in the southeastern part of the state since 2005, but postbreeding individuals sometimes make the trip just a little further north to Hatteras Island to feed. These large wading birds have a face only a mother could love, and they’re more commonly found well south in Georgia and Florida.

And every so often, a few of our feathered friends just need a little lift. After coastal storms pass us by, tropical birds like the magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) can sometimes be spotted soaring through our skies, after having been caught up in the strong southerly winds and brought right to our doorstep.

Summer is a great time of year to be on the Outer Banks, after all. Everyone who vacations or lives here knows it, and so does a slew of wildlife. So get out there and enjoy the weather while it lasts – and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the sometimes surprising array of seasonal visitors enjoying it right alongside you.

Brian Boutin is a coastal scientist who lives and works in Kill Devil Hills along with his wife, two kids and a 18-month-old Plott hound. He’s also an avid surfer and fisherman who enjoys all of the natural beauty found on the Outer Banks.

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NORTH BEACH SUN

27

BEACH!

FOUR IF BY SEA

SHORE!

A Tale of Two Cities

By Amanda McDanel

FOR EVERY STAGE OF MY LIFE, THERE HAS BEEN A BEACH.

While I might have been born in landlocked Roanoke, Virginia, I worked hard to develop my gills over the years. Some people vacation in the mountains and take cross-country road trips or ski adventures, but any chance I get, I want to feel sand beneath my feet and salt air in my lungs.

Growing up, we vacationed in Myrtle Beach with its congested, crowded tacky perfection. Land of gift shops, tapdancing country singers and enough putt-putt courses to hone a very fine skill at a young age. I lived for pancake houses and the Pavilion full of glittering rides. Last year I even returned as an adult and took my two daughters who delighted in the same thrills that I did at their age.

However, upon finding the Outer Banks and calling it my home for more than 20 years, any other beach now pales in comparison.

There’s simply something magical about our sandy shores. You can truly compare any other beach to our own and come up wanting in most cases. Just try moving temporarily to another place and living with their version of a beach, and you’ll see the stark reality of how good we have it.

This was perhaps most evident to me when I was awarded a prestigious internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania during the last year of my master’s program, at which point I loaded up the car and moved all of my possessions to live in the sweltering city for a summer. The city itself didn’t bother me (once I learned to not buy more groceries than I could carry eight blocks back to my apartment), since it had its own chaotic living, breathing 28

SUMMER 2019

SHORE! BEACH!

atmosphere – but the weekends drove me completely bonkers.

Since it was summer, all week long my colleagues would talk about their plans for the upcoming weekend and heading to “the shore.” Now, this was before the hit show Jersey Shore, but I knew loosely what they meant, and that they were venturing to Delaware not New Jersey. They also had “house shares” which meant several people would go in together, rent a house at the shore for the whole summer, and rotate who stayed on which weekend. Overall, it seemed terribly complicated at the time.

Enter actually GOING to the shore, and the complication factor multiplied faster than Pauly D goes through a tube of hair gel. And, no. You cannot simply park, carry your chair and walk to the beach.

First, you have to figure out the parking situation with its Byzantine rules about where it is and isn’t legal to park and pay a fee. Then, you have to purchase a beach tag to display on your chair at all times, because if the authorities came by and you don’t have said paid permission, you can receive a hefty fine.

Okay, now you’re parked, have proper authorization to sit your butt in your chair at the beach, but you cannot just sit anywhere because you are only allowed

to swim at guarded areas! Ocean rescue only monitors a small section of the beach though, so that means that 14,387 of your closest friends are packed like sardines in a small section of the water between two poles.

Shark bait at its finest. Dosed with a side of tanning oil.

To top it all off, when you return to your chair, you can only pull out a cold O’Doul’s to refresh yourself since alcohol is banned from all the beaches.

To summarize: you pay to park, you pay to sit and then you pay in terms of sanity as the Smith family plays the chicken dance on their boombox three feet from your chair and little Timmy keeps bopping you on the head with his inflatable dinosaur as you attempt to swim in the water. You then load up the car and drive three hours back to the sweltering city, relay the weekend to your friends and make plans to do it all over again next weekend.

Hence, you can imagine my puzzlement at experiencing this for the first time…and then trying to explain it to my friends at home over a cold beer on a wideopen sandy beach with no one else surrounding us but the seagulls.

In short, yous guys can keep the shore. Y’all will find me on a long walk on Pea Island with a sand dollar as my only currency.

Amanda McDanel has lived on the Outer Banks for more than 15 years, is married, has two beautiful daughters and a dog that walks backwards. A collector of the unique and different, she has an MS in Child and Family Development, has taught cooking classes and is a successful entrepreneur.

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29

UNDER THE SUN

Ar t

F loating

THERE ARE LITTLE DIXIE CUPS EVERYWHERE, each filled with a pigment that’s brighter and more telling than the previous one. The energy in the air is electric, almost frenetic, and the clock is ticking. Every ingredient must be applied at exactly the right time 100 pounds. But while it once took a massive amount of time to shape those types of boards, before they start to dry. It’s like watching Picasso work on a timer – but in this case the the process became much more streamlined with the advent of using foam and fiberglass. medium is surfboards.

“These days you even have companies using computer numerical control machines, “It’s actually more like sculpting,” explains shaper and artist Rascoe Hunt, music thrum- which can cut the exact same shape every single time,” Rascoe says. “But the real creativity ming in the background as he smooths the rails with surgeon-like precision happens when you’re using a hand planer to go around the board. You just inside his Kill Devil Hills shop, Gale Force Glassing. don’t get that with a machine.”

As a teenager, his uncle taught him how to carve duck decoys. But surfing As a one-man show, Rascoe can now build or shape an average of nine “From nose to was his main passion from an early age, so it was soon apparent what his to 10 boards a week during the busy season – though he has been known to tail, the process main focus was going to be when it came to working with his hands. produce as many as 30 in that same time frame. And once a board is finally “I was a team rider for New Sun when I was in the ninth grade,” Rascoe in its entirety is a shaped, it’s off to the paint room next. says. “Before I knew it, owner Mickey McCarthy had me doing ding repair.”

But it’s never quite that simple, of course. work of art. There And that was only the beginning.

“There’s a variety of ways to get color on the deck of a surfboard,” Rascoe The next thing Rascoe learned was how to glass fins, and he eventually explains. “Air brushing water-based acrylic paint with a gun is one of them. are so many began to laminate the boards by watching other local masters such as David Foam brushes can also be used, and they’re probably the easiest. But another intricacies.”

Rohde.

‘60s style that has made a huge comeback is resin tints and pigments. To get “Surfboards are special,” Rascoe says thoughtfully. “From nose to tail, the psychedelic swirls everyone is after you can pour the resin directly onto the process in its entirety is a work of art. There are so many intricacies.” the board – but the trick is to move fast because you only have seven or eight In the early days, you weren’t getting a board under your arm without your fair share of minutes before your mixture begins to dry.” sweat equity either. Dating as far back as the sixth century, surfboards were hand-shaped And have you ever seen a board and thought it looked like your dad’s old Hawaiian shirt? from koa, balsa and other woods, with the end result sometimes weighing in at more than These days, cloth inlays are a popular option – all you have to do is mask off the edges of the

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PH OT OS BY CO RY GO DW IN / STO RY BY FR AN MA RLE R

board, roll the cloth out on the deck, and then saturate it with resin before rolling out any air bubbles.

“You can even get your business logo on a board,” Rascoe says with a wide grin. “Back in the day, we would take a picture, put it on a projector, then hold the board up and trace the image free-hand directly onto the deck – fortunately we’ve got better technology for that now!”

According to Rascoe, the true board craftsmen are the ones who can do resin pin lines – which is the art of drawing one or more lines to frame the rails of the board with razor-sharp hand-eye coordination.

“This is something I physically cannot do,” Rascoe says with a laugh. “I leave it to pros like Scott Busby from Natural Art in Hatteras, who is a pin line master.”

At long last it’s time for the board to reach its final destination: the glassing room. This is when the customer can decide if they want a more retro style board with glassed-in fins or if they prefer a wooden tail or a nose block. And while the full process is messy, jagged and often rough, Rascoe can’t get enough of it.

“There’s something beautiful about it,” he says. “I’m still in awe. It’s something I never dreamed I’d be doing, but here I am.”

Clockwise from left: Rascoe with a handful of creations he made for Murray Ross Surfboards; Working against the coating it with bright blue tinte clock, Rascoe floats the edge of a new board, d resin; Laying out and glas sing in a bright fabric inlay; Mixing colors is not an exa ct science, but to get it con sistent takes a lot practice.

Taking it another step further, the piles of leftovers that seem like rubbish to the untrained eye also get some second-hand love in Rascoe’s shop. Old, damaged-beyondrepair boards get chopped and turned into oversized fantasy fish sculptures, scraps of wood are repurposed as one-of-a-kind fins, and all those inevitable dried-up cups of resin are donated to local artist Mark Slagle who refashions the most colorful bits into unique pendants for necklaces and earrings.

“There have been a lot of changes in the surf industry over the years,” Rascoe says. “But the art and the passion behind it are still the driving forces.”

A native of South Carolina, Fran Marler earned a B.A. in English from Coastal Carolina University. With a love of travel and all things water related, she and her husband have been residents of Kill Devil Hills for the past 12 years. Always keen for a good story, Fran is sure to be found wherever she is with a pen in hand, sharing her passion for writing.

NORTH BEACH SUN

31

LIFESTYLE

Speed TH RE E Q UARTE R

P H OTO BY CO RY G O DW I N S TO RY BY M E G P U C K E T T

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TH E FA STE ST WAY B E T WE E N T WO P O I NTS I S A STR AI G HT LI N E . N OTH I N G CO U LD B E TR U E R WH E N YO U N E E D TO MAK E A DAI LY CO M M UTE TO C AROVA .

IF

Tab Winborne and his dog, Archie, make the daily commute between job sites in Carova and their home base on Knotts Island by boat.

you’ve spent any amount of time around here, you’ve probably heard the term “Outer Banks time.” It can be frustrating if you’re recently transplanted, or a super type-A personality.

It’s the Northeastern North Carolina version of “island time,” and it means you’ll get there when you get there…as long as the surf isn’t good, the fish aren’t biting and the tides aren’t high.

Relax, you’re on Outer Banks time!

Believe it or not, this way of life was borne out of necessity (as most things usually are). This can be a pretty unforgiving place to live, after all. We’ve got weather and tides, sands that constantly shift, salt that corrodes everything, and a seasonal lifestyle that doesn’t really mesh with the rest of the world’s schedule (Summertime vacations? Are you kidding me?).

Flexibility is the key to not letting an unmovable force, like high season or the weather, run you right over.

For someone like Tab Winborne, who has spent his entire life commuting by boat back and forth between Knotts Island and Carova, taking into account the wind, weather and tides is so integral to his daily life that it’s akin to brushing his teeth in the morning.

“Well, I don’t really think about it that way,” Tab replies when asked if having to pay such close attention to the wind direction is a chore. “It’s just a part of everything. It’s not something you think separately about when you’re planning your day.”

Carova, which is the unpaved community just north of Corolla that ends at the Virginia border, and Knotts Island, which is actually a small peninsula that’s shared by North Carolina and Virginia, are both strikingly remote compared with the neighboring Outer Banks areas. And there’s a reason for that, which mostly boils down to access.

To get from Carova to Knotts Island by car, it can take more than two hours. You can also bike there through False Cape State Park in three hours – or you can jump in a boat and be drinking a beer at Pearl’s before your buddy in the car even makes it to Corolla. Tab makes this commute several times a day, and it’s one of the reasons he’s been so successful with his construction business on the northern beaches of Carova.

While his competitors have to make a 100-mile (or more) commute by truck, Tab’s three-mile boat ride from his home on Knotts Island means that he’s able to get supplies and manpower to job sites efficiently and economically.

But it’s not always that simple of course, as people who have been making similar trips across the Currituck Sound for centuries now can attest. William Byrd II even wrote about struggling to get through the muddy muck when the water was blown out while he was leading surveying expeditions to establish the North Carolina-Virginia border in the 1700s.

And that wasn’t a fluke. On a good day, the sound is about three feet deep. On a bad day, there’s no water at all, and the mud is so thick it can swallow your boots as you sink down to your knees in it. Times like that, Tab just rearranges his schedule and rolls with the wind.

So, what’s the best part about this life?

“Days like today,” Tab says with a smile as he looks out across the sound at the greening trees along the Carova marsh line, and the early April sunshine reflecting off the water. “There’s nothing like it anywhere. I just love bringing clients here for the first time. You’ll have a guy from New York who left the city around lunchtime, and by dinner he’s on a boat heading across the sound with nothing around but water and trees. He’s a world away from home, and it only took him a few hours to get here.”

Much like anything these days, this lifestyle has not been spared from the changes brought on by increased visitation and development though. More and more people are commuting to the Outer Banks by boat from Knotts Island, and a lot of them are far from experienced enough to navigate the shallow, turbulent waters. There’s a concern for safety as boat traffic increases, and issues with parking on either side of the water. But at the same time, there’s a community of people who are well invested in the relative ease of using boats as their primary mode of transportation.

Fortunately for newcomers, many residents love to show off this paradise to out-of-towners, and instill in them a respect for the power and beauty of the barrier islands and the Currituck Sound. They are welcoming to those who are just discovering the area, while maintaining a way of life that’s been passed down for generations. They prove that change can coexist with tradition, and that old ways don’t have to be lost to progress.

People like Tab, and others who regularly commute between Knotts Island and Carova, have years of practice and an institutional knowledge of the way these waters work. They know the Currituck Sound like the back of their hand, including how to navigate the shallow parts and the current, what to expect with a shift of the winds, and, like Tab, they often have multiple boats for different kinds of conditions.

Whether they’re making a grocery run to Virginia Beach or ferrying building supplies to job sites on the Outer Banks, many folks are equipped to make it safely across the sound. And they know when to wait a day or two for the winds to change.

“I guess I’m lucky to have this kind of life,” Tab explains. “It can be hard sometimes, logistically, but you just have to watch the weather and work around it.”

When your days fully revolve around the weather, you can safely say you are living on Outer Banks time. It can take some practice if you haven’t been here long, but before you know it, you’ll find yourself checking the tides while you make your coffee, and accepting the fact that most appointment times come with an “-ish” attached to them.

And there’s one thing you can always count on – whether you’re stuck on the beach in Carova, sitting in traffic on Duck Road, or hitting Hampton Roads right at rush hour, Tab will probably already have been across the sound and back again.

Twice.

As long as the water’s not blown out. If that’s the case, he’ll get to it tomorrow.

NORTH BEACH SUN

33

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Home Grown Restaurants and vendors who favor fresh and local ingredients are finding a home in Wanchese ON THE SOUTHERNMOST END OF ROANOKE ISLAND, only a few miles from the bustling beach towns of the Outer Banks, lies the historic fishing village of Wanchese. Here, life revolves around the tides, a robust boat building industry thrives, and weathered docks regularly fill with the daily catch of seasoned watermen.

The village’s rich heritage and charming character aren’t the only draws of this harbor town, however. As any native will attest, it’s a place that prides itself on self-sufficiency and working waters – so it’s likely no surprise to discover that the village’s wide variety of offerings have increasingly made it a premier destination for those in search of great cuisine.

Wanchese fishermen have been bringing home seafood for generations, and as the demand for locally sourced food has grown in recent years, this small town has earned a well-deserved reputation for its contributions. Whether it comes down to selling fresh seafood at the docks, harvesting produce for the market or serving customers for lunch, one thing is certain when it comes to the Wanchese food scene – you can count on a good bit of it being grown, raised or caught virtually right there at the spot.

A testament to the demand for that is the Secotan Market – a modest, open-air shelter on the edge of town that comes alive for two days a week during the summer to feature the bounties of local farmers and artisans. Managed by the husband-and-wife team of Ladd Bayliss and Eric Soderholm, the market debuted just last year in May 2018.

“We really believe every village on the Outer Banks should have their own market,” says Eric, who grows shiitake mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, ginger and other specialty

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Photos by Ryan Moser Story by Michelle Wagner

produce alongside Ladd at Croatan Gardens, the couple’s small plot of land located almost directly behind the market.

Secotan hosts nearly 20 vendors from around the region, and visitors can shop for products from producers such as Somerset Farms in Edenton, Manteo-based Hay Point Live Culture Foods, Healthy Portions Family Farm in Creswell, the Happy Bee in Jarvisburg, Carawan’s Blueberries of Swan Quarter and Babin Apiary of Rodanthe.

Everything from pasture-raised, non-GMO eggs and meats and locally raised honey to composting worms, bath teas and produce are often available. A select number of artisans also sell their wares on a rotating schedule, but both Ladd and Eric agree that the market is centered around regional food.

It can be challenging to make it as a small producer, notes Eric, and that’s what inspired the couple from the beginning.

“One core value of ours is that it’s a producer-only market,” Eric says proudly.

Just a few miles away from the market on Old Wharf Road, visitors have also begun to discover other relative area newcomers such as Johanna’s Café Lachine. Tucked off the road in the former Queen Anne’s Revenge restaurant, owner Johanna Lachine has breathed new life into an old treasured landmark by renovating the interior with her own unique style and feel.

Before moving into the space last November, Café Lachine operated out of a strip mall just south of the Outer Banks Hospital for seven years. But it’s clear Johanna has settled right into her new small-town setting.

“It feels more like me,” says Johanna, who specializes in full-service catering and special events, and carries a popular lunch menu. “What I’m really trying to do is serve fresh, clean food that supports the local [producers].”

Part of the cafe’s charm is that it’s also sprinkled with products from around the region – from pecans to small-batch roasted coffee, fermented kombucha and sea salt.

“I just saw so much potential here,” Johanna says. “I love everything about it.”

®

Clockwise from bottom left: O’Neal’s Sea Harvest is tucked in next to Outer Banks Marina in bustling Wanchese Harbor; A variety of seafood fresh from the source at the O’Neal family market; Daily specials are ever-changing at spots like Johanna’s; Local foods and other goods are driving the evolving Wanchese culinary scene.

One thing she enjoys most about her new location is that she doesn’t have to go very far at all to get the fresh seafood that’s frequently featured on her menu. Only a short trip from her front door is O’Neal’s Sea Harvest, whose fresh-off-the-boat seafood is often incorporated into her dishes.

The O’Neal family has operated a fish house in Wanchese Harbor that supplies many of the area restaurants for the past 24 years – but until recently they only had a small-scale makeshift market that allowed them to offer their catch directly to the public. Six years ago, however, they seized the opportunity to offer their customers something different – quick, fresh meals that feature the very catch they bring into the harbor daily.

Benny O’Neal says that they opened the seafood market and restaurant at its current location on Harbor Road after they purchased the building from the state. His son-in-law, Britt Harper, now operates the restaurant side of things.

“It’s not large, but we’ve been very blessed,” Benny explains of the restaurant that serves a small but popular selection of dishes for lunch. “It’s simple. We don’t have any waitresses, you just order it, and pick it up at the window.”

The restaurant enjoys a number of regular customers, many of whom work next door as fishermen and boatbuilders, but residents from nearby towns and other visitors have also begun to discover the diverse Wanchese culinary spots like O’Neals that take full advantage of their proximity to the harbor.

“It was a little idea that has worked out really well,” Benny says. “And we get a lot busier in the summer!”

Ideas that start small and grow seems to be a theme as the Wanchese food scene continues to evolve over the years. True to its roots, this fishing village will always be a destination of note for hungry people looking for something truly one-of-a-kind – especially if they’re seeking a bit of the homegrown goodness that lies at the heart of every meal that’s brought to the table.

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FOOD & BEVERAGE PH OTO CO U RTESY O F L AU REN NASSE T TA BELL / STO RY BY A BBY STEWA RT

THE PEACEFUL PRACTICE OF STRAWBERRY PICKING can truly lay the plant. Instead, gently pop the berry from its stem and place it in out a red carpet for summer’s grand entrance in Eastern North Carolina. your basket.

Blueberries are a little different, because their bushes are taller, Bringing friends and loved ones together in search of Mother Nature’s ruby jewels is a beloved tradition for many in this area, and biting into a and the rows at the Point Harbor Pick-Your-Own are nice and wide for easy picking. No bending or kneeling is required either when blueplump, juicy berry straight off of the vine can be one of life's tastiest treats.

Point Harbor Pick-Your-Own, located about a half mile north of the berry picking, so it’s a great activity to bring the grandparents along Wright Memorial Bridge in Currituck, is the local place to be for those who – just try to avoid picking during the hottest time of the day if you want to be as comfortable as possible. love freshly picked strawberries and blueberries. The fields are always full of people both young and old: friends enjoying a fun day together, lovers Strawberry season on the Outer Banks begins in late April, peaks around on a day date, and parents guiding berry-smeared toddlers around.

Mother’s Day, and usually concludes around the end of May or early June. Keeping the Like many people, that’s how I got my start, in fact – adventuring with berry goodness going however, local blueberries bloom into picking season around the my mom, eating more berries than collecting them, and wearing even more than that. end of June or early July, and typically continue through August.

Today, more than 30 years later, we continue to go back every season to collect those As for what to do with your picked bounty after the season is over, try freezing your berries immediately after picking them in order to lock in their freshness. To do so, first delectable berries and reminisce about all the time we’ve spent together there.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice in the fields, strawberry picking is a rinse your freshly picked strawberries and allow them to dry, then hull them using a simple endeavor as long as you’re able to walk around and do some bending down. Just quarter teaspoon to remove the leaves and the remaining stem. Next, freeze the hulled gather together your favorite people, and head to the patch with a container to carry strawberries on a cookie sheet for about an hour until they’re firm to prevent them from your berries home. Once there, make your way to the least-crowded row, and begin sticking together, at which point you can transfer them to a freezer bag. Blueberries, on your search by shuffling between the rows of berries (just be careful not to cut straight the other hand, can be frozen together from the start as they will still pop apart easily. through them!).

Frozen strawberries and blueberries are perfect for smoothies and fruit salads, and To maximize your search efforts, look for strawberries that are a dark red, with little they can also top your favorite cereals, yogurts or desserts, no matter what season it is. to no discoloration or spotting. Size doesn’t really matter, since it can depend on the Strawberries will even keep in the freezer for about three to six months, and blueberries can keep for up to 10 months. variety, but generally speaking, smaller strawberries tend to be a little sweeter and juicier than their larger counterThere are likely fresh, local berries to be picked and Strawberries are a sweet treat for little ones at the enjoyed here, so consider adding a little al fresco family parts. And when you do come across the perfect berry, Pick-Your-Own fields in Point Harbor. don’t pull too hard since that can rip or friend time this season – and get ready to bring home something sweet from the pickin’ patch. other stalks off of

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REAL ESTATE

business briefs COM PI LED BY CATH ERI N E KOZ AK

Marc Basnight Bridge Replaces Herbert C. Bonner Bridge On a day celebrated by many Outer Bankers, the new bridge over Oregon Inlet was officially dedicated the Marc Basnight Bridge on April 2. After nearly 30 years of stopand-go planning that was plagued by budget shortages, design changes, agency disagreements and lawsuits, construction of the 2.8-mile bridge was finally completed earlier this year and opened to traffic on February 25.

The bridge, named in honor of the retired Manteo Democrat who served in the state Senate from 1984 to 2011, cost $254 million and is engineered to last 100 years, with extra deep pilings and stainless-steel reinforced concrete. It also features seven navigation spans that allow boats the flexibility to transit under the bridge in the safest channel. While the old Bonner Bridge will be demolished, much of the material will be placed on ocean fishing reefs. A 1,000-foot section of the old bridge will also be maintained on the south side of the bridge for use as a fishing pier.

Dare County’s First Golf Club Turns 50

Left to right: Frank Stone and Mo Moore, founding club members, and Roger Harman, first greens superintendent, review a diagram of the proposed golf course. Photo courtesy of the Duck Woods Country Club.

Duck Woods Country Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 22 with a day full of activities and an evening time capsule ceremony, dinner and dancing. Plans for the first golf course on the Outer Banks began in March 1964, and two years later, 250 acres of maritime forest were donated by the Kitty Hawk Land Company. Construction of the 18-hole course, designed by golf architect Ellis Maples, began in 1967, and the clubhouse opened its doors on June 8, 1969. Today, the membership-only facility, located off Dogwood Trail in Southern Shores, offers dining, a fitness center, tennis courts, a pool and year-round recreational and social events. It is also a favorite wedding venue.

Changes in the Works for COA Dr. Robert Wynegar, president of the College of the Albemarle, informed the college’s board of trustees on March 18 that he intends to resign for personal reasons at the end of his two-year contract on June 30. The board announced it would engage a search committee in order to seek and review applicants to replace Wynegar, which may take several months.

Mid-Currituck Bridge Plans Move Forward REAL ESTATE

market snapshot Compared to the first quarter of 2018, residential real estate sales on the Outer Banks continue to go up, but land sales have shown a sharp decline, according to the March 2019 MLS Director Report from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors. The number of listings under contract has steadily increased since December and risen by nine percent, from 414 to 451, over last March, the highest climb since May 2017. Median sale prices are also up four percent over last year, from $325,000 to $339,500.

Residential inventory is up nine percent as well in comparison to last March, from 1,508 to 1,651, the highest it’s been since June 2017. But the picture from last year with lots and land has shown some decline, with sales down 33 percent in March and median prices down 50 percent.

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The long-planned proposed bridge project between the Currituck mainland and the northern Outer Banks was allowed to proceed in March. With the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of the Record of Decision, the N.C. Department of Transportation and the N.C. Turnpike Authority can now seek environmental permits and rights of way. The proposed 4.7-mile bridge would cross the Currituck Sound from Aydlett to Corolla, potentially cutting down on visitors’ travel time by about an hour.

The estimated $491 million project, which also includes a 1.5-mile bridge over Maple Swamp, is further expected to decrease traffic congestion on U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 in lower Currituck County and upper Dare County. Barring a lawsuit, construction of the bridge is expected to start in the spring of 2021.

Outlet Mall Gets a New Name Tanger Outlet Mall in Nags Head has been sold to Chicagobased The Outlet Resource Group, and will be renamed Outlets Nags Head. According to an April announcement from Tanger Outlet Centers, Inc. in Greensboro, the Nags Head location was one of four “non-core” outlet centers sold for gross proceeds of $130.5 million. Meanwhile, children’s retail store Gymboree has gone bankrupt, and will be replaced at the Nags Head outlet mall by Outer Banks Olive Oil, Wine and Cigars.

Abandoned Building on Bypass to Be Replaced Construction of a new 28,000-square-foot gas station and a convenience store was given the go-ahead in April by the Kitty Hawk Town Council. The plan, submitted by developer Eddie Goodrich, includes access ways from Woods Road and U.S. 158 and a median on the highway. The station will be located on the 6.25-acre site of a long-abandoned building that is expected to be demolished prior to the initial new construction this summer.

State Ferry Tweet Upgrades People seeking access to the latest information about ferry travel in North Carolina can now find it more readily on their smart phones. The N.C. Ferry Division has created six new Twitter feeds that provide real-time, route-specific details on delays, conditions or cancellations in push notifications sent directly to people's devices.

The new feeds for each route include: Currituck-Knotts Island @NCFerryCTuck Hatteras-Ocracoke @NCFerryHatteras Cedar Island and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke @NCFerryPamSound Bayview-Aurora @NCFerryPamRiver Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach @NCFerryCHBranch Southport-Fort Fisher @NCFerrySPort System-wide news will continue to be available at @NCDOT_Ferry, or online at ncferry.org.

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REAL ESTATE

town report COM PI LED BY CATH ERI N E KOZ AK

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR TOWN? HERE’S A REPORT FROM ALL OVER THE OUTER BANKS.

Kitty Hawk Construction of a living shoreline is being done along Moor Shore Road to forestall additional erosion and to buffer the properties alongside Kitty Hawk Bay. The project includes the construction of seven vertical sills that act like speed bumps to decrease the effects of wave energy. While much of the 600-foot-long sills should be in place by spring, the second part of the project includes marsh grass plantings, which will happen over the course of this summer and next summer. The $270,000 cost of this project has been shared by the town of Kitty Hawk, Dare County and the N.C. Department of Transportation. Moor Shore Road is one of the oldest roads in Dare County, but its real claim to fame is that the Wright brothers trudged along it going back and forth from Kill Devil Hills for their flying experiments during the early 1900s.

Kill Devil Hills The N.C. Department of Transportation has started to acquire private property along Colington Road, where a long-awaited 4.3-mile road improvement project is expected to start this year. The winding and often busy two-lane road off U.S. 158 near milepost eight frequently floods, and its narrow pavement is largely considered a hazard for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. The upgrades will include raising the road, adding shoulders, and resurfacing and widening the roadway. The county will also replace outdated water lines alongside the road while the project is underway.

Nags Head

Currituck County In April, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) named Currituck County a winner of NCDOT’s inaugural Mobi Awards for the Corolla Greenway multi-use path. The 4.5-mile project runs along N.C. 12 in Corolla, is ADA-accessible and has pocket parks along the route.

The Mobi Awards honor towns, cities and counties in North Carolina that incorporate different modes of transportation into projects with the goal of making travel more enjoyable and efficient. Winners were chosen in one of five categories: rural, suburban, urban, tourism and innovation. The Corolla Greenway won in the suburban category, and was awarded for its third phase which connects Ocean Sands to Monterey Plaza.

Duck The Duck Town Council heard a proposal in April from its surf rescue contractor for additional lifeguard stands and manpower that will be needed in the coming years. According to the presentation, there can be up to 4,000 people on the beach in Duck on any given summer day, and as many as 1,700 people in the water, spread out over six miles of the coastline. For 2020, the contractor recommends that the town should add two additional lifeguard stands, increase lifeguard pay, add two to four lifeguards in October, and begin an international recruiting effort of Australian lifeguards through the temporary H-2B visa.

The cost would be $90,000.

Southern Shores As a way to control density, the Southern Shores Town Council voted narrowly in April to limit the septic capacity for new construction and to cap the number of overnight occupants to 14 at rental properties under a new definition of vacation cottages. Since a 2015 state law began restricting local governments from putting limits on the number of bedrooms, the town has been struggling to find a way to control the sizes of new construction. It voted previously to put a limit of 6,000 square feet on single-family constructions, but two 12-bedroom houses currently under construction have been designed within the square footage requirement.

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The Nags Head Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance in April that requires Airbnb and other short-term rental services to be registered annually. The new rule, which reflects what’s in the N.C. Vacation Rental Act, also requires contact information, additional parking and proof of liability insurance coverage. Fines for not registering would start at $100, with each additional day adding $50. The ordinance does not apply to rental management companies.

Manteo In March, the Manteo Planning Board decided to create a 13-member steering committee to start work on updating Manteo’s next 20-year plan that was approved in 2003. The board agreed that members should be comprised mostly of residents who represent different segments of the town.

First implemented in 1982 prior to the 400th anniversary celebration of the Roanoke Voyages, Manteo’s initial 20-year plan provided guidance for the community and its leaders to restore the waterfront business community and other sections of town, and established a vision for the town’s future. The plan has been lauded nationwide for its community-driven approach to planning growth and its commitment to ensuring the protection and enhancement of its resources.

Dare County Plans for a new campus for the College of the Albemarle (COA) in Dare County got a significant boost with recent legislation that freed up $1.5 million in state bond revenue.

The funds will be added to $6 million budgeted by Dare County to build a new community college facility at the location of the former Manteo Middle School on Roanoke Island.

Dare County Manager Bobby Outten said that the construction is expected to take about two years to complete. The county also hopes to renovate the old COA campus to use for Dare County Schools.

The new COA facility is part of the county’s joint effort with COA to expand educational opportunities in the area, including collaborative programs with high school students and cooperative relationships with East Carolina University and other higher learning institutions in the state. This summer, the COA Dare campus is adding several general education classes to its schedule that will help students satisfy course requirements.

The new offerings include English, Writing/Research, History, American History, Art, Art Appreciation and Music, and Music Appreciation.

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COROLLA – OCEANSIDE – Three lots from the oceanfront, this 4BR/2.5BA home in Ocean Sands resides within an X flood zone and would make a wonderful vacation rental. Only 300 feet to ocean and 100 feet to tennis court! Large dining area and bright open kitchen with NEW stainless appliances & brand-new kitchen flooring.

Freshly painted inside and out. Worry-free electric fireplace! A fantastic floor plan.

Selling fully-furnished. $399,900 SSR#8718

DUCK – OCEANSIDE – This 4BR/2.5BA cozy cottage in Duck is just what you’ve been looking for! Located within an X Flood zone – and only 400 yards to the beach – the home offers the perfect setting for anyone looking to own on the OBX. $439,900 SSR#8711

SOUTHERN SHORES- SEMI-OCEANFRONT - Well built, well maintained, 5BR/5.5BA home. Solid rental history and great ocean views from the top and second levels.

Handicap friendly hallways and doorways. Top level great room and tiled kitchen with granite countertops. Private beach access with boardwalk to a dune deck. $1,289,000 SSR#8751

MARTIN’S POINT – CREEKFRONT – This is a beautifully planned, wonderfully maintained 4BR/3.5BA home with amazing water views of Jean Guite Creek and the open sound! Energy saving features. The kitchen has abundant cabinets and pantry.

Lovely cherry-stained hardwood floors! The storage in this home is amazing. An absolute MUST SEE! $668,500 SSR#8749

SOUTHERN SHORES – SOUNDFRONT – This 5BR/4.5BA contemporary home is located on one of the highest lots in Southern Shores and the sunset views over the water are exceptional! The floor plan upstairs is an expansive, wide open area with great views! The woodwork on the ceiling of the dining and main living room is warm and attractive. The floor plan gives you lots of options and guests have their separate space on the first floor. Enjoy the gas fireplace, hot tub, elevator, high covered carport(s), landscaped yard and unreal views from the house and decks.

This is a sought after area with fantastic sunset views. $789,000 SSR#8748

SOUTHERN SHORES – OCEANSIDE – Enjoy Ocean views from this 5BR/4.5BA rental property in Southern Shores! The home has an elevator, a private pool, two hot tubs, spacious decks, a game room, a bonus room, and so much more! Great vacation home with rental income. $779,500 SSR#8599

COROLLA – WESTSIDE – One of the most impressive homes in Monteray Shores!

This former showcase model home was built with state-of-the-art designs, materials and appliances. Elaborate tile work, upgrades, and furnishings throughout.

6BR/5.5BA home with fantastic HOA amenities. $559,900 SSR#8604

KITTY HAWK – SEMI-OCEANFRONT – This 6BR/4.5BA home in Kitty Hawk has outstanding ocean views and is only 65-yards from a beach access! The property fronts the beach road (VA Dare Trl) but feels like an oceanfront home. Private pool, hot tub, both sun and covered decks, and plenty of parking! $695,000 SSR#8626

DUCK – WESTSIDE – This 4BR/2.5BA has incredible views and is located in an X-flood zone! From the top deck you have 180 degrees of ocean and sound side views. This beach house is in FANTASTIC condition and the appliances have been updated. The Tuckahoe community offers a swimming pool and tennis court just a few steps away, private beach parking and a sound side dock and pier. Located near shopping and restaurants. Sold fully furnished and ready to go! $436,000 SSR#8770

DUCK - OCEANSIDE - Beautifully updated, bright and airy oceanside 2BR/2.5BA town home. 145 yards from beach access and walking/biking distance to Village of Duck shops and restaurants! Multiple new decks allow outdoor enjoyment. The building is well-built, well-insulated and has abundant closets and storage. Nicely maintained common areas, and wonderful oceanfront deck! $309,500 SSR#8769

SOUTHERN SHORES – WESTSIDE - This is a beautiful home located in Southern Shores with great rental performance! Nice ocean view from the 3rd floor living area and a private pool area in the rear of the home. Short walk to the ocean and nearby bike and walking trails as well as convenient shopping! There is an abundant amount of room for the family to enjoy vacation time! $548,000 SSR#8768

DUCK – OCEANSIDE – Enjoy all that Duck has to offer from this 4BR/2FBA/3HB home in Caffey’s Inlet Hamlet! Located on a private cul-de-sac just north of Duck Village, the property boasts live oaks, shaded decks, and fantastic proximity to both of the private, community beach and sound accesses. X flood zone, and selling fully-furnished! $499,000 SSR#8722

252-261-2000 • 800-334-1000 • southernshores.net

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The Outer Banks Expert LOTS FOR SALE CURRITUCK MAINLAND

SOUTHERN SHORES

GOLF COURSE VIEWS $39,900 SSR#8672

GORGEOUS PONDFRONT LOT $134,900 SSR #8611

2 LOTS FOR THE PRICE OF 1 $84,500 SSR#8740

SEACREST VILLAGE – 3 LOTS FROM THE OCEANFRONT $310,000 SSR#8731

HIGH TRAFFIC COMMERCIAL $239,000 SSR#7906

SOUTHERN SHORES – SEMI-OCEANFRONT – Meticulously maintained 4BR/3BA vacation home in Southern Shores. Enjoy an ocean view, open living spaces, and a private beach access from this property! Great rental income, and selling fully furnished. $534,900 SSR#8709

DUCK- OCEANSIDE - Spacious 6BR/6.5BA well maintained home located in the heart of Duck and only 485 yards from the beach access. One of the highest lots in Duck with striking views of the ocean, sound, and the entire village. Desired X flood zone. Nicely landscaped with upgrades such as new hot tub, HVAC 2017, exterior paint and carpet in 2015. Easy access to restaurants and local shops. Great rental potential! $674,900 SSR#8757

DESIRABLE X ZONE LOT WITH SOUND VIEWS $224,900 SSR#8607

BEST PRICE IN KILMARLIC $38,000 SSR#8742

CANAL FRONT LOT IN SOUTHERN SHORES $189,000 SSR#8756

MARTIN’S POINT

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, SCHOOLS AND SHOPPING NEARBY $129,500 SSR#8767

SEMI-WATERFRONT LOT $119,000 SSR#8448

COROLLA

MANTEO

PREMIER OCEANSIDE LOT IN BUCK ISLAND $79,500 #SSR8298 HIGH CORNER LOT IN OCEAN SANDS $119,000 #SSR8606

SOUNDFRONT LOT IN PIRATE’S COVE $425,000 SSR#8311

CORNER LOT IN THE CURRITUCK CLUB $69,000 SSR#8754 CURRITUCK CLUB BUILDING LOT $69,000 SSR#8755

SOUTHERN SHORES – CANALFRONT – This 3BR/2.5BA home is both modern and beautiful! Numerous windows throughout. Canal and bay views from the home and yard – a dream property for any boater. Everything is in perfect condition; updated and immaculate. You absolutely MUST SEE this home! $699,900 SSR#8746

MANTEO – SHALLOWBAG BAY – This beautiful 3BR/2.5BA condo was originally a model for the subdivision and has since been gently used as a second home. High ceilings, nice and bright. Andersen windows and doors. Covered decks accessible from all rooms. Lovely water and salt marsh views! $314,000 SSR#8647

SOUTHERN SHORES – WESTSIDE - Pond front in Southern Shores! 3BR/2BA, immaculately maintained! High elevation, open bright kitchen, spacious living area, gorgeous oak hardwood floors and one car over-sized garage. Huge waterfront back yard! Natural lot with very little grass to cut. Very private, quiet, and great for birdwatching or fishing! $399,900 SSR#8766

SOUTHERN SHORES – WESTSIDE – This is an absolutely charming, one-level 2BR/2BA home on the pond front of Southern Shores. Open floor plan with numerous details throughout. Built in 2015! Covered carport with easy entrance into the property. Very private location at the end of a cul-de-sac. Close to shopping, restaurants, Duck Woods Country Club and Kitty Hawk Elementary School. $344,900 SSR#8745

NAGS HEAD – OCEANFRONT - This 6BR 6.5BA home was remodeled in 2004.

The home has a ground level area with bedrooms, a kitchen, and a rec room with access to the pool. The second floor main living area has two bedrooms, hall bath, and spacious living area. The third floor features a master and guest bedroom with a powder room. With a 75 foot wide lot, this house has beautiful views of the ocean. $1,485,000 SSR#8772

DUCK – WESTSIDE - Spacious 3BA/2BA one-floor end unit with stunning sound and sunset views! Beautiful new luxury flooring, remodeled master bath, and updated furnishings throughout. Sun deck, screened porch, and garage. Enjoy all the amenities of this peaceful sound front community, including the indoor community pool, tennis courts, and sound front gazebo, dock and boat ramp! #339,900 SSR#8760

Charlie Byrne

Janet Owen

Mike Ross

252-202-2642

252-599-1786

252-202-4444

Jim Stone

Cory Taylor

John Wojcik

252-256-3131

252-599-1721

252-473-7060

Manny Medeiros

Jim Forrest

Terry Zeigler

252-202-1862

252-256-0528

252-305-2521

Visit our offices at 5 Ocean Boulevard, Southern Shores and 2005 South Croatan Highway,NORTH Kill Devil Hills BEACH SUN 45 21

HOME SPOTLIGHT

REINVENTING A VISION

P HO T O S C OUR T E S Y OF E L I Z A BE T H NE A L / S T OR Y B Y A R A BE L L A S A UNDE R S 46

SUMMER 2019

This modern flat top home in Southern Shores is inspired by the past, but built for today

F

or Southern Shores residents, the words “flat top” can spark a debate. On one side, you have those who want the mid-century relics gone. They argue that the houses are ancient, rundown, past the point of restoration and are taking up precious – and profitable – real estate.

On the other side, you have those who vouch for preservation. They argue that the flat tops are an important part of the town’s history, and that they represent an authentic Outer Banks style from a time before mini-mansions and mega retail chains first appeared on the islands.

And then you have Rachel and Matt Neal of Neal Contracting – a young construction and building design couple looking to bridge the gap in this seemingly unsolvable debate.

In February 2017, the Neals took on the ambitious project of designing and building a new flat top for themselves and their two children, Ben and Anna. And as a result, “The Dunetop” – the Neals’ modernist twist on the iconic flat tops pioneered by the legendary artist Frank Stick – now lies nestled in the hills of Southern Shores.

A South Dakota native and Chicago Art Institute graduate, Stick moved to the Outer Banks in 1929 and helped establish the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.

In 1947, Stick also purchased 2,600 acres along present-day Route 12 in Southern Shores with plans to develop an oceanto-soundfront community.

Part of Stick’s plan was having an array of one-story flat top homes dot the dunes. He wanted the houses to blend in with their natural surroundings, and the result was a number of pitch-roof-free homes built with 42-pound concrete blocks made from local sand. The flat tops were largely painted in bright shades of blue, pink, green and more, with juniperpaneled interiors.

Around 300 flat tops were constructed in Southern Shores between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. Today, only about 30 of them remain – but the seeds of Stick’s original inspiration still live on.

The Neals don’t claim to be Frank Stick aficionados, however. They can’t necessarily reel off fact after fact about his life or his work. But they’re still quick to say that Stick’s flat tops were the prime inspiration for The Dunetop.

“I don’t profess to know him,” Matt says. “But I admire what he did with Southern Shores. His vision was huge.”

In January 2017, after having their second child and feeling as though their Kill Devil Hills home was bursting at the seams,

The Dunetop is the Neal family’s personal home – and it’s an ode to local artist Frank Stick’s original vision for the Southern Shores community (above). Interior shots detail the main living area with a custom concrete fireplace, the master bathroom and the brightly wood-accented kitchen space (below).

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“There were times, especially when I was figuring out the roof details, where I was like, ‘What am I doing? Is this just going to be the laughing-stock?’”

Matt says good naturedly.

An open floor plan allows the Neals to transition easily from the living room to the kitchen (above). From the back porch to the front door and the master bedroom, a number of windows provide plenty of natural light (below).

Rachel and Matt began searching for properties in Southern Shores. Within about a month the coupled stumbled upon a half-acre ocean view lot backed up against the nature preserve in Chicahauk. Two weeks later, after many late nights filled with blueprint sketches, the Neals produced a draft of The Dunetop’s design and closed on the lot.

“We collaborated on everything from our family lifestyle to our ideal flow,” Rachel says.

“We spent a lot of time on the floor plan in order to make sure it was efficient, and that it made sense. Mostly, we didn't want to build a 4,000-square-foot house. Your kids grow up, and they move away, and then what do you do with something that large?”

The couple settled on a blueprint for a 2,600-square-foot, four bedroom, three-anda-half bath modern flat top home. They broke ground on August 1, 2017, and the next few months were filled with construction and color palettes, a lot of experimentation and a little bit of doubt.

“There were times, especially when I was figuring out the roof details, where I was like, ‘What am I doing? Is this just going to be the laughing-stock?’” Matt says good naturedly.

The Neal family officially called The Dunetop home on December 20, 2017, and Rachel now describes the house as “warm modern.” Similar to the Stick originals, the walls are covered in cypress, a tree native to this area, and they’re carefully adorned with pieces of local artwork by Brad Price of Hang 12 Art. Local artists are featured in other parts of the 48

SUMMER 2019

home as well, with the interior furnishings curated by Modern Beach House Interiors, and the custom concrete fireplace created and installed by Opus Artisan Concrete.

“It was really great to discover and use local artists,” Rachel says. “We have a mecca of talent here on the Outer Banks, and a lot of people don’t know that. I was so pleased and delighted to put that in our own personal home.”

Other woods such as white oak, walnut and juniper are on display in the flooring, kitchen, ceiling, and select pieces of furniture. The home also boasts wide, open entryways and dozens of windows to supply natural light and a view of the nature preserve lining the edge of the property.

Not only does the home have a modern aesthetic, it’s also a testament to sustainability – which aligns well with Stick’s initial intentions for the community in Southern Shores. Using today’s technology, such as spray foam insulation and a high-efficiency heat pump, the Neals report that their one-story home’s average monthly electric bill barely breaks $100 in the winter.

Despite not being Frank Stick specialists, the Neals say they hope the local pioneer would still appreciate the house’s nod to his legacy.

“It’s a continuation of his vision,” Rachel explains. “I hope that he would be excited about this, because we were influenced by him, we truly were.”

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49

REAL ESTATE

In Living Coral

BY K ATRI NA M AE LEUZI N G ER

EVERY YEAR, THE FAMED PANTONE COLOR INSTITUTE CHOOSES A COLOR OF THE YEAR – and it’s a decision that impacts everything from

interior design to high fashion. The color for 2019 is Living Coral, so if you’ve been thinking of making some improvements to your home or rental here on the Outer Banks, you’ve probably already seen it cropping up in carpet swatches, tile selections, throw pillows, and paint samples.

Pastels and neons are already common on the beach, and Living Coral is a shade that seems to exist halfway in between the two. As a bright pop of color with a softer edge, its natural vibrancy makes it perfect for accenting features in your home. You might need sunglasses indoors if you doused a full room with it, but a few touches here and there can breathe new warmth into any space.

TILE IT UP Decorating a small area with little-to-no windows means trying to create the illusion of openness without the benefit of extra space or natural lighting. That makes white the usual go-to color for bathrooms, but using high-gloss, Living Coral tiles in your bathroom is a more innovative way to brighten things up.

PAINT BY NUMBERS Living Coral is the perfect accent color, so what better way to incorporate it than adding an accent wall? And painting a single wall – especially if you’re willing to try a bold, geometric pattern! – is a fantastic way to shake up your style with only a fraction of the hassle of painting an entire room.

COZY-TIME CORAL Don’t think solids; think prints that weave in hints of Living Coral. Or pick a contrasting solid for your sheets and duvet, and use Living Coral for the throw pillows and the runner. For added fun, pair it with complementary colors such as teal, light purples and deep blues.

Color of the Year 2019

MADE IN THE SHADE Storm shutters offer a great opportunity to add a splash of color to the exterior of your home, while, you know, protecting things from hurricane damage. You should seriously consider investing in some purely for the second reason, but as long as you’re doing it, why not go with a color that will make you smile all year long?

THE REAL DEAL Well, not real, real Living Coral, obviously – that gets its hue from the delicate organisms thriving on our ocean floors. But a plaster replica still makes a gorgeous centerpiece in your beachside home…and can also serve as a reminder that we don’t get beauty like this if we don’t protect our seas.

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SUMMER 2019

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51

D.I.WHY NOT?

THE

SPACE

BETWEEN

By Amanda McDanel

Surfboards

There are the boards you ride and then there are “wallhangers.” Maybe it’s dinged beyond repair, or maybe it’s just so old it would take two people to even lift the darn thing – whatever the case may be, this is a great spot to display a wallhanger where it can be appreciated daily…yet be kept out of the way.

Suitcases

I have some vintage suitcases that I’ve collected over the years, and for a while I didn’t quite know how to display them. I only have a few, so my display areas are perfect for everything from my vintage quilted Avon rep case to the case I purchased from a fellow alum at a yard sale that still displays the VPI sticker from move-in day at the dorms ages ago. Think about things you love, but don’t often get to show off, and flaunt your style.

Mason Jars

If you happen to have collections of small items or items that don’t quite fit within a specific theme, consider using matching vessels to bring cohesion to the display. Placing shells, sea glass or sand from special beaches into large matching mason jars allows the collection to shine while looking uniform. They can also hold collections of tackle, buttons, matchbooks, sand dollars, Pez dispensers, coins, rocks or whatever other knick-knacks you have that don’t easily go together.

Lights YOU TEND TO SEE TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE – AND NOT JUST IN THE DÉCOR ITSELF (I’m talking to you, 1980s mauve-and-seafoam color scheme), but

also in the building style of an area, which can then lead to said décor trends. On the Outer Banks, a majority of the year-round homes reflect either the beach box (a rectangular house on stilts) or the saltbox style (a vertical rectangle with one sloping pitched side), as these were the popular during our first big building boom.

They may look outwardly different, but the interiors can mimic each other with: 1) a lack of closet space; 2) builder’s-grade bathroom materials; and 3) stock kitchen cabinets. While we have addressed how to renovate items one and two before, let’s get straight to one of the biggest offenders in the home: the dreaded “above the kitchen cabinet space.”

With the invention of stock cabinets that do not extend all the way to the ceiling, many of us have that extra space, and it’s awkward like toe hair, so let’s talk about it.

What the “above the kitchen cabinet space” is not: Well, for starters, it technically doesn’t have a name. I’ll just refer to it as the shelf display from here on out, because if it’s used wisely, it can be a fabulous display area. While what people collect is very personal and can vary by individual, I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that the majority of you don’t actually collect empty wine and/or liquor bottles, Christmas lights, baskets, surf posters and garland. And even if you do, just throwing it all together in an elevated area like spaghetti noodles on the wall does not amount to a collection.

If it is something that should ultimately be thrown in the trash can, it shouldn’t live in your kitchen shelf display area, okay? Your home should be a reflection of what you love, and if you truly love cheap fake flowers from Michaels in excess, that's fine too – we just might not see completely eye to eye on that matter.

What the kitchen shelf display is (or can be): a great space to strategically place A FEW items that you LOVE so that you can look at and appreciate them daily. Key words being a few and love. These items should be carefully selected to represent a cohesive display that brings you joy! I rotate a few collections between my kitchen shelf display and a loft type ceiling area, so here are a few examples:

Vintage Kitchen Items

I currently have a vintage avocado-green kitchen mixer, a turquoise ice crusher, a multicolored glass cocktail shaker, a glass milk bottle and three rubber figures of the Rice Krispies elves (Gnomes? Fairies?). All of these items are food related and from approximately the same era to represent my love of cooking and kitsch – figure out what combo works for you, and go for it.

Signs

I love a great hand-painted sign depicting a beloved phrase, coordinates of a special location or an image that’s personal to you. Use either one or several in a large grouping – but go big or go home here, as anything in between can wind up looking cluttered.

52

SUMMER 2019

Forget the green-corded Christmas lights, already. I’m talking about clear rope lights that can fit snugly against the back of the cabinet along the wall in a position that only allows the uplight to be seen. Clean and classic. A great alternative if you want something up there… but still want to pass on all the clutter.

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53

REAL ESTATE

Sea

out to owning a private island means truly getting away from it all

photos by elizabeth neal / story by steve hanf 54

SPRING 2019

Island Camp, Manteo resident John Wilson’s family getaway, is only accessible by boat. Bay windows overlook the water in Island Camp’s main room (right).

H

undreds of thousands of people flock to the Outer Banks every year to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So how do you get away from all the people getting away from it all?

Easy. Buy a house on your own private island.

Okay, so it’s not exactly easy to steal a scene from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and find a dream island home, but they’re out there, scattered from just off the Washington Baum Bridge connecting Manteo and Nags Head to nearby Oregon Inlet.

Some are rustic, while others boast all the trappings of home. Except for a driveway, of course – no roadmap will help you find these hidden gems.

“If you want to get away from reality, you can just get out there and really do whatever,” says longtime local resident Arnie Easton. “Fish. Swim. Pick up clams and oysters. It’s the most beautiful place.”

If you look carefully the next time you’re driving across the new Marc Basnight Bridge, chances are you can wave at Arnie over on Little Tim Island. Or you can even shout a friendly greeting on your way out on a boat from the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. His house is one of three on Little Tim, which is located just off to the right after passing through the channel.

Arnie and his wife, Kim, moved to the Outer Banks in 1984 and bought their island home in 2001. Arnie remembers seeing a front-page ad for the house in The Coastland Times, which intrigued Kim. They took a boat ride to see the property, and that was all it took.

“We bought it on the spot,” Arnie recalls. “Just about every weekend we could, we were out there after that, even in rough weather.”

According to Arnie, the house was a “handyman special” when they bought it – and owning a little slice of heaven on the water isn’t for everybody. For starters, forget financing a loan because you can’t insure the place. And watch the tides, because on Little Tim Island, you’re surrounded by six to 18 inches of water most of the time – unless a nor’easter blows, and you’re “right down to sand.”

His four kids grew up loving the place with its master bedroom, upstairs bunkhouse, living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and satellite TV. Generators, solar panels and a wind turbine combine to provide all the power they need, with propane for the fridge, heater and the gas fireplace in winter.

The island itself is filled with birds and rabbits. The fishing is unreal. Nearby islands are fun to explore. And then, of course, there’s the free light show every night.

“I tell you what, when everybody else is in town, you can just sit back, lay on the deck and look at the stars,” Arnie says. “You’ll see the whole Milky Way up there, the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, North Star, everything.”

It’s a recurring theme when you talk to anyone who owns one of these houses – these spots were made to be enjoyed.

continued>

NORTH BEACH SUN

55

Former Manteo Mayor John Wilson still owns one that’s been in his family for more than 50 years, and he continues to make sure lots of folks enjoy it.

His story started when the National Park Service acquired the land north of Oregon Inlet to form the national seashore, and 21 marsh islands were left in private ownership. John’s father, Jack, and his two friends Gordon and Martin Kellogg, bought the islands and put one-room cabins on several of them for duck hunting.

It also happened to be the time of rural electrification projects, John explains, and the governor announced that electricity would be made available to every house as long as there were three buildings within a mile of each other.

Ab Wescott, another friend of Jack’s, already owned an island close to the causeway and wanted to build a camp.

In order to get electricity, Jack and Gordon made sure three houses were built on those neighboring islands.

“With leftover odd-sized windows and damaged materials from their building supply lumber yard, they built the first house, christening it The Hoot Owl Hunt Club,” John says.

Finished in 1958, The Hoot Owl had about a dozen friends/members. Winters were for hunting, while

"[My dad] often said, ‘If there is a more beautiful place on Earth, I haven’t found it. And I’ve looked.’"

-john wilson, former manteo mayor

summers led to family time with picnics, swimming and water skiing. The place was enjoyed for decades until about half of it was destroyed by Hurricane Emily in 1993. By then, Jack was the sole owner of the property known as Little Belle’s Island and the house. Jack repaired the structure that remained and added a tower so he could watch birds.

The rebuilt house was named Island Camp, and it boasted a new kitchen, central heat and air, a TV and insulation.

“My parents traveled across the country and around the world,” John says. “But my dad’s happiest afternoons in the last 20 years of his life were spent alone at Island Camp in a recliner looking out over the water. He often said, ‘If there is a more beautiful place on Earth, I haven’t found it.

And I’ve looked.’”

The most recent iteration of Island Camp came courtesy of Hurricane Irene in 2011. That storm destroyed nearly everything except the tower, but John rebuilt the current house. It’s now a lot smaller, a lot higher off the ground, and has much longer pilings.

As for worrying about storms, John bows to the obvious: Worrying won’t change anything.

“I’m just grateful for every day someone gets to enjoy it,” he explains. “It was a joyful part of my childhood, and it remains an important part of my life today. I like going there.

Clockwise from bottom left: Tod Clissold with his dog, Ruby, on the front porch of Island Camp; Mugs inscribed with the names of the house’s original owners when it was called The Hoot Owl Hunt Club; Houses like these are a guaranteed way to get away from it all.

56

SPRING 2019

Most of all, I love sharing it with friends. Nothing makes me happier than when I know dogs and children are there.”

And on a recent sun-splashed early spring day, dogs and children did indeed roam about Island Camp as Tod Clissold took several visitors for their first look at the place. The 16-minute trip from the downtown Manteo waterfront was a familiar one: Tod started joining John and other friends on the island in 1992.

“It would be nine guys coming out to drink, play poker and lie,” Tod says with a laugh.

Then came the families. Tod’s son, George – currently a senior at Hampden-Sydney College – and daughter, Caroline, a senior at First Flight High School, spent countless days of their childhood on the island.

“Being young, it’s such a surreal place,” George says. “I brought friends here my whole life, and they’d never seen anything like it. It’s really the best getaway I know.”

The house offers a mix of simple – twin beds in several rooms – and modern, including a kitchen designed to serve up the catch of the day. The living room overflows with mementos, such as photos of the earlier houses, and a picture of Jack and his friends drinking scotch and playing poker out on the ice when the sound froze one day, and they later had to be rescued by the county helicopter.

There are even old mugs with the names of the house’s original owners. Those mugs and other pieces of china were recovered in a marsh near south Nags Head after they blew away during Irene.

And all around, panoramic views of blue seas and sky.

“You’re far enough away from everything that you don’t have to worry about the outside world, but if you need something you can be in civilization in minutes,” Tod says thoughtfully. “There’s nowhere like it in the world.”

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57

EVENTS 2019

July 5

Love running and beer? Try the Outer Banks Independence Beer Mile presented by the Outer Banks Brewing Station, and join in on the fun after-party, too. theobxrunningcompany.com 41ST ANNUAL WRIGHT KITE FESTIVAL

Summer

JULY

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE MOVE

27TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FIREWORKS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Celebrate the anniversary of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move with free lighthouse climbing, children’s activities and interpretive ranger talks. nps.gov KILLER DUNES 2-MILER & FUN RUN

Marvel at fireworks on the lawn of Historic Corolla Park while listening to live music and enjoying family-friendly activities. visitcurrituck.com TOWN OF KILL DEVIL HILLS FIREWORKS SHOW

July 1

July 4

Conquer the dunes at this run/walk event over Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head. outerbanksrunningclub.org FREEDOM 5K, 1-MILE RUN & FUN RUN July 4

Get the whole family into the race with these three events presented by Sun Realty at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall. theobxrunningcompany.com 15TH ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY PARADE & COMMUNITY CELEBRATION July 4

Cheer on this festive parade in downtown Duck followed by a celebration with live music at the Duck Town Park. townofduck.com

July 4

July 13 – 14

Learn to fly stunt kites and watch large kite displays during this kiting event at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. kittyhawk.com

Ideas to Refresh Your Space for the Season

July 4

Watch a pyrotechnic display off Avalon Pier. kdhnc.com TOWN OF MANTEO 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4

Commemorate this national holiday with day-long festivities, including a concert by the 208th Army Band, an apple pie contest, a parade and fireworks. townofmanteo.com TOWN OF NAGS HEAD FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR July 4

Celebrate the Fourth with an evening of fireworks off Nags Head Fishing Pier. nagsheadnc.gov

THE

Elizabethan Gardens

ALTHOUGH THE CALENDAR YEAR MAY BEGIN ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY, every summer on the Outer

Banks feels a fresh start. This summer, consider one, or WElike HAVE all, of these simple ideas for refreshing your living space so that you can fully shake off winter’s hibernation. Beyond basics like raising and widening your curtain rods for the ...andillusion a new Discovery Cottage of bigger windows and making sure every one of for indoor & outdoor your personal items has aplay designated place, take a quick tour through your house one room at a time – there are SUMMER FUN FOR KIDS!! plenty of other ways to make each one of them feel like new M Backyard Birds again.

Butterflies!

Style

OUTER BANKS INDEPENDENCE BEER MILE

AUGUST

OUTER BANKS SKIM JAM July 20 – 21

Watch talented skimboarders glide across the shoreline as they compete in this regional tournament in Nags Head. skimusa.org “LIGHT UP THE NIGHT” SUP EVENT & MOVIE NIGHT July 25

Attach a NOCQUA light to the bottom of an SUP for nighttime water fun at this fourth annual event at Waves Village Watersports Resort that includes a movie under the stars and free demos. kittyhawk.com 17TH ANNUAL ONE-DESIGN REGATTA July 27

This regional regatta held in Manteo is open to Optimist, 420 and Sunfish boats. townofmanteo.com

OUTER BANKS WATERMELON FESTIVAL

NEW WORLD FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

There’s plenty for the kids to do at this summery event at the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head, including an inflatable waterslide, face painting, watermelon seed spitting contests and more. kittyhawk.com SURFING FOR AUTISM

Artists from all over the East Coast participate in this 38th annual juried outdoor art show in downtown Manteo. darearts.org RIP CURL GROM SEARCH

August 1

August 10

This autism awareness surfing event at Jennette's Pier partners two surfers and a therapist or a teacher with an autistic child. surfingforautism.com 6TH ANNUAL YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT August 10

Hook a big one at this annual fishing tournament in downtown Manteo. townofmanteo.com OUTER BANKS PIRATE FESTIVAL August 14 – 15

August 14 – 15

August 15 – 16

Watch young surfers compete at this Rip Curl event at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. ripcurl.com OBX WEDDING FEST August 25

istock.com/Aleksandra Zlatkovic

SUMMER

REAL ESTATE

Meet and mingle with local wedding vendors at this wedding expo held at two venues: Jennette’s Pier and the Kitty Hawk Pier/Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom. obxwa.com WRV OUTER BANKS PRO August 28 – September 1

Top-rated surfers from around the world compete at this WSL QS1000 Event at Jennette’s Pier. wrvobxpro.com

Learn pirate lore, meet Blackbeard’s crew and enroll the little ones in Scallywag School during WILLIAMS

BY CHLOE this fun festival at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head. kittyhawk.com

area, and a fun way to do this is to create your own but you can also make sure it’s cookout ready with gallery wall with different prints in a variety of sizes. a custom table for family dinners and a matching Don’t worry about it looking chaotic; using the same cabinet to house all your grilling needs. Fit a picnic OBX ARTS & having CRAFTS FESTIVAL DUCK JAZZ FESTIVAL quantity of each size frame, as well as only basket beside the grilling equipment – stocked full September 4 – wall 5 doesn’t October 12 13 one color frame, will ensure that the of checkered napkins and– other sustainable utensils Thisyou annual at the Hilton Garden–Inn free, event next features national, regional seem overwhelming. Plus, canshow still switch out the forfeatures when youThis want to all-day make your meal feel like paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, glass and local acts at the Duck Town Park. prints whenever you want a change. an adventure. duckjazz.com and more. A portion of artists' entrance fees are

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

donated to the charities N.E.S.T. and Friends of

ROCK & that ROAST Bedrooms are often the best places to showcase And if you’reMUSTANG one of those who believe an Youth.

October 19 – 20 your personality – and the easiest way to make your outdoor shower a summer you’ll defi nitely facebook.com/obxartfestival Jamis the weekendstaple, away listening to live bands bedroom feel brand newOUTER is to simply rearrange want to make it as bright and fun as possible.

Install a while enjoying an oyster roast and a BBQ cook-off BANKS TRIATHLON the furniture.

Consider moving your bed near the towel rack so that your family’s plethora of colorful September 14 – 15 at Mike Dianna’s Grill Room in the Timbuck II T Fun with Frogs For a first stop, check in on your living room. To add some window so you can wakeParticipants up with the or read towels or and bathing suitsVillage can be well displayed cansun choose from Sprint, Olympic Shopping in both Corolla.

Proceeds benefit W Butterflies Halfitems in this such annualastest of endurance. and organized,the Fund and the Mustang character to an old coffee table or any number of shelves, under the moon, or switch your andCorolla makeWild sureHorse to add a nice caddy for Thsome Helpful Bugs obxse.com Outreach Program. find tall glass jars and fill them with sand, shells or sea dresser and bookcase around.

You can also find a shampoo, conditioner and salt scrubs after a long mustangmusicfestival.com 11am, Jun 24-Aug 16 with admission LOST COLONY glass.

Bonus points if you pick up these items at a local shop clothing rack to display aTHE couple of your go-to outfiWINE ts day at the beach.

If you still have some extra space OUTER or find them yourself! Grouping the jars in twos or threes against a wall, or make aFESTIVAL book display to show off inside, a colorful shower BANKS curtain canSEAFOOD always provide September 28 FESTIVAL makes them visually appealing, and one great aspect of this your favorite reads. No matter what you choose to the perfect final touch.

This year’s festival features wines from around October 19 particular piece of décor is that you can switch out the jars’ do, sticking with a color the scheme like cuisine, is goingentertainment to Enjoy fresh, local seafood, cooking demos, mullet world, you regional and contents every season to make them look up-to-date all these tips andlive tricks willand hopefully givefamily-friendly you be the best way to makeseminars the room appear tossing, music more at this – all with a cohesive. dramatic view ofOverall, the Roanoke year long. inspiration onathow get yourevent house event The to Soundside site summer in Nags Head.

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If you’re lucky enoughthelostcolony.org to have a beach box with ready and put you in a seasonally sunny state of mind outerbanksseafoodfestival.org Out of all the rooms in the home, the office is one of the a spacious back porch, ramp up the wow factor – but even more importantly, they will also help you PARADE OF HOMES Good for entire party. Not valid with other offers. with Mustsome present ad. most important. The majority of people are more producattention to detail. an excellent breathe some fresh air into the special space you call OctoberThis 10 –is13 the elizabethan Tour a select group new, remodeledhome. or green tive when they feelPark comfortable and inspired in their work| 252-473-3234 place for sunset watching and reading ofofcourse, 1411 National Dr. | Manteo, NC 27954

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multi-functional + modern Compiled by Amelia Boldaji

NO MATTER WHAT THE SEASON, SPACE IS OFTEN AT A PREMIUM

in Outer Banks homes. Whether they’re functioning as year-round residences or seasonal rentals, local designer Nicole Peters of Modern Beach House Interiors has years of experience negotiating tricky spaces in order to make them shine.

“You almost always have a twin room to work with,” says Nicole. “I like to take into account the fact that people might be using the space differently, so I try to make the room feel young and playful, but also grown up at the same time.”

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Nicole’s vision for designing this original interior plan that can multifunction as a teenager’s bedroom or a guest space started with neutral, all-white bedding that showcases the black-and-flax, block-printed custom headboards (1) as well as printed accent pillows (2) and soft wool throws (3).

For another solid pop of color, Nicole added an oversized, blush-toned rug (4), and introduced a pair of faux leather benches with metal legs (5) to give the room some texture and provide a bit of extra seating. To further capitalize on space, she opted for placing a shared low dresser (6) in between the beds instead of separate nightstands – although

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she also incorporated articulating brass wall sconces (7) on the side of each bed for sleepers who might not be on the same schedule.

And for the finishing touches, Nicole utilized the subtle monochrome of a black-and-white photograph by local artist Katie Slater (8) and painted cement Cle’ tiles (9) in a fun star bright pattern, which extends the overall spirited vibe from the bedroom into the en suite bathroom.

“I don’t really have any one particular style,” Nicole says thoughtfully. “As long as things place nicely together, and the pieces make you smile, I say go for it.”

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Salutations Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Announces Top Sales Agent Award

Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals Ilona Matteson Appointed Director of Broker Development

Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals is pleased to announce that Ilona Matteson has been appointed to the position of director of broker development effective immediately. Ilona and Sales Manager Beth Urch are committed to building a sales team of highly trained professionals who want to take their business to the next level. “Our goal is to foster individual business growth through focused training in all aspects of sales. Keeping skills fresh and relevant is the key to success. I am excited to have this opportunity and look forward to making a difference,” says Ilona. You can reach Ilona at ilonamatteson@gmail.com or (252) 619-5225.

Katherine Roof Joins Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals Sales Team The Beach Realty & Construction / Kitty Hawk Rentals sales team welcomes Katherine Roof to the Kitty Hawk location. Katherine graduated from UNC-Wilmington with a degree in business systems, and for 20 years she owned and operated a local pool and spa business. Her transition to fulltime real estate sales is seamless due to her business background, knowledge of the area and home systems. You can reach her at katherine@beachrealtync.com or (252) 207-4612.

Edith Rowe, located in the Brindley Beach Duck office, has won the 2018 Top Sales Agent Award. This award is based on closed sales volume. Edith holds a broker’s license and has been in sales on the Outer Banks since 2000. In addition to a thorough knowledge of real estate and construction, Edith possesses an extensive knowledge of the Outer Banks. She brings to the table a degree of local sales acumen and familiarity with the area found in few agents. Edith can be reached at (252) 202-6165, toll free at (877) 642-3224 or by email at edithroweobx@gmail.com.

Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Congratulates the 2019 Top Sales Producer To-Date

Melanie Day has been named Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales’ 2019 Top Sales Producer To-Date. Prior to her real estate career, she operated a group of retail stores that spanned the length of the Outer Banks from Corolla to Avon, so she knows the Outer Banks real estate market from top to bottom. Real estate was a natural choice for Melanie, and in 2002 she transitioned from retail into new home sales and lot/construction packages, and in 2009, Melanie joined the Brindley Beach team. Melanie can be reached at (252) 207-6138, toll free at (877) 642-3224 or by email at melanie@melanieday.com.

Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales Welcomes Catherine Strachan to the Sales Team

An Outer Banks resident since 1988, Catherine remembers when Duck was just a small village and Corolla was a little-known destination spot. Since 2006, she has worked on both the listing and selling side of several foreclosures and short-sale transactions – a valuable skill in today's volatile market. Catherine is a designated short-sale and foreclosure resource specialist as well as a resort and second home property specialist, specializing in the vacation home market. She can be reached at (252) 489-9540, toll free at (877) 642-3224 or by email at obxproperty@gmail.com.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty VanderMyde Group is a First Quarter Top Producer for Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is pleased to announce Heather VanderMyde, along with team members Kiirsten Farr, Will Gregg, Kasey Rabar and Katie Kennis, are the firm’s top producers. The VanderMyde Group led the way in sales volume, units sold and new listings for the first quarter. “We have bought and sold eight homes, and no other realtor has been as responsive, knowledgeable, and professional as Heather and her team,” said a recent five-star review. Team leader Heather VanderMyde can be reached at (252) 202-2375 or hvandermyde@gmail.com.

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Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Names Brad Beacham Group the Top Producer of Kitty Hawk Location

The Brad Beacham Group is the firm’s 2018 top producers for the Kitty Hawk location. Brad Beacham, along with team member Cameron Mast Griggs, led in both sales volume and units sold for the first quarter. “Our mission is to leverage our combined experience, local knowledge and resources so that when you sell or buy on the Outer Banks, you achieve your goals and enjoy the process,” says Brad. He can be reached at (252) 202-6920 or brad@bradbeacham.com.

Kent Copeland Earns the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award Providing professional cleaning services to the Outer Banks community for over 11 years

Megan Oaksmith Owner/Manager 62

SUMMER 2019

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Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty congratulates Kent Copeland on earning the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award, presented to the top 15% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

“Your investment in the Outer Banks is not something I take lightly; whether you're buying or selling, I will put your interests first and get the job done,” says Kent, a consistent top 10 producer for the firm.

He can be reached at (252) 202-2815 or kent@cbseaside.com.

Marty Griffin Earns the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty congratulates Marty Griffin on earning the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award, presented to the top 15% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. “I gauge my success by the words of a completely satisfied client. The greatest compliment I can receive is a personal referral from a past client,” says Marty “The Sold Man” Griffin. Marty can be reached at (252) 207-6448 or marty@cbseaside.com.

Debbie Shealey, Jane Plante and Chelsea Jordan Earn the Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society Award

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty congratulates Debbie Shealey, Jane Plante and Chelsea Jordan on earning the Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society Award, presented to the top 25% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. Debbie can be reached at (252) 202-2224 or dshealey@cbseaside.com, Jane can be reached at (757) 407-0929 or janeplante@cbseaside.com, and Chelsea can be reached at (252) 207-6659 or chelsea@cbseaside.com.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Welcomes Ryan Raskin

Ryan Raskin has joined the Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty sales team at the Kitty Hawk location. Ryan has more than 10 years of experience in hospitality management and has a passion for helping people. Ryan can be reached at (252) 619-4928 or ryan@cbseaside.com.

Resort Realty Resort Realty Announces First Quarter Top Agent, Kitty Hawk Office

Congratulations to Daphne Degabrielle for being the top agent of the Kitty Hawk office for the first quarter of 2019. Daphne has been involved in the real estate and construction business for more than 37 years. She is the co-owner of a reputable custom home building company, and that experience has proven to be an invaluable asset to her clients. Daphne can be reached at (252) 475-4147 or daphne.degabrielle@resortrealty.com.

Resort Realty Announces First Quarter Top Agent, Nags Head Office

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Congratulations to Michelle Gardner for being the top agent of the Nags Head office for the first quarter of 2019. Michelle came to the Resort Realty sales team with more than 20 years of experience in real estate and new homes sales. Originally from New Jersey, she grew up in a real estate family, and both of her parents were residential brokers. She believes her years of experience in real estate, from new construction to existing homes, is a huge asset to her clients. Michelle can be reached at (252) 715-1911 or mgardner94@gmail.com.

Resort Realty Announces First Quarter Top Agent, Duck Office

Congratulations to Susie VonSuskil for being the top agent of the Duck office for the first quarter of 2019. Originally from Alexandria, Va., Susie came on vacation in 1982 and never left. After obtaining her real estate license in 1984, she worked in site sales for Ship’s Watch in Duck. Changing over to general real estate in 1990, she now concentrates her efforts in Corolla and the northern Outer Banks. Susie is a designated Graduate of the Realtors Institute and a designated Accredited Buyer Representative. Susie can be reached at (252) 207-1088 or susie.vonsuskil@resortrealty.com.

Sun Realty Sun Realty Congratulates the Willey Real Estate Group for Two Straight Months of Top Sales

The Willey Real Estate Group once again earned Sun Realty’s top agent designation for February and March 2019. Working out of the Kill Devil Hills office, Hugh “Scooter” Willey has been building and investing in real estate since 1985. His wife, Gerri, began her real estate career in 2006. Together, they are a top-producing team with the ability to combine their market knowledge with cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned customer service to assist clients in buying or selling property. The Willey Real Estate Group can be reached at (252) 489-8491.

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FIVE FACTS

ocracoke's

Berkley Manor COMPILED BY AMELIA BOLDAJI & KIP TABB

NOW ONE OF THE FINEST INNS AND EVENT VENUES ON OCRACOKE ISLAND,

the Berkley Manor didn’t always seem destined to relive its original fame as the private home of one of the village’s most colorful historic residents. For years it sat vacant.

The cedar shakes, hardwood floors and cypress walls were left to decay after a failed attempt to renovate the building in 2002. A series of complicated legal proceedings followed, but seven years ago new owners were able to purchase the property and restore it to its former glory – complete with some of the stories that still contribute to its greatness.

1

Rags to Riches

The Berkley’s original owner was Sam Jones, who was an interesting character by any standard. Born in Swan Quarter in mainland Hyde County, Sam quit school and left home at age 13 to seek his fortune. Finding his way to Norfolk as a young man, he started working for the Berkley Machine Works and Foundry – and bought the company when he was only 26, which ultimately made him a very rich man. After marrying Mary Ruth Kelly, an Ocracoke native, the couple started making regular visits to the island in the 1930s. Quickly falling in love with everything about the area, Sam began inviting a number of friends down to enjoy island life with him, necessitating a permanent residence that was fit for royalty: The aptly named Berkley Manor.

2

Piecing Things Together

Construction of the Berkley started in about 1951, and it was an economic boon to Ocracoke since all of the work was done by local villagers – many of whom Sam recruited right on the spot when they were needed. It was also one of the most unusual architectural styles that anyone on (or even off ) the island had ever seen. Reportedly designed entirely by Sam on random scraps of paper and without any actual blueprints, the final structure boasted more than 20 rooms (some of which were only accessible by walking through adjacent rooms), a dozen chimneys, an unknown number of fireplaces, outbuildings that included smaller guest quarters, stables, sheds and a soaring four-story tower that’s still one of the manor’s most distinctive features today.

3

A Horse is a Horse

One of Sam’s greatest loves throughout his life was his favorite horse, Ikey D. A famed regular visitor to the Berkley Manor – both indoors and out – Ikey D often settled comfortably in the parlor so that he could be a part of frequent sing-alongs with Sam and his guests. Though Sam’s wife was rumored to have been less than enthused by Ikey D’s apparent run of the manor, Sam loved the horse so much that when Ikey D passed, Sam had him buried at nearby Springer’s Point, a beautiful, undeveloped plot of land on the south side of the island that’s now a nature preserve owned by the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust.

LANYAR KEYCH COW NOTE BOTTL C ACCES F SUNGL • FRISB TEN STR FLASH STADIU TOWE LANYA KEYC COW NOT BOTT

Photo by Neil GT Photography, courtesy of the Berkley Manor.

4

Moving on Up

At approximately 7,500 square feet, the Berkley Manor was the largest building on Ocracoke when it was finished around 1953, but it still wasn’t large enough for Sam, and by the mid-1950s construction had begun on a bigger and even more rambling residence on the other side of Silver Lake that Sam dubbed the Castle. Eventually, two more unconventional Sam-designed structures graced the island: the Homeplace (where he and his family primarily stayed) and the Whittler’s Club, which was designed as a gathering place for avid bird carvers.

As for the first two, the Castle went on to become Sam’s main guest house, while the Berkley was said to have been relegated to a storage space for items such as furniture and Oriental rugs that Sam had a proclivity for acquiring in excess.

5

Back to the Future

When the Berkley came under new ownership in 2012, workers poured over the structure seven days a week for five weeks. Rotted floor joists were redone. The roof had to be reframed and replaced. Some of Sam’s more haphazard designs didn’t meet modern codes and had to be readjusted. But although not every one of the original manor structures could be saved on the three-acre lot – including the barn that once housed Ikey D and his stablemates – the renovations were so thorough that the Ocracoke Preservation Society awarded the Berkley Manor its prestigious Historic District House Award in 2014.

Hidden Outer Banks reminds locals and visitors alike to explore the rich history and local color that exists beyond the bright lights of the bypass. You can find HOBX at hiddenouterbanks.com, on Instagram and Twitter as @hiddenobx,and at facebook.com/ hiddenouterbanks.

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SUMMER 2019

FEATURE

scene from above PHOTOS BY RICH COLEMAN / COMPILED BY AMELIA BOLDAJI

“IT’S THE WORLD FROM ABOVE,” says longtime wedding photographer Rich

Coleman of the aerial photography he captures when he has some free time to fly his drone over the Outer Banks. Though he insists he’s a hobbyist at it, he appreciates being able to see his hometown from a vantage point that’s more commonly reserved for birds – and the reminder that picture taking is an art form that requires constantly trying new things for inspiration.

“When you’re looking straight down there’s no guessing, and it’s very object based – you can see the whole scene, but you’re still close enough to immediately know what you’re looking at,” Rich explains. “And what does everyone do when they get on an airplane?

They look out. This is just a more permanent window seat.”

One spring day Rich was on Hatteras Island for a wedding when he noticed how clear the water was. Looking around for the perfect subject to illustrate that, he decided on Avon Pier. Surrounded by miles and miles of ocean, the nearly 600-foot-long structure juts out slightly crookedly into the Atlantic – a feature that’s not quite as recognizable from sea level.

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Construction of the new Marc Basnight Bridge took place right alongside the then still-functioning Herbert C. Bonner Bridge in 2018.

Taken during one of the only times there was simultaneous traffic on both bridges, the Bonner’s eventual dismantling means that this image will eventually be one for the history books (top).

Once a well-known schooner, the Irma shipwrecked in Kill Devil Hills in 1925 near the current location of the Croatan Surf Club. Now placed remarkably close to the shoreline, Rich didn’t have to fly very high to catch a shot of the ship’s skeletal remains on an afternoon with vastly Caribbean-clear water (below).

Situated in Historic Corolla Park, the restored Currituck Beach Lighthouse is instantly recognizable as the only area lighthouse with a natural brick façade. Though it seems less towering from the sky, the 162-foot building dwarfs the surrounding storage structure, keeper’s house and museum shop (far right).

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“The sand texture was so cool,” Rich says of the day he saw the perfect opportunity to take a picture of two hang gliders on the ground near Jockey’s Ridge State Park – though the image could just as easily have been taken when they were air bound (left).

Close by Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, a group of surfers convened around a rip current last spring, which is easily identifiable here by the relatively clear pathway in between two swirls of cloudy sand sediment – but slightly harder to detect, except by feel, while in the water (right).

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FOLKS

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ou can find vacationing points of interest in any good guide book – but getting to the bottom of what makes the Outer Banks so collectively special takes getting to the know the people at the heart of our community. This summer we took a tour with five locals in five different spots as they told us how they do their towns, their way.

By Amelia Boldaji

Raymond often grabs his morning coffee at First Light in the TimBuck II Shopping Center. Photos by Cory Godwin.

Raymond Burnell 37

Entertainer/Owner, FaceForward Entertainment & Part-Time Server

DUCK & COROLLA IT WAS THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF FIRST FLIGHT

when Raymond moved to the Outer Banks in 2004, and the beach was packed – two weeks later, things died out dramatically, his roommate left town, and what was supposed to be a shortterm gig at a hotel in Corolla suddenly began to look more like the permanent option.

“That was the start of my Corolla story,” Raymond says with a laugh.

Fast-forward a decade or so, and it can be hard to imagine Raymond living anywhere else. Not only is his business – FaceForward Entertainment – thriving, but he’s also the consummate family man. Married to his wife, Jurate, since 2010, the couple has two young children, four-and-a-half-year-old Vashti and two-and-a-half-year-old Raymond Jr. – or JR, for short.

deejaying or playing karaoke at hot spots such as Sundogs in Corolla and Sunset Grille in Duck, and picking up part-time shifts at North Banks Restaurant, Agave Roja and Mike Dianna’s Grill Room, Raymond’s days (and nights) are often as full as ever.

It’s how he spends his downtime that’s probably changed the most. While he and his wife will still grab a mimosa at First Light from time to time, followed by a sandwich at La Dolce Vita (the chicken caprese is his ultimate go-to) or tacos at Coastal Cantina in Duck, they now pack in plenty of kid-friendly outdoor activities as well, such as walking around Currituck Heritage Park to see the ducks and turtles, or crabbing on the sound over by the Duck Boardwalk and the Waterfront Shops.

“I never imagined I’d be raising a family here,” Raymond says. “I always worked three jobs around the clock, but getting married was a turning point for me.”

“Not everyone realizes that there’s a real year-round community up here,” Raymond explains. “I know families who have lived on the north beaches for decades, and they’re just as down-to-earth here as they are on any part of the Outer Banks.

That’s not to say that he’s not still industrious – between guest hosting special events like the annual Mustang Music Festival,

“This is a place where everyone knows your name,” he adds. “It’s magnetic.”

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When she doesn't have to drive, Suzi prefers to get around by bike on soundside trails like the Wright Brothers Multi-Use Path in Kitty Hawk. Photos by Lori Douglas.

Suzi Reeves 53

Medical Secretary, The Outer Banks Hospital & Freelance Caterer

THE BYPASS & WEST FROM KITTY HAWK TO KILL DEVIL HILLS, Suzi’s lived on the Outer Banks almost half her life now – and there’s nowhere else she’d rather be. With a barely contained air of energy, she greets the baristas by name and settles in comfortably at a table inside Ashley’s Espresso Parlour. “I’m a people person,” she says with excitement. “And I love to multi-task.”

They’re skills that serve her well in her high-paced role at The Outer Banks Hospital – where she often works seven overnight shifts back-to-back – and also explains both her success as a freelance caterer during the summer season and her list of prior work experience over the years with well-known restaurants that line U.S. 158 (a.k.a., the bypass) like the Outer Banks Brewing Station, and other establishments such as Front Porch Café and Kitty Hawk Kites.

It’s that exact type of energy that can’t help but spill over into every part of her life. “I grew up a tomboy with two brothers,” she adds.

“Everything was about the outdoors.”

As to precisely where that gets channeled these days on the west side of the central beaches’ main drag, it depends on what she’s in the mood for. Some of her favorite bike paths run from Woods Road to Kitty Hawk Road and Moor Shore to Bay Drive, though you can just as often catch her canoeing through the canals in Kitty Hawk Woods, jogging to the top of the Wright Brothers National Memorial, walking on the sound side of Jockey’s Ridge, or even skating at the Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills.

And you’ll more than likely see her with her camera in hand. Because if she ever has a chance to snag a phenomenal sunset shot, she’ll take it.

“Every single sunset is different, and it’s different at every moment, too,” Suzi says. “No matter what town you’re in, there’s no place without nature. You can smell the salt air, and know it the second the wind switches around – it’s wide open.”

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Learn more about the Wild Horses of Corolla

520B Old Stoney Road, Corolla • corollawildhorses.org • 252-453-8002 Wild Horse Museum • Gift Shop • Fun & Educational Events • Open Year Round

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by IRS regulations.

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THE BEACH ROAD IT’S A SUN-DRENCHED MORNING ON THE FRONT PORCH of Ten O Six at milepost 8.8 on Virginia Dare Trail – a thoroughfare more commonly known as the beach road – and Mattie’s his usual relaxed self as he slips his sunglasses on and takes a sip of fresh-brewed coffee. A group of young children jog past with their running coach, and everyone waves.

“That right there is what I love about the beach road,” Mattie says. “It’s laid back, like an old friend.”

A transplant from central North Carolina, Mattie and his wife, Rhonda, moved to Kill Devil Hills 14 years ago to run a coffee shop. Though they’ve since switched career tracks, Mattie recalls those early years fondly. “We were tourists with the bug,” he says, chuckling. “And I’ve still got that in me.”

Between a flexible schedule from working primarily online and a side gig as a jokingly self-proclaimed “cat herder” running the OBX Party Bus with co-owner, Ted Jagucki, Mattie can talk for hours about slow-rolling pub crawls stretching from Lucky 12 Tavern in Nags Head to Goombays in Kill Devils Hills, late-lunch dolphin boats at John’s Drive In in Kitty Hawk (if the parking isn’t too bad), and his ability to hop on his bike and get home from virtually any of the nearby piers when the Spanish mackerel are running to return a business call in less time than an office worker could.

Mattie Dalia 51

Online Marketing Manager & Driver/Co-owner, OBX Party Bus

But what Mattie likes most about the beach road is the pace it sets (from points north to south, the speed limit is a flat 35) – and his favorite way to travel is by bike. Whether he’s exploring funky local art shops such as Muse Originals or Seagreen Gallery, taking in a game of putt-putt at the old-school Galaxy Golf, beaching it at the Curlew Street beach access, or visiting Whalebone Park across from Jennette’s Pier with his two sons, Mattie recommends slowing down. And then slowing down some more. You just never know what you might stumble across.

“The bypass is all about getting from point A to point B,” Mattie says. “The beach road is something you can explore. It’s the boardwalk of the beach.”

Chelsea Miller 31

Assistant Communications Manager, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island & Shift Leader, Walgreens

Left: When it comes to stellar fishing spots, you can’t go wrong with any of the four piers located from Kitty Hawk to south Nags Head. Mattie takes a moment to enjoy the one closest to his home, Nags Head Fishing Pier. Photos

by Kati Wilkins.

Above: Chelsea believes that ice cream from Big Buck's is key to enjoying a day in Manteo – especially when it's hot out. Photos by Lori Douglas.

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Find it all in

Duck’s walkable village has everything you could want or need, from a sound side boardwalk to stores, galleries, and eateries.

Enjoy free live events at the Town Park and stroll along the newly completed pedestrian paths. Find it all in Duck.

ROANOKE ISLAND “I’M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE MY DAD IN HIS HOMETOWN,” says

Chelsea, a Hopewell, Virginia, native who’s called Roanoke Island home for the past three and a half years. “It hasn’t been that long, but I already feel as though I’ll know someone no matter where I go.”

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After graduating from college with a business degree, Chelsea happened across an online job posting for a public relations assistant at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island – and surprised even herself when she got it. “I thought, ‘Oh my lord, I guess I’m moving to the Outer Banks,’” she recalls happily.

Variety Shows • Nature Out Loud Interactive Theater • OBXtreme Magic Show

After a year and a half in Kill Devil Hills, she made the move to downtown Manteo – a town that’s both quaintly sleepy and engagingly vibrant. From volunteering with the Theatre of Dare (she made her stage debut in a production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show this past fall) to thrifting for vintage treasures at the Manteo Hotline, enjoying special events such as June’s Dare Day Festival or exploring the weekly summertime farmers’ market at the George Washington Creef Park, Chelsea favorite thing about her neighborhood is its tight-knit community vibe.

While you’re visiting Duck find all the ways to Shop, Play, Dine, and Stay at doducknc.com.

With a penchant for literature and the sciences, Chelsea’s also a fan of sitting in on (or live streaming) the various “Science on the Sound” lectures held at the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese, taking a drive over the Lindsey C. Warren Bridge to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, or simply grabbing some reading material at Downtown Books and finding a quiet spot to relax in one of the hammocks over by the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum.

“My best advice is to come on a sunny day,” Chelsea says with a laugh. “People often say, ‘Oh, it’s raining, let’s go to Roanoke Island.’ But getting outside is the best way to see things. And even if you spend a whole day here, you can still be back over the bridge by 5 p.m. – which is the best time of day to hit the beach anyway.”

Save the date! The 2019 Duck Jazz Festival is coming October 12-13. Visit duckjazz.com for info and updates.

townofduck.com 252.255.1286 NORTH BEACH SUN

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Kate Pullen 39

Photographer/Co-owner, Daniel Pullen Photography & Cross-Country/Track Coach, Cape Hatteras Secondary School

Park service lands, including the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, make up some of Kate's favorite training spots. Photos by Daniel Pullen.

HATTERAS ISLAND ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFTER HER INAUGURAL RUN IN THE BOSTON MARATHON, Kate is happy to be back on

Hatteras Island. “It was a great experience, but it’s good to be home,” she says cheerfully. “Even there, you see all these people with OBX t-shirts on. It’s incredible.”

When Kate mentions that she’s a goal setter for things of that nature, she isn’t kidding. Fresh out of college, the Virginia native landed her dream job as the environmental education director of the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania. But when a series of events brought her back stateside to a house her grandmother had bought in Buxton, she demonstrated another one of her greatest skills: being adaptive to change.

Insert a whirlwind romance with her now-husband, Daniel (the couple met in March 2001, started dating in April, were engaged by August and married in November of the same year), and you’ve got a good portion of the story behind how and why Kate came to call Hatteras Island home.

“It wasn’t a planned thing at all,” Kate says, laughing. “Everybody who knew me was so shocked – a lot of them didn’t even know

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I was back in the states. But I always wanted to live in a fringe place, and I think that if you’re going to live somewhere like that in the U.S., this is probably the closest thing.”

She means that as a compliment, of course. With natural warmth and energy, she sings the praises of island living – even if it means being disconnected on occasion. From shopping at Conner’s Supermarket (where everyone knows each other by name), to paddle boarding between Buxton and Avon at the Canadian Hole (one of several small sound-side beach accesses located from Salvo to Hatteras Village), or working out at The Fort Strength & Fitness and hitting up one of the many trails that snake through the Buxton Woods coastal preserve, which borders the Cape Hatteras National Seashore – Kate is well aware of how blessed she is to find so many treasures practically in her back yard.

“I can’t stress this enough: Turn off your computers, social media, cell phones, and leave all the distractions behind,” Kate advises visitors. “Give yourself a full week to be present in the moment, and just enjoy all the beauty around you.”

There’s no place like home.

That’s why I swim 8,000 miles.

I’m pulled back to the nesting grounds where I was born.

Seriously, sea turtles follow Earth’s magnetic fields across the globe to lay our eggs.

From poaching to pollution, think of all the obstacles I face.

NORTH BEACH SUN

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FOLKS

One of The Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society’s annual traditions included giving out tongue-in-cheek “anti-aviation” awards to people who had deterred the advancement of aviation. Photo courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center.

flights of fancy It took a brave group of men to denounce the achievement that put the Outer Banks on the map.

It also helped that they were not neccesarily sober.

BY MEG PUCKETT

N

owadays the off-season isn’t too bad, and the beach doesn’t shut down like it used to. Some mornings it’s even hard to make a left turn onto the bypass.

Most restaurants stay open through Christmas, only closing for a couple weeks during the darkest days of February. We’ve got Wi-Fi, and the grocery stores keep fresh produce on the shelves year-round.

But that doesn’t mean that sometimes, during the short, dark days when the wind is whipping sand into every crevice and even the T-rex at the miniature golf place in Nags Head looks dreary, we don’t get a little twitchy for a bit more sun. People deal with it in different ways. Some go fishing. Others take a trip to Target for some “culture.” And let’s just be honest with ourselves, lots of us cope by hitting up a few bars on the beach road. No judgement here.

It’s a longstanding tradition, and some pretty remarkable ideas have been born of boredom and a Vitamin D deficiency.

IN 1959, JACK AULIS (A NEWSPAPERMAN) AND ED NORTH (A MEDICAL

had been invited to a formal memorial celebration of the famous flight of the Wright brothers in 1903. But, on December 16, the evening before the First Flight Society’s black-tie gala, Aulis and North got together ahead of time and participated in the (un)official wintertime hobby of the Outer Banks: drinking.

This pastime inevitably led to the second most popular Outer Banks wintertime activity: the telling of legends and wild tales. The Outer Banks is full of them, from Blackbeard’s treasure to the White Doe, rum that could kill the devil and nags that would crash ships; we’re natural-born storytellers, after all. And there’s a certain something about a cold, dark night on the banks that can make the line between fact and fiction seem a bit irrelevant.

Whiskey helps, too.

By the end of that night in 1959, the first annual meeting of The Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society had taken place. Aulis and North satirically declared that flying machines were preposterous, and the Wright brothers were just a couple of yahoos from Ohio.

DOCTOR)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 82 80

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“Given a choice, I will never fly, or given no choice, I will never fly sober.”

-The Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society pledge

A costumed society member presiding over a Man Will Never Fly meeting. Photo courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center.

They had also started a gathering that, for about 50 years, gave people an excuse to throw back some libations and enjoy some fellowship during an otherwise dark and lonely season on the beach. It was a good way to blow off steam, and a silly response to the more established ceremony the next day (which, not coincidentally, most of The Man Will Never Fly Society members attended, too).

In a manifesto typed up by Aulis and North, they ordered the party to start each year on December 16 at 4 p.m. and end the next day at 10:30 a.m., the time of the alleged first flight.

“By that time, no one will care anyway,” they declared in closing.

Their reasoning for founding the society, was also outlined thusly: “First, there was at that time no Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society, and, second, in previous years there had never been enough people on the North Carolina Outer Banks to have a party the night of December 16…There are [now] an estimated 500 members (we can’t be exact, air crashes being what they are) who are mostly newsmen and women, pilots, aviation industry people and those everywhere to whom the pure logic of the Society’s cause appeals.”

The pure “logic” they crafted (or drank enough to make seem plausible) was that while they believed in flight of the birds and bees kind, they would absolutely, unequivocally and 82

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forevermore “combat the myth that man can, did, or ever will fly, except in his or her imagination.”

Their “national” anthem was set to the tune of “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” and the lifetime membership fee was just one dollar (though they noted that in the case of habitual flyers that “ain’t such a great thing”). Their motto was “Birds Fly, Men Drink,” and the only actual requirement for admission into the society was that members had to take the following pledge: “Given a choice, I will never fly, or given no choice, I will never fly sober.”

The organization grew to probably thousands of members over the years (they admittedly never really keep track), and eventually met every December at the Comfort Inn in Nags Head. About 150 people showed up for the get-together in 2007, complete with a Chairman of the Bored, and they carried on the longstanding tradition of giving out “anti-aviation” honors to people who had sufficiently deterred the advancement of aviation over the course of the year (several of these awards were given to U.S. presidents, all of whom ignored the recognition).

TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS, at least half of the members who came from all over the country were aviators themselves, including astronauts. Jack Aulis was himself a World War II veteran, who was wounded in the battle of Iwo Jima.

Though the group even made it onto Johnny Carson’s annual list of funny organizations, The Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society seems to belong firmly in the 20th century now.

Most of the original members had passed away by the early 2000s, and although a website for the society still exists, the last pictures posted are from 2007. There’s not a lot of other tangible evidence of their nearly half-century run (though one might suppose that their Invisible Museum for UFOs does continue on somewhere), and these days it can be hard to find people who even remember the irreverent celebration.

“It slipped away a few years ago,” says Tama Creef, an archivist at the Outer Banks History Center. She accepted an invitation to attend the yearly meeting about 20 years ago, and still speaks fondly of the event.

At the meeting she attended, members acted out an animated skit that explained how Kitty Hawk got its name – complete with costumes and plenty of double entendres. “It was the silliest, most beloved nonsense I’ve seen,” she remembers with a smile.

The Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society is not completely lost to history, however.

Some memories of the impertinent organization exist, foggy as they may be. Just like any other good Outer Banks story, the line between fact and tall tale is increasingly blurred – but one must assume that’s exactly how Jack Aulis and Ed North wanted it to be.

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NORTH BEACH SUN

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THE LOCAL LIFE

Jo Langone Chief Operating Officer of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund THERE ARE NO PAVED ROADS ON THE NORTHERNMOST PART of the Currituck Outer Banks, but people make their way up there all the same.

Besides vast stretches of water and sand, and the relative remoteness, one of the biggest draws to visitors from all over is the chance to catch a glimpse of the wild Colonial Spanish mustangs that call that area home.

Very few people understand the power of that draw more than Kill Devil Hills resident Jo Langone. For more than five years now, she’s been one of the most dynamic forces behind the non-profit Corolla Wild Horse Fund, an organization that has spent decades protecting the Outer Banks’ herd. But while you might more often find Jo at the fund’s office headquarters a few miles south of the four-wheel-drive Carova area, make no mistake. Virtually all of this woman’s heart and energy are directed squarely on the wild Banker horses that are unlike any other animal she knows.

What brought you to the Outer Banks?

I was aiming for a law degree at NYU during my undergrad, but I needed to get out in the workforce after that and make some money. I lived in San Francisco for a while, but I missed the East Coast so I came back and ended up in the hospitality industry in New Jersey for about 14 years. At that point my husband and I had been renting the same house in Duck right smack in the middle of summer every year for almost 10 years, and we decided to make the Outer Banks our home in 2013. There are a lot of great things about living here, but there are also a lot of practical things that you don’t learn during a two-week vacation – sometimes you have to figure out how to do things in a different way. And there are no 24-hour diners!

How did you start working for the fund?

We moved here in the fall of 2013, and I was checking the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce website every day. In mid-March I saw an ad for an administrative assistant with the fund, and I applied. I had no idea what to expect, but I was hired, and I started on April 7th – I remember it exactly.

For years I had said, ‘Boy, do I wish I could be involved with something I feel connected to, something that’s more in line with my passions.’ I wanted – and I still want – to feel as though I’m doing something good, or at least attempting to. When I saw that ad, I thought, ‘That’s it.’ I knew I was willing to do whatever needed to be done.

Why do you think the mission of the fund is so important to this area?

Our mission is to protect – as in educate, not enforce – conserve, and responsibly manage. And the education part is big. We have a list of more than 17,000 constituents, and we see the value in reaching out and becoming more approachable – social media helps that a lot, too. The main thing we want is for people to respect the horses as wildlife. Take a bear, for instance. Generally, people won’t try to keep themselves in the same vicinity of one. Just because the horses look gentle – and there definitely is a gentleness to them – they are still wild, so it’s important to admire them from afar. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that people and the horses are safe at all times.

What do you love most about your role here?

PHOTO BY CORY GODWIN STORY BY A MELIA BOLDA JI

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As opposed to someone rooted in decades of domestic horse experience, my big exposure to horses is our herd. That’s what I’ve become close to, so I take their behavior as normal. They’re quite intelligent and adaptive – and they’re different. They’re wonders, and they have something to teach you all the time.

The best part is that I get to be close to them; it’s so rewarding. I’ve always found that with animals in general, but these horses are really special. It’s also therapeutic. No matter what’s going on, you can just look into their eyes, and go, ‘Okay. It’s all going to be okay.’

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NORTH BEACH SUN

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