North Beach Sun Spring 2024

SPRING 2024

VOL. 147

I N T H E ST U DI O W IT H A R T IS T

Sarah Gill

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It never gets old.

Even if you’ve been here before, you haven’t.

No matter how many times you’ve climbed our lighthouse, lived our history, or marveled at the wildlife, you’ll feel like it’s the first.

CorollaNC.com

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FROM THE DESK BUT FIRST...

SPRING EVENTS CALENDAR A CUT ABOVE Artist Sarah Gill in her home studio

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FOUR IF BY SEA A variety of visitors

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BREAKING BREAD Baking flatbreads

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TAG, YOU'RE IT! North Carolina's wild mushroom tagging program

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MOVING ON UP Bringing accessibility to Hatteras Island homes

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HOOFIN' IT Young riders take on competitive barrel racing

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THE GREAT STORM OF '62 Remembering the Ash Wednesday Storm

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THROUGH THE CEDARS Diners delight in crops fresh off the vine

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PLANTS GONE WILD What to plant and what to avoid

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TOWN REPORT BUSINESS BRIEFS HOME SPOTLIGHT The best-laid plans

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SUN SALUTATIONS FIVE FACTS Pea Island Life-Saving Station

ABOUT THE COVER: Artist Sarah Gill (and feathered friends) outside her home studio. Photo by Ryan Moser.

THIS PAGE: Images courtesy of Brooke Mayo, the Outer Banks History Center, Ryan Moser, and Elizabeth Neal (top to bottom).

Downtown Market

May 11th - September 14th 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM George Washington Creef Park

Dare Days

SPRING EVENTS

July 4th Celebration

July 4th 3:00 PM ending with fireworks after dark

June 1st 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM June 2nd 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

The Outer Banks’ Only Authentic Copper-Topped Oyster Bar

OYSTER BAR HOME OF THE HAPPY OYSTER

For more information on these and other events, visit manteonc.gov.

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 9

FRO M THE DE SK

staff staff A painting by Sarah Gill, titled "Storm on the Horizon."

Life is what we make it.

THERE’S A CERTAIN THRILL TO PLANNING A TRIP. The idea – no matter how remote, or even far-fetched – that this flight/drive/excursion will be the one that changes our life’s trajectory; or, that it will – temporarily, at least – smooth over the rough edges of our least-favorite daily chores and other unfavored customs.

And sometimes that idealized version of things does come to pass. We work out the organizational knots of when to go, where to stay, the minutia of activities and sightseeing opportunities, and – somewhere in the midst of that process – we (accidentally, most likely) hit upon the perfect combination of leisurely downtime that allows us to take a step away from all the other things that crowd our time under regular conditions.

Escape is what often lies at the core of this type of desire, and a longing for that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Our established routines can become so frenetically jam-packed that we don’t always have many other recourses but to dream – to envision being transported to a less demanding parallel world, or to believe that we could even be something greater if we were just given a bit more space to relax, reflect and grow.

The truth of this is usually a little more complicated, though. We are who we are, to a great extent – no change of scenery, no matter how idyllic, really alters that fact. And we also become who we are through a slow accumulation of numerous interests, habits and various stages of responsibilities – so trying to rush our personal growth through the sieve of a one-off getaway is probably going to wind up feeling like an exercise in futility more often than not.

While we were working on this issue, we found ourselves having a lot of conversations about fate versus circumstance, about things unfolding in ways that defy straightforward narratives of cause and effect. A reoccurring offshoot of that notion was a strong sense from many of our interviewees that life is also largely what you make it, good or bad. That your ultimate reaction to a bump in the road can be VASTLY more important than the size of any obstacle you might’ve just run over.

This isn’t exactly a groundbreaking concept, of course – but neither is the temptation to point out that the journey nearly invariably matters more than the destination, or that we should always pause to count our blessings, or that whatever other platitude we can come up with shouldn’t resonate with us simply because we’ve heard it before but instead because it’s true.

So as this year’s busy season gains momentum, go ahead and tally up your positives. See your glass as half full. And remember that we’re all travelers here, of one sort or another, each with our own puzzles and passions to explore. Even if it can be difficult to see past the surface of things, we all have more in common than our perceived differences can account for. And that, almost certainly, is the most transformational way of living that we can possibly imagine.

As always, we hope you enjoy this issue!

PUBLISHERS Adam & Cathy Baldwin PUBLISHERS Adam & EDITOR Cathy Baldwin Amelia Boldaji EDITOR ART DIRECTOR Amelia Boldaji Dave Rollins ART DIRECTOR WRITERS Dave Rollins Cathy Baldwin • Dianne Beard CONTRIBUTORS Emmy Benton • Amelia Boldaji Cathy•Baldwin Steve Hanf Catherine Kozak Emmy Benton McDanel Dan Lewis • Amanda Amelia Boldaji PHOTOGRAPHERS Cory Godwin Cory Godwin Catherine Kozak Brooke Mayo Dan Lewis RyanMoser Moser Ryan Elizabeth Neal Outer Banks History Center Outer Banks History Center GRAPHIC DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dylan Bush Dylan Bush SALES MANAGER SALES MANAGER Helen Furr Helen Furr ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Faith Turek Faith Turek The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by DISTRIBUTOR Access Media Group.

All works contained herein are Clint TriceBeach Sun. the property of the North The views expressed in the articles contained herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor or Access Media Group. The published The North Beach Sun is published quarterly by material, advertisements, editorials and all other Access Media Group. All works contained herein are content is published in good faith. Access Media the property of the North Beach Sun. Group and North Beach Sun cannot guarantee and The views theloss articles contained herein accepts noexpressed liability forinany or damage of any do caused not necessarily reflect the views of accuracy the publisher, kind by errors, omissions or the of editor or Access Media Group. The published claims made by advertisers. material, advertisements, editorials and all other content is published in good faith. Access Media Group NORTH and North Beach Sun cannot guarantee and BEACH SUN accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any 115by West Meadowlark kind caused errors, omissions orSt. the accuracy of Killclaims Devilmade Hills,byNC 27948 advertisers.

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Location, Portrait of Robert Frost in 1941.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Location, Location

TOPPING THE CHARTS OF CHILDREN’S

LITERATURE is no mean feat, but that’s precisely

what acclaimed actress, model and photographer Dare Wright managed to achieve with her first book The Lonely Doll in 1957. The title almost instantly vaulted the carefully composed black-and-white images of Wright’s childhood doll named Edith and her two bear friends to the New York Times’ bestsellers’ list, sparking a decades-long series of nine other volumes.

A Poet’s Promise

What even some of Wright’s most ardent fans may not know, though, is that her New York City-centric The Lonely Doll actually includes some pictures taken on Ocracoke Island – and her sequel to the now-classic Doll (which was originally entitled “The Barefoot Island,” and later christened Holiday for Edith and the Bears) was shot entirely on the Outer Banks’ southernmost island, where Wright vacationed nearly every summer from the late 1940s to 1969.

OVER THE COURSE of literary giant Robert Frost’s career,

a fateful trip to the Outer Banks in 1894 was just a blip on the map – but it made a lasting impression on the onceimpoverished poet.

Suffering the fresh humiliation of a rejected marriage proposal, and with only one professionally published poem under his belt, a 20-year-old Frost decided to make a spontaneous trip to the Great Dismal Swamp with the intention of possibly ending his life. Rather than being swallowed up by the wilds, however, Frost chanced upon a boat of duck hunters bound for Nags Head. After halfheartedly agreeing to join them, Frost encountered a local lifesaving serviceman who regaled him with a series of spirited anecdotes about the area.

Nine years later, when the Wright brothers made aeronautical history in present-day Kill Devil Hills, Frost was delighted by the news – though he didn’t think the brothers were sufficiently celebrated for their accomplishments. Frost subsequently vowed to correct that mistake in one of his own verses – a promise he hadn’t forgotten about when he made a second trip to the Outer Banks in 1953 to visit an old friend.

-Distinctive Ladies’

Thrilling Tales THE PERSON WHO REMAINS PERHAPS the Outer Banks’ most popular (and dedicated) storyteller was Charles Harry Whedbee – a longtime Pitt County judge, lawyer, television personality and native Greenville resident who spent much of his life summering in Nags Head.

After Whedbee was invited to host an early morning talk show called Carolina Today in the early 1960s, a publisher urged Whedbee to commit some of his colorfully told tales to paper, resulting in his first typewritten manuscript Legends of the Outer Banks in 1966. Combining everything from local lore, historical narratives, ghost stories and other phenomena from his beloved second home, Whedbee often blurred the lines between fact and fiction, regularly declaring that a belief in the veracity of his tales wasn’t a prerequisite for enjoying them.

Over the next two decades, Whedbee followed up Legends with four other volumes, including The Flaming Ship of Ocracoke, Outer Banks Mysteries and Seaside Stories, Outer Banks Tales to Remember and Blackbeard’s Cup. A selection of some of his best stories was published posthumously in 2004 – and his five original collections all remain in print to this day.

Clothing & Accessories -Hats & Handbags With four Pulitzer Prizes to his name, Frost finally published his 432-line poem “Kitty Hawk” four years later, which he -Frank + Eileen, CP Shades, Matta, Nina Leuca, described as an ode to the Wright brothers, as well as a personal refl ection onDunn, his younger recounting seaside niche brands Juliet asselfwell as other stories once brought to life by an affable surfman – and Frost reportedly considered the composition one of his finest masterworks prior to his death at age 88 in 1963.

Cover image courtesy of Dare Wright Media, LLC.

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spring events The Outer Banks is always full of fun things to do! Some of the following events were still being modified or added as of press time, so please don’t forget to check individual websites for the most current information.

RUNNING OF THE LEPRECHAUNS March 16 Kick off St. Patrick’s Day festivities with this annual 5k and 10k race in Nags Head. obxse.com

33RD ANNUAL KELLY’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE March 17 Grab your green to cheer on the longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade in North Carolina as it marches down Virginia Dare Trail in Nags Head.

BLACKBEARD’S REVENGE 100 March 23 Ultra-runners will love the challenge of this 100-mile, 100-kilometer and 100mile relay race from Corolla to Hatteras. triviumracing.com

FLY INTO SPRING KITE FESTIVAL & EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA March 29 – 30 Welcome spring with a kite festival and an Easter egg hunt at Jockey’s Ridge. Bring your camera to get photos of the Easter Bunny himself! kittyhawk.com

EASTERTIDE IN THE GARDENS March 30 Follow a map of the Gardens’ paths to gather eggs at designated “egg stations,” meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy contests, games and vendors on the Great Lawn. elizabethangardens.org

FIRST FRIDAY April 5, May 3 Downtown Manteo comes alive on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. darearts.org

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OUTER BANKS TASTE OF THE BEACH April 12 – 14 Savor three days of this foodie festival that includes activities such as wine tastings, oyster tours, cook offs and more.

COUTURE BY THE SHORE May 11 SPRING LITTER PICK UP April 27

obxtasteofthebeach.com

Do your part to beautify downtown Manteo with this spring litter pick up from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

THE LOST COLONY WINE & CULINARY FESTIVAL April 13

OBX ROD AND CUSTOM FESTIVAL May 3 – 4

Enjoy a Vintner’s Reception Friday night and then sample wines from around the world on Saturday at the 6th annual Grand Tasting, held on the grounds of The Lost Colony’s historic Waterside Theatre. tlcwinefest.com

FLYING PIRATE HALF MARATHON & FIRST FLIGHT 5K April 19 – 21 Run 13.1 miles through the Outer Banks in this fun, pirate-themed half marathon that culminates in a Pirate Jamboree in Nags Head.

manteonc.gov

Auto enthusiasts will love the chance to check out unique, custom hot rods at The Soundside event site in Nags Head. obxrc.com

15TH ANNUAL KIDSFEST May 10 The Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County sponsor this free, family-friendly event at Roanoke Island Festival Park that includes stomp rockets, bubble play, arts and crafts, music and more for children ages five and under. darekids.org

obxse.com

OUTER BANKS BIKE WEEK April 22 – 28 Rev up your engines for a week of tours, contests, live music, vendor sites and more. outerbankshd.com

ESA MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP April 26 – 28 Watch surfers compete at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head in this Eastern Surfing Association regional contest. surfesa.org

2024

DOWNTOWN MARKET Saturdays from May 11 to September 14 Buy fresh local fruits, veggies and crafts at this farmers’ market every Saturday in downtown Manteo from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. manteonc.gov

35TH ANNUAL ARTRAGEOUS KIDS ART FESTIVAL May 11 This free community event with live music, activities and art vendors at Dowdy Park in Nags Head encourages children of all ages to explore their creative sides. darearts.org

Fashion and fundraising unite during this annual fast-paced musical fashion show and silent auction at the Duck Woods Country Club. All proceeds benefit the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. obrf.org

52ND ANNUAL HANG GLIDING SPECTACULAR May 16 – 19 Watch professional hang gliders compete in the longest running hang gliding competition in the world during this fun, free event at Jockey’s Ridge. kittyhawk.com

20TH ANNUAL COASTAL GARDENING FESTIVAL May 18 This event features plants grown by Dare Master Gardeners, garden art, handcrafted goods, children’s activities, educational displays and gardening information at the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center in Kill Devil Hills.

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2024 SEASON OF THE LOST COLONY Beginning May 30 The longest running outdoor historical drama in the United States brings to life the mystery of what happened to the first permanent English settlement attempt right here on the Outer Banks. thelostcolony.org

DARE DAYS June 1 – 2 Spend the weekend celebrating Manteo’s diverse history with music, crafts and food vendors. manteonc.gov

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A Cut Above Local artist Sarah Gill won't be constrained by just one medium.

Compiled by Dianne Beard & Amelia Boldaji

C

ocobolo. Sycamore. Swamp kauri.

Ebony and holly. Dozens upon dozens of names for various wood species flow comfortably throughout a conversation with Kill Devil Hills artist Sarah Gill – almost as though she’s fluent in an entirely new language.

“Maple isn’t exotic, but it can look like clouds or waves rippling,” Sarah says as she points out several distinctive grain patterns in her studio stockpile of timber. “Walnut and cherry are also simple, but versatile…and they can have different hues. It really just depends on how you make your cuts.”

It’s the sort of deep knowledge you might expect from someone with decades of experience utilizing these types of raw materials – even if her first forays into woodwork were somewhat accidental.

“I’ve always wanted to make things with my hands,” Sarah explains as she describes her time as an art student at East Carolina University, where she initially imagined gravitating toward a field like printmaking or ceramics. “So it worked out – even if it wasn’t at all like I expected,” she adds with a laugh.

Not long before graduating in 2002, a chance opportunity to spend a few weeks studying at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, sent Sarah spinning off in a whole new direction when she mistook an advanced wood turning course for something more introductory. It didn’t take long to realize her error, but at that point it didn’t much matter – she was already hooked.

“It was so satisfying,” Sarah says almost breathlessly.

“We were carving this block of wood while it was turning, and wood chips were flying everywhere…I got the bug, and I knew it after that.”

After returning to the Outer Banks, Sarah landed a job making custom furniture at a shop in Point Harbor, which, in turn, led to the creation of her largest wooden

Under the business name Funktional Art, Sarah Gill produces works of intarsia both large and small – including this custom design featuring a nuthatch bird, which she makes a variation of each year for one of her dedicated art enthusiasts (photo courtesy of Sarah Gill).

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 17

art piece to-date when construction on Corolla’s Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education got underway in 2003. Tasked with the concept of crafting a centerpiece for the then-forthcoming museum’s reception area, Sarah drew up a trio of sketches depicting an array of local plants, animals and their natural habitats before settling on an ancient technique called intarsia to transform her one-dimensional ideas into a three-dimensional masterwork.

Likely popularized in 13th-century Italy, intarsia requires a meticulous skillset to produce mosaiclike images using pieces of wood – much like constructing jigsaw puzzles with additional depth.

To start, Sarah created stencils of every minute inch of her sketches, selecting roughly 20 different kinds of wood for their natural grains and tones to avoid introducing any dyes or stains. After painstakingly cutting, shaping and sanding each individual piece – numbering around 3,000 shapes per mural, with some details as small as a fingernail or the tip of a ballpoint pen – she reassembled her designs on three 7x3.5-foot epoxy-covered boards that were then carefully vacuum-sealed into their final, permanent positions.

To say that the nearly year-and-a-halflong process was challenging would be an understatement – but Sarah also relished every moment of it.

“If someone tells me, ‘No,’ or, ‘You probably can’t do it,’ that’s exactly what I’m going to try and do,” Sarah says good-naturedly. “I’m a preacher’s kid, after all. It comes with the territory.”

The sheer scale of that learning opportunity was, at least in part, what inspired Sarah to start her own business making furniture and other works of intarsia under the name Funktional Art, including a piece featured in the chapel of Nags Heads’ St. Andrews By-the-Sea, a three-part mural in the pulpit of the Bethany Church of Wanchese, and numerous other custom wooden murals installed in top-of-the-line sportfishing yachts built at Bayliss Boatworks in Wanchese.

As a result of her connections with the worldrenowned boatbuilding outfit, Sarah also accepted a job offer from owner John Bayliss to work onsite for a few years starting in 2013 – making her the first, and only, woman in the company’s woodworking department.

“Not many of the guys knew I had a BFA and studied woodworking in college, so it was kind of funny when they’d come up to remind me how to sand with the grain,” Sarah recalls. “It was one of the greatest experiences of my life, though, and I

Above, top to bottom: A commissioned work of intarsia that Sarah designed of an octopus, which boasts naturally greentinged pieces of rare lignum vitae wood; One of the first custom house paintings Sarah produced for a local real estate agent using recycled pallet wood as her canvas (photos courtesy of Sarah Gill).

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Middle images, top to bottom: Sarah at work in the comfort of her home studio (photo by Ryan Moser); While creating this image of a blue heron, Sarah used a particular type of quilted maple with a uniquely textured grain that brings the sky to life (photo courtesy of Sarah Gill).

Far right, top to bottom: A small, anatomically correct heart Sarah pieced together from an image in a medical textbook (photo courtesy of Sarah Gill); An intarsia workin-progress of a dragon, featuring many small pieces of leopardwood to mimic scales (photo by Ryan Moser).

“If someone tells me, ‘No,’ or, ‘You probably can’t do it,’ that’s exactly what I’m going to try and do,” Sarah says good-naturedly.

“I’m a preacher’s kid, after all. It comes with the territory.”

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 19

Sarah carefully cuts each miniature piece of wood for a work of intarsia using a band saw (above, photo by Ryan Moser). Her artist’s signature graces the corner of a custom house painting (top right, photo by Ryan Moser). One of Sarah’s intarsia works of a pelican incorporates black-streaked ambrosia maple as well as some inlays of white American holly in the bird’s beak – and the sliver of white in its eye, which is no larger than the tip of a pencil (bottom right, photo courtesy of Sarah Gill).

learned so much just by being there with their creative talent. It was definitely the highest quality woodworking I’d ever seen.”

While she eventually returned to the complexities of being a fulltime artist in her own right, all these experiences have contributed to her understanding of art forms – both creatively and practically – and she’s continued to branch out as a self-taught painter over the past few years. Whereas woodworking tends to be very precise and intensive, she’s found that painting allows her more space to be playful – utilizing easily accessible house paint in bold colors to produce images of everything from seascapes to beloved family pets, custom paintings of houses, and countless other things that speak to her on a personal level.

Above all, Sarah often finds herself endlessly inspired by simply living on the Outer Banks, which has been her home for more than 30 years now.

“I want to do my part – whatever I can – to protect the serenity of this beach and the amazing creatures that live here,” Sarah says. “I hope my paintings and murals allow other people to appreciate what I’m so blessed to see every day – like the sight of a bird flying overhead.

“I think we’re always trying to recreate that beauty,” she adds. “The transformation of it all is just amazing.”

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FO U R IF BY S EA

A Variety of Visitors

By Amanda McDanel

ever in NC…and they inspired scores of human residents to race for their cameras. second homeowners working remotely, longtime visitors But birds aren’t the only animals that trading the rat race for seascapes, and seasonal workers have basked in viral fame around here. wading in during the summer months before never quite From occasional sound-side bull sharks leaving. [Raises hand in solidarity.] to regular pods of playful porpoises – and While these stories may sound familiar from the even a few resting seal pups – wildlife on exhaustive coverage of these topics in media outlets, and the Outer Banks can be nothing short of the more anecdotal experience of enduring seasonally eclectic. And although it’s become a little lengthy grocery store checkout lines and restaurant more common over the past few years wait times, what is just as interesting – and maybe even to catch a glimpse of typically warmermore so – are the unexpected visitors who make their water dwelling manatees floating by spots way to our shores. By land, air or sea, exactly how these like Oregon Inlet, these sorts of sightings various types of visitors end up here is often part of can make people particularly giddy. As a their unpredictable charm – and whether they make manatee lover myself, I went on a mission to track down their sudden appearances in our lives for “a reason, a one of those giant sea cows a couple years back, and was season or a lifetime” (as the saying goes), they can also lucky enough to locate one floating lazily in a Colington be a thrilling reminder of just how remarkable the Outer Harbor canal – right as it was giving several passing Banks really is. kayakers some friendly nose bumps on their paddles.

Starting with our fowl friends, this barrier island Other unusual encounters tend to veer more toward stretch has been a nationally renowned birding the human variety. While lots of unverifiable rumors destination for at least a century, with often fly around, you can sometimes thousands of migratory birds returning find confirmation that celebrities annually to nest, rest and winter in the are (truly) just like us by brushing Whether you consider marshes. While the Pea Island National shoulders with a big-name actor, yourself a local, Wildlife Refuge boasts a rotating list musician or pop-culture icon at an a transplant or a of more than 370 feathered species, otherwise innocuous local market or perpetual visitor, a locally favorite phenomenon takes restaurant. place a little farther north at the Though superstar Andy Griffith something brought you William B. Umstead Bridge where was born 300-some miles away in here – perhaps even crowds of around 100,000 purple Mount Airy, NC, he spent the majority unexpectedly. martins converge every summer as of his life as a Roanoke Island resident, they travel north from Brazil. while The Walking Dead’s Jeffrey Dean Whole sightseeing industries have Morgan has been known to enjoy trips developed around these swallows’ migratory pattern to a certain Avon grocery store ever since he purchased ever since the bridge was first built in 1955 – which a Hatteras Island vacation home around 2017. Fellow film is understandable given their nightly showstopping and television VIPs who have graced the Outer Banks acrobatics while they’re in residence – but Pea with their presence at least a time or two include the likes Island proved that it was still a worthy contender for of Richard Gere and Diane Lane (while working on the set birdwatchers last fall when Hurricane Idalia knocked a few of Nights in Rodanthe in 2007), Nicole Kidman and Tom small flocks of tropical pink flamingos about 1,000 miles Cruise (pre-relationship split), and the Food Network north of their usual habitat into Hatteras Island waters. host Guy Fieri with Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

These gatherings – collectively known as “flamboyances” On a more musical note, country singer Brad Paisley – were thought to be the first wild flamingo sightings recorded his 2008 video “Waitin’ on a Woman” at the THE POPULATION OF OUR LITTLE SANDBAR

HAS BEEN STEADILY GROWING with an influx of

2 2 | S PR I N G 2024

outlet mall in Nags Head (starring Andy Griffith, no less), and – most recently – internet mogul and YouTuber MrBeast (ask your teenagers, they will know) purchased a 1,500-square-foot island off the coast of Wanchese for $1 to film one of his wildly popular videos this past December. Top that, Los Angeles.

As far as oddities of historical interest goes, the waters off the Outer Banks are known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic for good reason, of course, with plenty of shipwrecks winding up at the bottom of the sea due to war, piracy or weather. Of late, however, the most notorious maritime mishaps have taken place a little closer to home, as numerous privately owned vessels have run aground to wallow in the shore break for a time – giving officials logistical headaches regarding their removal, and blessing others with some epic photo opportunities. One local business, Outer Banks Distilling, was able to turn the unfortunate abandonment of a land-trapped scallop boat called the Ocean Pursuit into a popular social media campaign that aligned with the release of a limitededition Shipwreck Series of rum. Lemons into lemonade, boats into bottles.

But in arguably the tastiest tale of unforeseen Outer Banks events, Mother Nature decided to serve up some extreme coastal cuisine when a cargo ship clashed with heavy seas near Oregon Inlet in 2006 – resulting in the loss of a full shipping container of Doritos. Days later, droves of locals shared the bounty by scooping up bags of Nacho Cheese, Spicy Nacho and Cool Ranch chips by the armfuls after they drifted ashore. (It’s a tough choice for me, but I’d have personally gone traditional with Nacho Cheese during that very non-traditional snack run.)

Whether you consider yourself a local, a transplant or a perpetual visitor, something brought you here – perhaps even unexpectedly. So, as you watch the porpoises, plovers and piles of new vacationers come and go this year, maybe it’s time to slow down and realize they, too, are here for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Then just sit back, pop open a bag of chips, and enjoy the beach.

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 23

STYLED BY CHEF DAN LEWIS PHOTO BY ELIZABETH NEAL

CARBS ON YOUR CONSCIENCE? They shouldn’t be –

particularly if you consider the fact that bread is one of the oldest processed food staples in history…and that it’s a culinary cornerstone found in cuisines throughout the world.

Flatbreads, in particular, enjoy a rare status that few other foodstuffs could aspire to. While even experts disagree on the exact timeline, archeological evidence suggests that our ancestors were baking unleavened breads at least 10,000 to 14,000 years ago, while leavened breads (those containing a rising agent such as yeast) probably date back around 3,000 years.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the resulting regional takes on this delicacy are as diverse as they are delicious – just think Greek pita, Italian focaccia, Persian barbari, Indian naan, South Asian roti and Mexican tortillas. Whether these breads are served as a meal on their own, a side dish or as a vessel for consuming other ingredients, there’s something inherently comforting about the scent of a freshly baked loaf that few can resist.

Although production methods can vary greatly from ovens to skillets and even open flames, one of the easiest explanations for bread’s enduring popularity over the centuries is that it’s not particularly hard to make – and that there are near-endless ways to inventively enjoy it. Many modern menus continue to feature flatbreads today as a crispy creation boasting toppings that run the gamut from spicy seafoods and other proteins to fresh vegetables, herbs and other spices…or something as simple a dash of buttery-soft garlic.

However you decide to please your palate, there’s no shortage of creative combinations to try, or methods for tearing, slicing or scooping that inviting goodness straight into your mouth.

Just don’t forget to share.

BREAKING BREAD Pictured here: A serving of flatbread topped with lightly sauteed cremini, oyster and shitake mushrooms that have been baked to crispy perfection along with leeks, goat cheese and a sprinkle of fresh thyme.

2 4 | S PR I N G 2024

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...TAG

YOU'RE IT!

Tagging programs help bring wild mushrooms safely to North Carolina tables PHOTO BY ELIZABETH NEAL STORY BY AMELIA BOLDAJI WHETHER YOU’RE IN THE MARKET FOR A TASTY TOPPING or

something more substantial, mushrooms should definitely be at the top of your list. Though they can be considered a vegetable, they’re more rightly a kind of fungus that comes in an assortment of different shapes, colors, sizes and textures – even if an estimated 90% of the mushrooms we consume in the U.S. tend to be of the most common button variety.

Besides being packed with essential vitamins and minerals, these typically fast-growing delicacies number more than 10,000 distinct species in North America alone, and experts believe that’s only a fraction of the types that have yet to be discovered.

But not all mushrooms are equal – and determining whether or not a wild species is actually edible for our species isn’t especially advisable for amateurs. In North Carolina, along with many other eastern and western states, that hasn’t necessarily dampened a public interest in foraging for thousands of native mushrooms found – quite literally sometimes – in our backyards.

Luckily, health officials have taken note. When we talk about food safety here on the Outer Banks, it’s frequently related to concerns over items like shellfish and other seafood, which is why programs for documenting commercial menu staples such as cultivated oysters with tags required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been overwhelming successful at authenticating their source waters and tracing shellfish back to their original suppliers when necessary.

Though much newer, a similar tagging program targeting mushrooms was introduced to NC in 2017, which is when the NC Department of Health and Human Services declared that selling select wild-foraged species to commercial restaurants is legal – as long as strict protocols are followed.

According to regulations now in place, foragers can share their wild bounty commercially as long as they also submit certain official paperwork, including a NC Wild Mushroom Verification/Sale Tag, which details their qualifications as a mushroom-identifying expert who understands safe handling practices to avoid any cross-contamination, and which also describes the exact species being sold off a list of 16 specific NC-approved varieties, including chanterelles, chicken of the woods, lion’s mane, maitakes and morels.

While these administrative hurdles might not be as fun as trekking through the wilderness on a quest to hit the fungi jackpot, they are an important part of ensuring that what winds up on our plates is part of a safe and sustainable process – and that everyone has the chance to partake in the pleasures of our state’s mighty wild mushrooms.

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RISING SEAS MEAN THAT MANY HOUSES – PARTICULARLY ON

HATTERAS ISLAND – NEED TO BE ELEVATED. Rising ages on that same

island, also means that many residents may have an increasingly difficult time navigating additional stairs.

Luckily, there’s a group working on giving people a lift. Literally.

A nonprofit organization called the Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) has installed eight wheelchair lifts to the exterior of local homes from Avon to Hatteras Village over the past two and a half years, vastly improving the lives of folks with few other options for dealing with changing life circumstances. The all-volunteer group, which has been around since 1978, can install a lift in about two days, sending both their spirits – and those of the people they’ve helped – soaring.

“After the first one [we installed], we got a picture of a lady with her dog,” says Dennis Carroll, CHUMM’s director. “She wasn’t wheelchair-bound, but she couldn’t use the stairs well. Suddenly, she could walk her dog, work in her garden and so forth. It was tremendous for her. That’s very gratifying.”

Prior to that installation, the group had built several wheelchair ramps, but they found that the math didn’t really add up. According to Dennis, trying to get a ramp to an average height of nine feet can require making it 100-feet long with several switchbacks, which isn’t always feasible on properties with smaller footprints.

“They just get to be too cumbersome, “We have a population too unmanageable – and expensive as that is aging out of well,” Dennis explains. “A person trying the elevated homes, to use that ramp would be exhausted, so we decided to search for a better way.” but most can’t afford CHUMM volunteers are ideally suited to move to a different for tackling these kinds of challenges. location, so that’s who For starters, the nearly 90 folks who are involved with the group aren’t we try to help.” all Methodists – or even necessarily church-goers – and they’re certainly not -Dennis Carroll all men. But they do all possess a wide Director, Cape Hatteras range of skillsets and an overflowing love United Methodist Men of their community that brings out the best in everyone.

Storm repairs. Financial help with things such as dental, automobile and electric bills, or heating and air conditioning system upgrades. Staffing and managing a local food pantry. Dedicated CHUMM volunteers do a little bit of everything, including (just a few years back) raising about 14 trailers that were prone to flooding – which ultimately led to practical conversations about how to best help people get into their new higher, but also much drier, homes.

It seemed as though it was only a matter of time before requests for elevator lifts would come rolling in.

“Dennis’ phone rings off the wall, multiple times an hour, with people needing something,” says Keith Douts, a CHUMM member whose carpentry skills have played a big role in the installation of each new lift. “If you say ‘Methodist Men,’ it’s like you get respect right away because everyone knows that every penny Dennis gets, it goes back out onto the street – there’s no high-priced CEO of this organization.”

Requests are vetted by Dare County Social Services to gauge the level of need, and then passed along to CHUMM. Thanks to generous grants from local organizations like the Outer Banks Community Foundation, some lifts have been installed at no cost to the homeowners and some with partial payment assistance.

CHUMM volunteers get the process started by taking onsite measurements, and then forwarding the details to Affordable Lifts in Lynchburg, Virginia, where the company’s drafting and engineering departments figure out the exact specs and place an order for the parts.

CHUMM member Jay Dimig volunteers to make the six-hour drive to Lynchburg to pick up the new lifts when they’re ready, saving some $1,200 in freight charges. All told, Dennis estimates that the organization can put in a lift for about a third of the cost of a regular outfit.

Then the fun begins.

“It was really just ‘read the instructions,’” Keith says of CHUMM’s first lift project. “It’s kind of like IKEA furniture: You get an instruction booklet…and you just put it together.”

UP MOVING ON

Volunteers are working diligently to bring accessibility to Hatteras Island homes

BY ST E V E H ANF

2 8 | S PR I N G 2024

The biggest challenge is that the cab of an elevator lift runs on a 3x3-inch piece of steel tubing.

“That’s really heavy,” Keith explains. “You’ve got to tip it up – like the statue of the flag at Iwo Jima – and get it braced and attached to the structure.

Raising that pole takes six guys, and…with everybody pushing together, it’s fine.

Everybody’s kind of getting the hang of it.”

After the supports are in place, the cab is assembled, wiring is installed, and the recipients of the new lift get their first lesson in riding it.

“It takes a little getting used to because you’re not enclosed like you are in an elevator inside a building,” Keith says. “It’s kind of different, and it’s a little scary at first for some people.”

CHUMM volunteers come back regularly to inspect and maintain the equipment because they technically retain ownership of each unit. The group asks people getting the lifts to sign liability releases for misuse – like allowing kids to play on it – and recipients also grant permission for CHUMM to reuse the lift when necessary.

“We have a population that is aging out of the elevated homes, but most can’t afford to move to a different location, so that’s who we try to help,” Dennis says. “They keep coming, and I think we will continue to do it as long as we’re capable. We’re blessed with having the resources to do it, and we have one huge advantage that most communities don’t: We have people who come here from all over the country, and we’ve developed a lot of friends over the years. Our supporters are very diverse.”

So are the people CHUMM have helped with wheelchair lifts at homes throughout Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village. As one recipient enthusiastically wrote in a message to Dennis after her lift was installed: “Wow, I’m so excited now, this thing is wonderful! I guess you have some idea how much difference it makes for me, but you’ll never understand how much gratitude and love I have for all who had a part in it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The first recipient of a wheelchair lift installed by the nonprofit Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men enjoys learning how to operate her home’s new lift alongside her loyal canine companion (pictured left). Volunteers with CHUMM get a lift installation underway on a recently elevated Hatteras Island home (below, photos courtesy of CHUMM).

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Hoofin

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n' It

Sifer Stuart rounds a corner on her horse Biscuit at the Currituck County Rural Center.

Competitive barrel racing isn't for the faint of heart. These young riders wouldn't have it any other way.

A TIMER STARTS WHEN THE HORSE BURSTS

The thousand-pound animal – with an impossibly tiny-looking rider in the saddle – careens around one barrel, makes a beeline for a second, then a third, before racing back toward the starting line.

Amid the cheers, there’s a collective heartbeat as the crowded arena checks to make sure all the barrels are still standing and casts glances at the scoreboard to see how much time elapsed – but it’s all over in the blink of an eye. It’s an exhilarating run of 15 or so seconds that the horse and its rider will attempt again the next day – and, perhaps, the day after that – at competitions both near and far, small and prestigious.

Welcome to the world of barrel racing.

“They become little adrenaline junkies, you know?”

Currituck resident Olivia Stuart says of the kids she knows who have taken to the sport. “The moms pray a lot.”

She laughs as she says it, but there’s no doubt it’s true as she watches her daughter Sifer Stuart go through a workout with her horse Biscuit. On this cold, windy day at the Currituck County Rural Center, Sifer and her fellow racing friend Daylin Jacoby take some time to warm up, then do practice runs of about 25 seconds to show off this unique side of the equestrian world.

Within the circuit of rodeo events, barrel racing is fairly new. It started in the 1940s as one of several events established by the Woman’s Professional Rodeo Association to promote arena activities outside of the established – and typically male-dominated – sphere.

From there, barrel racing took off in popularity in its own right, and is now practiced by both men and women at the amateur level – though it’s generally still a women’s-only event within its professional ranks.

“My whole family in Arizona and on the West Coast, they’ve always had horses,” explains Daylin, a junior at Hickory High School in Chesapeake who’s been competing for about five years alongside about

ONTO THE COURSE.

Photos by Brooke Mayo Story by Steve Hanf

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 3 3

a half-dozen other girls from eastern North Carolina who are similarly dedicated to the sport. “My cousins barrel raced, and my grandpa had cool horses that could barrel race, so I really wanted to start…I definitely wanted to do it for a long time.”

Sifer got into barrel racing thanks to a family connection as well, but she’s also been riding since the age of two. Prior to experiencing the excitement of barrel racing, Sifer cut her teeth in rodeo events by doing some general horse shows, jumping, and dabbling a bit in both English and Western horseback riding styles. But there was something about barrel racing that instantly captured her attention.

“It’s fast,” she says of the sport. “That’s the best part.”

At only 12 years old, Sifer’s also been a fast learner.

The Currituck native is a rising star in the sport of barrel racing, chalking up saddles, belt buckles, ribbons and prize money at countless events over the past few years.

From highlights such as two state peewee division titles in 2020 and 2021 to earning an All American Quarter Horse Congress Level 1 Youth title in 2022, and placing as a finalist in the Youth & Teen World Championships in 2023, Sifer’s list of accomplishments during her short time in the spotlight goes on and on – while Daylin has likewise achieved consistent top times in open and youth divisions locally, which helped her become a two-time qualifier for the National Barrel Horse Association World Championships.

But getting to these levels takes firm commitment from both the riders and their horses. In a barrel racing competition, three 55-gallon barrels are placed in a wide triangle, and racers are charged with maneuvering around each one before stopping the clock at the finish line – with the fastest time winning. Take the turns too close, and you just might tip one of those barrels and be disqualified. Play it too safe, and you run the risk of a slow time. It’s part science, part art.

“All the little details into turning the barrels perfectly and getting the perfect run, it’s very difficult to learn,” Daylin explains. “You need a horse with a lot of heart, too, who loves their sport.”

Lindsey Jacoby, Daylin’s mother, explains how the riders position themselves on the horses and how incredibly challenging it can be to learn how to guide the animals along. As a lifelong rider herself, she decided to try barrel racing for fun one day with the “how hard can it be?” mindset.

It proved to be a humbling moment, she admits with a laugh.

“The instructor’s yelling at me to drop here, and do this, and do that, and I’m like, ‘Holy cow, I don’t have enough time for all that!’ It really gave me some perspective,” Lindsey says. “There’s so much going on in such a short amount of time, and timing is everything. When Daylin went to Georgia for [her first time at] Worlds, she missed making the finals by .001 seconds. I mean, that’s barrel racing. It’s amazing. It’s exciting. It can also be disappointing.”

For the horses, Olivia likens making these lightning-fast runs to that of a human in a grueling marathon. Hours of prep work go on during competition days to get the horse as ready as possible. That also means hours of prep work – and the highs and lows of

3 4 | S PR I N G 2024

Above left, top to bottom: Daylin Jacoby and her mother Lindsey pose beside Olivia Stuart and her daughter Sifer (pictured from left to right); Mother and daughter Olivia and Sifer Stuart check in on Sifer’s horse Biscuit; Sifer takes the lead on a practice run with her horse. Pictured above right, accomplished barrel racer Daylin Jacoby struts her stuff at the Currituck County Rural Center.

“It’s not just a hobby, for sure. It’s a whole lifestyle change, and the whole family has to be supportive because it involves a lot of being on the road.”

- Olivia Stuart

waiting for your run – for the riders, too. Because competition weekends are so stressful, Sifer practices barrel racing with a trainer in Greenville once a week, but otherwise, light exercise at home is the way to go.

“The best thing for them during the week is just slow work: trotting, a trail ride, anything to keep their mind off it,” Olivia says of the horses. “They stress and have anxiety and everything else, just like people.”

Daylin enjoys riding Halle – whose registered/ competition name is Hollywood Frosty Nic – several times a week at a friend’s house. Halle is 19 years old, slowing down a bit, admittedly, but still “pretty chill” according to Daylin. Halle has had nine foals, and Daylin’s been able to ride a few of Halle’s babies – and even some grandbabies – at her grandfather’s home in Arizona.

By comparison, Sifer has three horses she competes with, although one of her speediest horses was injured this past winter. Biscuit – aka Highly Nifty – is 16 years old, and is Sifer’s main ride now. Traveling with one horse – not to mention two or three – is, of course, another challenging aspect of the barrel racing competition lifestyle.

“They have a good solid group of friends, and we all travel and camp together,” Lindsey explains.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie with the parents. ‘It takes a village’ is very true in the horse world.”

“I feel like it’s a lot different than being a soccer mom,” Olivia adds good-naturedly. “It’s not just a hobby, for sure. It’s a whole lifestyle change, and the whole family has to be supportive because it involves a lot of being on the road.”

There’s also a hefty financial stake in things.

Horses are expensive, and maintaining them is even more so. Regularly traveling to places like Texas or Georgia with a full load of animal trailers and other equipment – plus show fees – certainly adds up, too. For non-horse people, this lifestyle can be hard to understand. Daylin and Sifer have some “regular” friends, of course, but most of their deepest friendships are with other “horse people.”

“We met at lessons, and then we went to a show together,” Daylin says of Sifer, who’s five years her junior. “We’ve been friends ever since.”

“The older girls, they just adore Sifer…they really do look up to her and her abilities,” Lindsey adds, noting that Sifer is considered one of the youngest high-level competitors around. “They treat her just like one of them. They don’t look at her as a little girl.”

With the early hours, long trips and rigorous training, it’s no wonder that kids in the horse world tend to grow up fast with a sense of discipline beyond their years. But it’s all worth it as they chase their dreams.

“This is something I want to do forever, professionally, [and] make it to the National Finals Rodeo, which is the biggest horse show you can go to,” Sifer says. “I think it’s a joy to be around the horses, and the barn is my safe space. Whenever I go down there in the morning it’s so quiet and I’m able to just think. I love it.”

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 35

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'62

The Great Storm of More than six decades after it struck, the Ash Wednesday Storm still inspires awe.

BY AMELIA BOLDAJI

FOR MOST, THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO WARNING. When Kitty Hawk resident Elizabeth Smith – who would later go on to become her town’s mayor – woke up in the early hours of Wednesday, March 7, 1962, the first thing she saw was what appeared to be a snowdrift piling up against her home.

It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption. Just the night before, the Weather Bureau issued a few tepid gale warnings, along with a notice that an abnormally high spring tide was imminent for portions of the Eastern Seaboard. Though no special advisories implicated the Outer Banks, snow began to blanket nearby Elizabeth City that same evening as temperatures dropped into the lower 30s, and areas farther north delt with several feet of then-record-breaking snowfall in a single flurry of activity.

Smith was wrong, however, and it only took her a few minutes to realize that she was actually looking at spindrift – the foamy, white spray of cresting waves that was being hurled ferociously toward her second-floor vantage point.

For others situated south of the Currituck County mainland, the initial impacts of what would later be dubbed the Ash Wednesday Storm by local photographer Aycock Brown, were much less subtle. Many woke before first light to the terrible sounds of gale force winds and crashing waves just outside their windows, while some later recalled the sensation of waking up on damp mattresses – only to discover that they were all but floating in seawater inside their own homes.

One such witness was newly appointed Nags Head Chief of Police Donnie Twyne. Though the town of Nags Head had only been established a year before in 1961, Twyne was well aware that a storm was brewing when he went to sleep on Tuesday night in the town’s temporary police station located just east of Jockey’s Ridge. What he wasn’t expecting was to be roused around five a.m. by floodwaters reaching him on the station’s top bunkbed – or that when he jumped down from his perch, the churning water would engulf him up to his shoulders, forcing him to break a window in order to swim to relative safety in frigid, near-total darkness.

As told by then-chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners and historian David Stick 25 years after the events of March 7, 1962, took place, those first few hours of the unanticipatedly vicious storm were filled with both a sense of complete chaos and also many feats of

Known more broadly along the Eastern Seaboard as The Great March Storm of 1962, Outer Banks photographer Aycock Brown dubbed the unexpectedly destructive nor’easter the Ash Wednesday Storm – a designation that stuck locally. While the worst effects of the storm occurred on the Outer Banks during the early morning hours of March 7, 1962, the nor’easter continued to batter NC’s barrier islands over the course of three days and five viciously high tide cycles (photo courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center/Aycock Brown).

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 37

bravery. While a number of the people he interviewed recalled having nightmares for years after the exceptionally strong nor’easter hit this area – including Stick himself, who became stranded in the rising waters with his three young sons in a station wagon not far from their Colington home for “an eternity” before being rescued by a passing friend – just as many, if not more, offered accounts of loved ones and neighbors risking their own lives amid all the turmoil to help others in need.

Much later, many would refer to the storm as “perfect” in a meteorological sense, but for those in its deadly path, the situation was far removed from that term. Though the Outer Banks was one of the East Coast’s hardest hit areas, the unusually strong extratropical cyclone combined with the Atlantic’s highest annual tides resulted in the storm affecting more than 500 miles of shoreline from Canada south through the Carolinas over the course of three days, resulting in more than $234 million in damages (about $1.8 billion today) that left approximately 1,800 dwellings destroyed and thousands more structurally compromised.

In a forward to Stick’s 1987 book The Ash Wednesday Storm, actor and Roanoke Island resident Andy Griffith aptly described the Much later, many event as “a violence beyond imagination.” would refer to the Even photographs taken both during and immediately after the storm by Aycock Brown storm as “perfect” in a don’t fully do the storm’s impacts justice as meteorological sense, but story after story fill Stick’s book with individuals who watched in horror as their neighbor’s for those in its deadly homes floated off their pilings, or as their path, the situation was far own homes disintegrated in the turbulent removed from that term. seawaters – sometimes within moments of them realizing the severity of the situation.

Because the storm unleashed the worst of its fury in the early morning hours leading up to an eight-a.m. high tide, even those who did have an inkling of the extent of the destruction were overwhelmingly at a loss about how to respond at the time. As Stick notes, there was no set pattern to the barrier islands’ leveling – one house was spared of everything including its neatly folded linens, while every other structure in its vicinity was demolished within hours.

For those trapped in the midst of things as they occurred, that meant having to decide whether it was safest to stay put or attempt an escape in the freezing, rushing waters and 75-mile-per-hour wind gusts with no sense of when their ordeal would end – or even if anyone else had been spared in other areas.

One woman Stick interviewed recalled pinching herself in hopes that she was only experiencing a bad dream as she watched her house fill with more than a foot of icy

38 | S PR I N G 2024

Remains of the Oregon Inlet Marina were left buried under piles of sand after floodwaters from the Ash Wednesday Storm receded in March of 1962 (pictured bottom left). An aerial view of south Kill Devil Hills when it was still inundated with ocean overwash from the unusually fierce nor’easter (above, all photos courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center/Aycock Brown).

water in mere minutes, while another decided that – if necessary – she would bind some storm doors together to build a makeshift raft while she still had enough strength left.

Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. While wide swaths of the Outer Banks were transformed into rushing rivers from sea to sound on the morning of March 7, as the tide receded later in the afternoon, there was hope on the horizon. Though some came in the form of Coast Guard helicopters and Army National Guard amphibious vehicles, a large number of other rescues were undertaken in small rafts, skiffs, fullto-bursting vehicles and highway graders operated by community members, friends and neighbors.

As a result – and some would say, almost miraculously – not a single life was lost on the Outer Banks during the storm. Even in the aftermath, when there were legitimate concerns over typhoid outbreaks from contaminated water and the slow process of rebuilding whole communities from the ground up could begin in earnest, every resident pitched in and did what they could to help each other put the pieces back together.

More than 60 years on now, it can be difficult to wrap our minds around the sheer force of the storm’s brutality – not least of all because of how much the Outer Banks has changed over these past few decades. In Kill Devil Hills alone, the year-round population hovered at nearly 150 to 200 people in 1962. Today, a population boom has boosted that number closer to 7,800.

If one thing’s certain, however, those of us who live here on these barrier islands are nothing if not resilient. In a short documentary about the storm that premiered last year thanks to a partnership between the town of Nags Head and the Outer Banks History Center, Juanita Wescott recalls evacuating to Manteo from her family’s home and business at the Seaport Pier – now called the Outer Banks Pier – during the worst part of the storm when she was just 12 years old. “[The pier house] exploded like a bomb had hit it; it just went to pieces,” she says. “This is March 7th. [My dad was] open for business by the first of June…that’s amazing! You just don’t do that,” she adds with a chuckle. “And that is the pier house and the pier that’s there today.”

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NC, including nine two-year terms as the senate president pro tempore.

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. In 2007, a fire demolished the restaurant, causing more than $1 million in damages. That might have marked the end of the Nags Head Causeway-located establishment, but the family quickly decided to turn the tragedy into an opportunity.

“Dad was determined to rebuild bigger and better as quickly as possible,” says Marc’s oldest daughter Vicki. “He wanted to do it right, and nothing could stop him.”

Above all, doing it right – for Marc – meant highlighting the bounty of various NC farms and products from local fishermen and women, including family members like his daughter Vicki, who personally oversees spring harvests of about 15,000 soft-shell crabs annually.

It also meant building a large onsite garden that could produce hyper-local harvests capable of ending up on customers’ plates.

“We’ve always had a garden here,” Vicki says. “Dad planted some herbs early on – some of which even survived the fire.”

But the new construction – which was completed in recordbreaking time – also included expanded planned gardens with a main bed enclosed by a winding ramp leading to the restaurant’s entranceway, sound-side herb beds along with ground-level outdoor seating for visitors, rainwater cisterns, a recycled bottle wind-blocking wall and a greenhouse.

After Marc’s departure from the senate in 2011 due to his health, he continued to direct work in the gardens, even when he was confined to a wheelchair. As it became increasingly clear that extra hands were needed to handle the full scope of the project, longtime family friend Wyatt Smith was brought on as Basnight’s head gardener in 2017.

“We’re not trying to grow high-volume items for the restaurant,” says Wyatt, who worked on a number of other horticultural

Cedars Through the

How one restaurant provides diners with vegetables and herbs that are literally fresh off the vine.

Photos by Ryan Moser Story by Dan Lewis

The main garden beds at Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café sit beside panoramic views of the Roanoke Sound.

4 0 | S PR I N G 2024

A GAGGLE OF GEESE slowly make their way down a narrow gravel path toward the Roanoke Sound. Beds of herbs and other cultivars such as Egyptian walking onions line the walkway on the right-hand side, while a massive row of rosemary bushes stretches out along the shoreline on the left, projecting their age with each flowering branch.

Beyond one of three rainwater-collecting cisterns that almost resemble medieval castle turrets, gardeners Wyatt Smith and Shailor Clark go about their daily tasks. They appear unhurried but industrious, attending to everything from planting seed starters to inspecting the site’s irrigation system and following up on orders placed for compost deliveries.

This could be a scene from a private garden oasis, but what makes the tranquility of this setting even more special is that it actually belongs to one of the busiest restaurants on the Outer Banks: Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café.

Established in 1996 by former North Carolina Senate leader Marc Basnight, the restaurant has long been a true family affair.

From the beginning, Marc’s wife, Sandy, and their daughters Vicki and Caroline, took it upon themselves to monitor the day-to-day operations of the enterprise while their father was in the midst of an impressive 26-year run as a representative of counties in Eastern

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Clockwise from top left: Assistant gardener Shailor Clark mists off some produce in the early morning hours; Basnight’s Chef Susan Peele picks a handful of Sungold tomatoes fresh from the vine; A bevy of turnips head straight from the garden to the kitchen; One of Basnight’s three large rainwater-collecting cisterns sits nestled by the gardens’ graveled walkway.

“We harvested over one ton

farms before coming onboard The selections that they of produce last year on less at Basnight’s. “We just don’t concentrate on also change than a tenth of an acre.” have enough space. But we seasonally, with cold weather work with the chefs [here] to greens in winter paving the -Wyatt Smith, grow specialty items in small way for spring peas, beans and Head Gardener at amounts that they can’t get from radishes before it’s time to Basnight's Lone Cedar Café anywhere else.” plant an array of summertime In addition to the perennial tomatoes, okra and squash. herbs that landscape the Depending on the time of year, a property year round, Wyatt and his assistant Shailor plan variety of edible blossoms such as peppery nasturtiums out yearly gardening projects well in advance – which, or baby-blue borage can be plucked straight from the depending on various factors, might include more than gardens to dress up plates for festive special events – and one hundred different vegetables, herbs and edible when blossoms aren’t available, the kitchen can rely on flowers ranging from arugula to zinnia. numerous microgreens grown in the sheltered south“We try a lot of different things to see what works,” facing greenhouse.

Wyatt explains. “We start with what the kitchen and the Through years of trial and error, successes have bar might want us to grow, and then we try to make it been built upon, which include not only particular crops happen.” such as Sungold tomatoes and basil – prominent in the 42 | S PR I N G 2024

main garden over the past several summers – but also in techniques and processes like irrigation, fertilization and crop rotation.

These processes involve things such as capturing rainwater in three large cisterns to feed the gardens’ irrigation system, which started after Marc noticed that it resulted in better fruiting than using town water.

Building on that, Wyatt developed a compost tea recipe a few years ago that’s now pumped into the irrigation system as well in order to feed the crops extra nutrients when necessary.

“We send the soil out to be tested regularly,” Wyatt explains. “Soil amendments are added as needed, but only from organic sources since we’re very conscientious of being so close to the sound.” One of the amendments he reports being most impressed with is mushroom compost – the spent growing medium from cultivated mushrooms – which contains organic materials that also help suppress weeds.

The result of all this hard work can be staggering. “We harvested over one ton of produce last year on less than a tenth of an acre,” Wyatt says with modest pride. “We have to keep good records as part of our grant [from the University of Mount Olive] – it’s not a huge grant, but it offsets some of the costs of the garden operation, and it can help agricultural research in NC by exploring crops and processes that might do well in the region to potentially offer different options for historic tobacco farms inland.”

Marc Basnight passed away in 2020, preceded by his wife Sandy in 2007, but his legacy lives on not only in NC politics, but also in the restaurant – and its gardens – that bear his family name.

“He had a passion for politics, and helping to make things better for people,” Vicki says of her father. “But he was also passionate about gardening, and doing things right. I think of him with just about every decision we make in the garden, and with every plate I wipe before it goes out. It’s got to be right.”

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N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 4 3

Plants Gone Wild

TREES PLANT THIS:

Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) Beyond the privacy factor, having trees on your property can reduce the effects of coastal erosion and minimize your utility bills – but hosting even a single serviceberry can also provide nearly 100 different types of pollinators (primarily butterflies and moths) with sustenance during its delicately fragrant springtime blooming season.

…NOT THAT:

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) Despite the visual appeal of their fern-like foliage and dramatic pink flowers, these trees belong in the pea family – which are known for “fixing” nitrogen by taking that element from the air and converting it into ammonia – and they’re highly susceptible to fungal disease.

OTHERS TO EMBRACE: Eastern Red Cedar, Fringe-tree, Redbud …AND AVOID: Callery Pear, Popcorn

Tree, Salt Cedar

IN THE VAST PLANT KINGDOM,

almost nothing reigns supreme quite like an invasive pest…even if they are distant family members of other regional residents. With spring planting season in full swing, now might be time to stop the spread by taking a stroll through your backyard – and switching out your more noxious roots with native ones.

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SHRUBS PLANT THIS:

Witch-alder (Fothergilla major) Shrubs not only define spaces (think natural fences!), they also act as wind barriers while supplying a protective cover for local wildlife – and witch-alder shrubs (both in their larger and dwarf forms) are pest-resistant landscape additions that are particularly hardy in coastal winter climates.

…NOT THAT:

Thorny Olive (Elaeagnus pungens) The aggressive root system and fast growth rate of numerous olive tree specimens has made the Elaeagnus species a source of considerable problems in coastal NC since they were first introduced to North America in the 1700s – especially because they tend to be both salt and drought resistant.

OTHERS TO EMBRACE: Dwarf

Palmetto, Wax Myrtle, Yaupon Holly

…AND AVOID: Autumn Olive,

Barberry, Burning Bush, Nandina

4 4 | S PR I N G 2024

VINES PLANT THIS:

Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) While vines can be trained to create vertical interest, filter light or obstruct prying eyes, the perennial crossvine is an exceptionally showy native specimen that produces trumpet-shaped clusters of flowers from late winter to early spring – and it has an extensive history of being medicinally important to indigenous cultures.

…NOT THAT:

English Ivy (Hedera helix) This evergreen vine is often praised for its dense growth, but the downside is that it can quickly stymie local plant communities (all while producing a welcoming environment for bothersome insects such as mosquitos), and it can also readily weigh down native tree branches – making them increasingly vulnerable to wind damage.

OTHERS TO EMBRACE: Carolina

Jessamine, Coral Honeysuckle, Woodbine

…AND AVOID: Autumn Clematis,

Japanese Honeysuckle, Porcelain Berry

GRASSES PLANT THIS:

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Ornamental grasses have long been popular in coastal landscapes due to their attractive, year-round seasonal interest and low-key maintenance, but switchgrass is also a NC native specimen that truly aids in erosion control – and it supplies a valuable nesting site for everything from insects to birds and small mammals.

…NOT THAT:

Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) Although pampas grass has become a common landscape feature locally, its clusters can mature until its blades are sharp enough to pierce human skin – making it much less desirable in family-friendly settings – and eradicating this species can be incredibly difficult once it’s fully established.

OTHERS TO EMBRACE: Coastal

Panicgrass, Indiangrass, Muhly Grass

…AND AVOID: Centipede Grass, Maiden

Grass, Weeping Love Grass

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 45

town report What’s happening in your town?

Here’s a report from all over the Outer Banks.

COM PIL ED BY C ATH ERI N E KOZ A K

Currituck County Under a new ordinance approved by the Currituck Board of Commissioners in December, Carova property owners are now required to install an animal-proof enclosure around their trash containers.

The measure was needed, the county stated, to protect wildlife – particularly the Corolla wild horses – from dumping the trash and eating its contents. The enclosures must be in place by June 2024.

Currituck County also recently announced that a new children’s playground has also been completed at Historic Corolla Park. Situated near the Currituck Maritime Museum and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the custom-designed playground honors the county’s famed waterfowl and outdoor heritage, with equipment that includes a huge goose-shaped structure and a slide that resembles a duck blind.

The 39-acre Historic Corolla Park is a popular spot for walking, biking, fishing and hosting special events. Use of the park and the playground are free, but some fees can apply for certain attractions, programs or events.

Duck A new feasibility study is being conducted to determine future improvements on the town’s multiuse path in the narrow area where Duck borders Southern Shores. “This project will address missing infrastructure on the westbound side of [NC Highway 12], and further promote pedestrian and bicycle connectivity as identified in the 2014 Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan, the [updated 2020 Coastal Area Management Act] Land Use Plan, and a stated goal in the Duck 2032 Vision 4 6 | S PR I N G 2024

Statement,” the town reported in a November 2023 post on their website.

The study, which began in 2023, encompasses areas from Aqua Restaurant & Spa to Seabreeze Drive, and from Seahawk Drive to Sea Oats Trail. The plan was presented to the public at an open house and at stakeholder meetings, as well as to the Duck Town Council. Depending on available funding, the final design and a construction timeline are expected be decided by the summer of 2024.

Southern Shores SAGA Realty & Construction’s permit application for a proposed property development near Southern Shores Landing was withdrawn from the Southern Shores Board of Commissioners’ February 2024 agenda, essentially dropping the project two years after the developer submitted a zoning amendment request. SAGA was seeking approval to build a mixed-use development on about five acres between Martin’s Point Road and Landing Trail, but, based on concerns about wastewater and buffers, the town planning board declined to approve the special-use permit for the project as of November 2023. The developer can still resubmit their application at a future date if desired.

Kitty Hawk After several delays and adjustments in a proposed new police station building project, the town of Kitty Hawk is scheduled to review the design – plus complete the bidding and planning process – by late winter of 2024.

According to a recent town newsletter, officials will then be ready to begin the construction phase.

The town purchased the former Sentara medical building on U.S. Route 158 in September 2022 for $4.1 million to build a replacement for the old police station building on Kitty Hawk Road. By June 2023, the Kitty Hawk Town Council awarded a contract for construction

development and oversight to Dills Architects. The proposed project includes 7,305 square feet of renovated space and 926 square feet of new construction, with a projected budget of $3,856,025.

Kill Devil Hills With supply chain shortages in equipment and other components still causing delays for heavy truck orders, the Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners has agreed to purchase two costly replacement garbage trucks at an earlierthan-expected date.

Public Service Director Steve Albright stated that by accelerating the replacement schedule to the not-yetfinalized 2023-2024 financial year budget – rather than sticking to the previously planned 2024-2025 budget – the town will avoid any potential cost increases, prevent longer manufacturing delays, and take advantage of a faster delivery service. The cost of both garbage truck totals $801,326, but Albright explained that the town is expected to save between $20,000 to $30,000 by finalizing the purchase a year earlier than anticipated.

Nags Head There won’t be a drive-through Starbucks in Nags Head anytime soon after a requested amendment to the town’s Unified Development Ordinance was denied by the Nags Head Board of Commissioners this past January. The drive-through was proposed by the shopping center Outlets Nags Head, but numerous community members objected during a prior public hearing. The town’s planning board also voted against previous versions of the proposal four other times.

Manteo In January, a special-use permit was approved by the Manteo Board of Commissioners for Osprey Landing, a proposed development off Highway

64/264. The project will combine two parcels – including 2.5 acres and 1.84 acres of upland area – that can be subdivided into five lots. Lots one through four are expected to house residential duplex units, and lot five can include six townhome units in two buildings. The project also has the capacity for 14 boat slips in the area’s existing basin. The permit was approved with certain conditions that include town approval of the wastewater and water distribution systems.

Dare County A new housing task force has been created by the Dare County Board of Commissioners to collaborate with representatives from town governments and tourism, education and commerce boards – as well as other community stakeholders – on efforts to solve the county’s persistent workforce housing shortage.

Prior to the task force’s first meeting on January 18, the board approved a resolution that reinforced opposition to NC House Bill 259, a state legislation passed in October 2023 that can limit town governments’ ability to apply individual zoning regulations on some housing construction projects that make use of state funds. The measure additionally established that the task force was intended “to reduce the acrimony between the towns and Dare County and to help in the process of reaching consensus” on more long-term solutions.

As of January, the Dare County Board of Commissioners also adopted a new stormwater management master plan – its first update in more than 20 years.

Based on input provided by property owners and engagement with community members, consultant WithersRavenel developed hydraulic models – in addition to proposing recommendations and cost estimates – for improvements in areas of north Roanoke Island, Wanchese, Colington, Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras Village and countywide.

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business briefs COM PIL ED BY C AT H ERI N E KOZ A K

All Bets Are On By mid-March 2024, sports betting will be officially legal in North Carolina. With last year’s approval from the NC General Assembly, licensed operators can begin registering players – who must be at least 21 years of age – and accept deposits as early as March 1. Sports betting is scheduled to start on March 11, according to the NC State Lottery Commission. Additional information, including a list of approved licensees and details on the rules, can be found on the commission’s sports wagering website, ncgaming.gov.

New Ownership at Pirate’s Cove Marina Pirate’s Cove Marina and Pavilion in Manteo, formerly owned by the late Dare County Commissioner Jim Tobin and his wife Tammy, has been sold to the Harrell family of Ahoskie, NC, according to a January press release.

The Harrells also own Jernigan Oil Company and the Duck Thru Food Stores on the Outer Banks.

“We hope to continue operating the marina at the same level of excellence the Tobins helped establish,” Michael Harrell, president of Jernigan Oil and the Duck Thru chain, said in the release.

The marina offers 195 privately owned and transient slips, a 13,000-square-foot open-air venue, and a seafood restaurant and tiki bar operated by Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar.

High-Speed Internet Funds for Currituck Brightspeed, a Charlotte-based internet company, is planning a project in Currituck County that will provide broadband access to 2,314 homes and 116 businesses. A $4 million grant was awarded in a round of Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grants announced by the NC Department of Information Technology, according to a press release, with Brightspeed providing matching funds of $2.3 million. Construction is expected to begin in April and be completed by October 2024.

Proposed Property Insurance Rates

Changes at Head of NC Coastal Federation

Despite much outcry on the Outer Banks, the NC Rate Bureau, which represents insurance companies, has requested a property insurance increase that could average a 42% spike statewide.

Proposed increases for coastal Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties are 45.1%, while increases for inland areas in those counties are 33.9 %.

Todd Miller, founder of the nonprofit NC Coastal Federation, has stepped down from his post as executive director. During Miller’s 41 years at the helm, the environmental advocacy organization expanded from a one-man operation to three offices with more than 40 staffers working to protect and restore the environment along the NC coast.

By comparison, the highest proposed NC increases were in Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties (at 99.4%), and the lowest was in Haywood, Madison, Swain and Transylvania counties (at 4.3%). Typically, multiple hearings and negotiations result in much lower rates than initially requested by the bureau, which has suggested starting the new statewide rates on August 1, 2024.

As of February 1, the position has been filled by Braxton Davis, who served as the director of the NC Division of Coastal Management since 2011. “I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with many of the federation staff over the years, and I’ve been so impressed with their expertise, energy and commitment,” Davis said in federation press release. Miller, who founded the federation in 1982, will maintain a role in the organization as a senior adviser to the executive director.

Real Estate

market snapshot After a challenging year in the real estate market, there are reasons to be more upbeat about the coming year, according to the Outer Banks Association of Realtors’ (OBAR) December 2023 MLS Statistical Report. Although the report found that total home sales in 2023 dropped 27% from 2022, it also noted the recent sharp drop in 30-year mortgage interest rates from 7.91% in October 2022

4 8 | S PR I N G 2024

to 6.74% in January 2023 as a positive indicator – and there seems to be growing optimism for the market’s future in general.

“A monthly survey in December conducted

by Fannie Mae showed that for the first time since the survey was launched in 2010, more homeowners believe mortgage rates will go down rather than up,” the report said, citing a CNBC report.

OBAR’s year-end report showed that the total volume of sales in 2023 was down 31%, from $1,761,311,005 in 2022 to $1,224,094,917 in 2023. Sales of single family detached homes also dropped 31% in 2023, while condominium sales were down 6%.

Lot/land sales dropped 25% from 2022, while lot/ land inventory dropped 22%. Total housing inventory, however, was up in 2023 versus 2022 by 8%.

Homebuilding on the Outer Banks has demonstrated interesting trends as well. According to OBAR’s MLS report, there were 348 building permits issued in 2022 in Dare County, and 262 issued in 2023, with residential new construction valued at $185,530,666 and $133,027,849, respectively.

In Currituck County, there were 293 building permits issued in 2022, and 408 issued in 2023, also valued at $194,926,272 and $146,694,397, respectively.

Currituck County was NC’s second fastest-growing county in 2023, behind only Brunswick County.

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*Based on information from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS 1.1.14-12.31.23.

*

H O M E S POTL IGHT

The Best-Laid Plans For the owners of this Southern Shores vacation home, the second time's the charm.

Story by Emmy Benton Photos courtesy of Carolina Designs Realty

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LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED. It’s a simple enough maxim that few would argue with, but for homeowners Danessa Knaupp and Jonathan Brabrand, it’s become much more than that. After a series of events – both large and small – over the years, it’s now a defining characteristic of their shared history together.

In some ways, it started when the two wed in 2015. It was a remarriage for both, who each brought three children into their new blended family. (“We’re each other’s plan B, if you will,” Danessa quips about their relationship, laughing happily.) A year later, Danessa left behind a decades-long career in the financial services sector to found a successful executive coaching company – marking yet another life-changing transformation thanks to second chances.

It was an exciting time for the increasingly close-knit family of eight, and it kept getting better. By February 2021, the couple reached another milestone when they realized a long-term dream of purchasing a vacation home in Southern Shores. Despite the house’s location – and a few architectural quirks from previous additions – the place was reminiscent of the old Nags Head cottage style they both admired, and they had a clear shared vision of the renovations they wanted to do to make it a perfect fit.

Over the next year they steadily went through the house section by section, knocking things off their list until the renovations – which included adding a private pool – were complete in March 2022. Although they planned to rent out the house

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for the busy summer season, they were looking forward to enjoying some ocean views themselves come fall.

But life intervened – with a blaze.

An accidental fire broke out while the season’s first renters were staying there only a month later in April. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and minimal damage was done to the surrounding homes, but crews from six towns were forced to battle the fire for hours as flames razed the house to the ground, leaving only the pool unscathed. Danessa and Jonathan, who live in Richmond, Virginia, first heard about the fire from concerned neighbors – and they were devastated.

The site was still smoking when the family arrived the next morning to assess the damage. They knew they could only afford to miss one rental season, so they immediately began calling contractors to get the ball rolling on a “We were able to rebuild. They were slightly frustrated about to start from scratch, but also hopeful rethink something having that this new house could be even more that was already special than their last one.

Once they connected with Matt Neal of a wonderful gift Neal Contracting – who felt confident he could get the massive project done on their in our life, and accelerated timeline – it was time to decide tailor-make it for on a floor plan…the only thing was, they weren’t exactly sure where to start. us.”

At first, Danessa wanted another shingled Nags Head-style house that reminded her of -Danessa Knaupp, past Outer Banks vacations, but Jonathan set homeowner his sights on a modern-looking flat top-style house more in keeping with Southern Shores developer Frank Stick’s architectural legacy.

“We were able to rethink something that was already a wonderful gift in our life, and tailor-make it for us,” Danessa says of their ultimate decision to go in that latter direction. “Through this experience, one of the side outcomes was that we had a beach house in the old Nags Head style with a lot of charm that we designed and have good memories of, and – in the very same spot – we now have a home that’s completely different.”

Crews got started on the house’s new flat top-inspired design by October, had it framed by Christmas, and fully finished it in record time by the summer of 2023. Rather than dwelling on these unforeseen circumstances, the whole Knaupp-Brabrand family threw themselves into action, picking out things from tile to wallpaper, bedspreads, lamps and everything else in between.

Danessa and Jonathan were also able to reconsider basic structural aspects like the height of the house’s ceilings and door frames to accommodate their growing teen to young adult-aged children. And, given their passion for implementing more energy-efficient home improvements, they were thrilled to have the option of installing solar panels on the roof, which has made the new home 100% solar-energy powered and selfsustaining all year round.

The house’s unique design and construction directly led to a Judges’ Grand Champion Award during the Outer Banks Home Builders Association’s 2023 Parade of Homes competition – well before the rebuild was even complete. And Danessa and Jonathan got exactly the sort of feedback they had hoped for from that experience, with people saying that the house felt like a space place where families could easily come together and relax.

Another thing people loved? The house’s new name: “Plan B(each).”

“We’ve welcomed these pivots before, so we were ready and excited to see what it would bring,” Danessa explains. “Plan Bs are a theme in our life… but we don’t always know what they’re going to be. So we built this house in our minds and our hearts. It is first – in our minds – our home, and we’re just delighted that we get to share it with others.”

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Clockwise from top left: Before the flat topinspired Plan B(each) was completed in 2023, only the backyard pool remained when a fire burnt down Danessa Knaupp and Jonathan Brabrand’s original Southern Shores vacation home in the same location; The second-floor dining room shares an open floor plan with the home’s kitchen and great room; All eight members of the Knaupp-Brabrand family chipped in when it came time to select new décor for areas like Plan B(each)’s first-floor desk nook and one of the house’s five kingsized bedrooms; High ceilings and plenty of windows flood the house’s kitchen with lots of natural light – and offer up some unparalleled views of the surrounding neighborhood.

N O RT H B E ACH SU N | 53

sun salutations Beach Realty & Construction Beach Realty & Construction Names Joanne Kepler 2023 Agent of the Year Joanne Kepler was recently named Beach Realty & Construction’s 2023 Agent of the Year. She has won agent of the year honors several times during her career with Beach Realty, which dates back to 2005.

With almost 30 years in the business, Joanne has worked hard to establish herself as an industry leader and real estate expert. She actively participates in community events and volunteers for the Special Olympics, a youth ministry, and is vice president for the local chapter of Blue Star Mothers. Joanne can be reached in the Corolla office of Beach Realty & Construction or at (252) 207-8420.

Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty Brook Sparks Named Listing Agent of the Year Brook Sparks has earned the award of Top Listing Agent for the second year in a row based on listings taken in 2023. Brook also earned the Agent of the Year title for the company’s Elizabeth City location and the prestigious 2023 Coldwell Banker International President’s Elite Award, ranking her in the top 2% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

Additionally, she ranked in the top 3% of all agents in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS for 2023. Brook can be reached at (252) 619-7082 or brooksparks@cbseaside.com.

VanderMyde Group Named Team of the Year The VanderMyde Group earned the honor of Top Producing Team in listings, sales volume and units based on 2023 production. This is the seventh consecutive year the team has earned this high honor. The team earned the 2023 Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle Award, ranking it in the top 10% of all Coldwell Banker Teams (with four-plus members) worldwide. Team leader

Heather VanderMyde is also the #2 ranking agent in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS for 2023. Heather can be reached at (252) 202-2375 or hvandermyde@gmail.com.

Sakers Team Named Team of the Year for the Kitty Hawk Location For the third year in a row, Heather Sakers, along with team members Ann Taylor Lusk and Charles Gill have earned the Top Producing Team award for the Kitty Hawk office. This award is based on closed sales volume for 2023. Heather ranks in the top 3% of all agents in the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS for 2023.

Heather can be reached at (252) 599-6814 or heather@ cbseaside.com.

Sunny Berle Named Agent of the Year Sunny Berle has earned the Top Producing Agent award for the firm, leading in both sales volume and units based on closed production for 2023. Sunny earned the prestigious 2023 Coldwell Banker International President’s Elite Award, ranking her in the top 2% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. According to the Outer Banks Association of Realtors MLS, Sunny ranked #2 in Corolla sales in 2023, and in the top 2% of all selling agents. Sunny can be reached at (813) 480-0445 or sunny.berle@gmail.com.

Melissa Morgan Named Agent of the Year for the Kill Devil Hills Location Melissa Morgan has earned the Top Producing Agent of the Year award for the firm’s Kill Devil Hills office and the 2023 Coldwell Banker International Sterling Award, presented to the top 11% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. “This was not my first home purchase; it is my fourth, and Melissa is by far the most talented and hard-working agent I have known,” said a recent five-star review. Melissa can be reached at (252) 202-5636 or melissa@cbseaside.com.

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Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates Joe Lamb, Jr. Acknowledges Agents Shelley O’Grady and Bobby Williams Outer Banks native Shelley O’Grady has more than a decade of real estate experience. With a focus on exceptional service and communication, she’s dedicated to helping clients achieve their buying or selling goals. Contact Shelley at shelley@joelambjr.com or (252) 261-7721.

With more than 40 years of Outer Banks experience, Bobby is your go-to expert for buying or selling property. His deep knowledge, transparency and strong negotiation skills ensure a seamless real estate experience. Contact Bobby at bwilliams@joelambjr.com or (252) 261-7721.

SAGA Realty & Construction Sarah Pritchard Named Top Producer for 2023 Sarah Pritchard earned the honor of 2023 Top Producer for SAGA Realty & Construction. Sarah provides a wealth of knowledge and top-level customer service for each of her clients who are looking to build, buy or sell. SAGA Realty & Construction is a full-service real estate firm that provides an innovative approach for all your real estate needs. Contact the experienced SAGA team today at sales@icrsaga.com or (252) 301-3090.

Sun Realty M&M Team Awarded Agent of the Year Sun Realty recently awarded the M&M Team of Madonna and Michael Van Curen as the 2023 Agent of the Year. Madonna and Michael have been working with buyers and sellers on the Outer Banks for more than 20 years, and that experience and expertise has led them to a total of 17 Sun Realty Agent of the Year awards honors. Their success is attributed to old fashioned hard work, a devotion to their profession, and unprecedented service to their customers. The M&M Team can be reached at (252) 202-6702.

Richard Hess Honored with Agents’ Choice Award Richard Hess was once again selected as the Agents’ Choice award recipient. Voted on by their peers, this award is given to the agent in the company who provides the most support to their fellow realtors.

Having made the Outer Banks his home more than 30 years ago, Richard is a leader in local real estate and the business community. Richard understands the

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changes in technology in the real estate industry and is positioned to stay ahead of the game. Richard can be reached at the Sun Realty Kill Devil Hills office or at (252) 256-2112.

Twiddy & Company Katie Wheeler Appointed Broker in Charge of Corolla Office Congratulations to Katie Wheeler, the newly appointed broker in charge of Twiddy & Company’s Corolla office. Katie has dedicated more than 15 years to the company, where she is also the director of asset management and works closely with homeowners during their vacation rental experience.

Kaleigh DiPietro Appointed Broker in Charge of Duck Office Congratulations to Kaleigh DiPietro on her new role as the broker in charge of Twiddy & Company’s Duck office. As head of real estate for all of Twiddy & Company, Kaleigh will now assume additional responsibilities as one of the company’s trusted leaders. Having accumulated experience in both real estate and rental management in her seven years with the company, Kaleigh has proven to be an invaluable asset to the firm.

OBX Legacy Home Sales Team Tops $31 Million in Sales in 2023 With more than $31 million in real estate transactions in 2023 and boasting more than 30 years of collective experience in the industry, the OBX Legacy Home Sales Team possesses the knowledge and expertise necessary to ensure a seamless home buying or selling process from start to finish. Reach out to Martha Springer and Hunter Davis today at obxlegacyhomesales@gmail.com or (252) 457-1427.

Twiddy Acknowledges Mitzi Thompson In today’s dynamic real estate landscape, Mitzi Thompson is acutely aware of the pivotal role responsiveness plays in addressing the needs and concerns of her clients. She keeps open lines of communication to ensure her clients are well informed through each step of the process. Whether buying or selling, Mitzi is here not only as your real estate professional, but as a trusted advocate and local resource. Contact Mitzi at mthompson@twiddy.com or (252) 455-7515.

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FI V E FA CTS Located in Manteo, the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum is dedicated to memorializing the courageous lives and times of America’s only all-Black lifesaving crews during the late 1800s and early 1900s (left, photo by Cory Godwin). The 1896 Pea Island crew, from left to right: Captain Richard Etheridge, Benjamin Bowser, Lewis Wescott, Dorman Pugh, Theodore Meekins, Stanley Wise and William Irving (below, photo courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center).

Pea Island Life-Saving Station

BY EMMY BENTON DRIVING SOUTH DOWN HIGHWAY 12, certain buildings stand out

against the vast expanses of sand and sea – particularly several old lifesaving stations that once launched untold numbers of maritime rescues off the North Carolina coast. By the height of the U.S. Life-Saving Service’s heyday along the Outer Banks’ treacherous Graveyard of the Atlantic during the late 1800s, the number of local stations ballooned from seven isolated outposts to more than 20 structures – and chief among them was Station Number 17, the Pea Island Life-Saving Station. Though only a portion of the Pea Island station still exists as a museum today, the trials and the triumphs of the crewmembers who manned that historic location for more than 70 years still live on.

1

A Leader's Legacy

It’s nearly impossible to talk about the Pea Island Life-Saving Station without invoking the remarkable contributions of its longest serving commanding officer, Richard Etheridge. With his appointment to the highly sought-after position in 1880 at age 38, Etheridge became the first Black keeper of any U.S. lifesaving station, and he served in that role for two decades until his death in 1900. Born enslaved on Roanoke Island, Etheridge learned how to read and write – contrary to law at the time – and he was known for being an accomplished waterman from a young age. During the American Civil War, Etheridge enrolled in the Union Army before returning to Manteo in 1866, after which he started a family, purchased his own land and became a lifelong advocate for the Outer Banks’ Black community members.

2

Side by Side

Racial tensions remained high after the end of the Civil War in 1865, so Etheridge’s Pea Island keeper position wasn’t without controversy – and even resentment, particularly since he was selected to replace a former white supervisor who was found incompetent. When a number of white surfmen refused to serve under Etheridge, authorities decided to consolidate all of the Black Outer Banks surfmen into one unit at the Pea Island station, effectively segregating an organization that had previously been integrated with so-called “checkerboard” crews ever since the lifesaving service was first established along the NC coast in 1874. This directly led to the establishment of the nation’s first all-Black lifesaving crew at Pea Island – and they quickly went on to earn the reputation of being NC’s most well-ordered and efficient group of servicemen.

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3

To the Rescue

4

Next in Line

5

Then & Now

Though Etheridge and his six-man crew were never honored during their lifetimes, they undertook what is now considered one of the nation’s most heroic maritime rescues when the E.S. Newman ran ashore near Pea Island on October 11, 1896. Due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, normal beach patrols had been suspended, but when Pea Island surfman Theodore Meekins glimpsed the Newman’s distress signal, the crew sprang into action. It took 10 grueling attempts to rescue all of the Newman’s nine passengers – including the ship’s captain, his wife and their three-year-old son – a feat which was finally (formally) recognized when the U.S. Coast Guard awarded each of the Pea Island station’s late crewmembers with a prestigious Gold Lifesaving Medal 100 years later in 1996.

While most of Etheridge’s crew now have a monument or a tombstone, this was not – at least, initially – the case for Lewis Wescott, the keeper who succeeded Etheridge at Pea Island from 1900 to 1916. For more than a half century his grave was considered lost until it was uncovered by a retired Coast Guard member who was clearing an overgrown section of his Jarvisburg, NC, land in 2022. Upon further inspection, two old cemeteries were found there, which held the remains of Wescott and several other family members. Wescott, who previously served under Etheridge before being promoted, also participated in the extraordinary E.S. Newman rescue, and he became the first Black captain of a U.S. Coast Guard station when the LifeSaving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service merged in 1915.

The original 1878 Pea Island Life-Saving Station was located across from today’s Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, but arson was the suspected culprit when it burned down shortly after Etheridge became keeper. A new site was selected in 1896, followed by a third in 1930, but the station was ultimately decommissioned in 1949 before being sold at auction in 1966 for $1,500. While the main part of the station was relocated to Salvo prior to being demolished, the station’s cookhouse was moved to a private residence on Roanoke Island until it’s final move in 2006 to Manteo’s Sir Walter Raleigh Street – where it’s now a museum dedicated to preserving the memory of Etheridge and all the other brave crewmen of Station Number 17 who defied the odds of their time nearly 150 years ago.

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