October/November 2022 Sand & Pine

Photo: Chris Kruger Photography

contents

Rogue Rescue

Haunted Places

At the Table

SAND & PINE

Pub People

Greg Girard, Amanda Jakl

Storysmith

Greg Girard greg@sandandpinemag.com

Creative Conjuror

Amanda Jakl amanda@sandandpinemag.com

Word Geek

William C. Nelson

Ad Peddler

Amanda Jakl amanda@sandandpinemag.com

Contributing Scribblers

Darcy Connor, Jamie Doom, Christin Hirleman, Sheree Lancaster, Robert Nason, Amanda Oden, Claudia Watson

Visual Alchemist

Steven Jordan

4 | SAND & PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2022 Someone said, “Every breed of dog can be taught to be aggressive. It’s time to stop blaming the wrong end of the leash.”

There are some creepy, scary places in this world. Places you’d even hesitate to send your worst enemy to. Let’s visit a few.

Whitefish doesn’t have to be boring. With its health benefits and adaptability in the kitchen, it’s a great option for mealtime.

On the Cover

“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”

– Sarah Addison Allen

P.O. Box 892

Southern Pines, NC 28388 Tel. 910.315.0467 info@sandandpinemag.com www.sandandpinemag.com facebook: SandandPineMag

© Copyright 2022. Sand & Pine Magazine is published six times annually by Sand & Pine, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is prohibited.

Beer Matters

We can thank Duke Albrecht V for banning all brewing of beer during the summer months in the 16th century. Oktoberfest is here!

Parenting in the Pines

Boys Club is awesome. Serious dinosaur discussions. Building stuff with cardboard boxes. And, of course, no girls allowed ... with one exception.

editor note

When I was 6 or 7 my father claimed to be an Olympian. It was a New England fall day when he made this declaration.

The oak and maple trees towering above us had dropped thousands of brown, yellow and red leaves on the ground and we were raking them into a few massive piles. He said it was for speed raking and then he went on to demonstrate with a powerful burst of raking prowess that had me gaping in awe. This, of course, inspired me to be like my dad and rake as fast as possible—a quintessential use of psychology.

Sure, I was a bit skeptical, questioning how raking could be classified as a sport. Was it a summer or winter event? Were the Russians really good at it? Was it a team or individual sport? How do you win? But when you’re at that impressionable age and your all-knowing father makes a convincing argument, you at least pause to wonder.

Not that I had much time to think about it as I suddenly found myself flying through the air toward a leaf pile the size of an old VW Bug. Our backyard leaf piles were so big we could cover me, my two sisters, our dog and my mother, if she could be coerced into it.

by Greg Girard

Instead of piling the leaves onto a tarp to be hauled into the woods out back, my dad let us keep the piles for a few days so my friends and I could make forts out of them and play leaf pile tag. (Home base was the leaf pile and there was a lot of diving involved.)

There was a science to the leaf pile. Rake them up too early or when wet and you’d just get a sloppy, damp pile of debris. Rake them too late and the leaves would be too brown and crunchy to be much fun. But the perfect leaf pile, oh how that could make those October weekends fun.

Even without friends or family, I would bury myself in the leaves and just lie there, listening to the muffled sounds of the wind. It was like wrapping yourself in a cocoon, the world above was somewhere up there but distant. Simply bliss.

Since moving south and living under the pines, those fall New England days growing up have taken on a special place in my memory. Taking a swan dive into a pile of pine straw doesn’t bring the same level of joy. And that’s what it was: pure, unencumbered joy.

Turkish author Mehmet Murat ildan wrote, “No season appeals to the eyes as much as autumn; no season touches the souls as powerfully as autumn and no season invites us to the world of mournful thoughts as intensely as autumn!”

When’s the last time you jumped into a leaf pile?

QUICKSAND

BY THE NUMBERS » CELL PHONES

340K

Number of iPhones

Apple was selling per day in 2012. That averages out to around 125 million phones for the year.

1973

The year the first mobile phone call was made. Martin Cooper, an engineer at Motorola, made the call on the streets of New York on April 3 of that year. His first words: “Do you know where I’m calling you from?” The first commercial cell phones went on sale in 1983 and cost $4,000 (nearly $12,000 in today’s money).

10The

number of times more bacteria found on a mobile screen than on a toilet seat. Nasty!

9:41The

time of day Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone in 2007. Since then, the time on every Apple iPhone in an advertisement is, you guessed it, 9:41.

58Number

of times, on average, a person checks their mobile phone per day. People have become so dependent on their phones, the psychiatric world has already created a word for people who fear being detached from their device. It’s called nomophobia (NO MObile PHOne phoBIA). Ninety percent of all adult cell phone users have their phone within reach 24 hours a day.

48.5M

Cost, in dollars, of the most expensive cell phone ever made. The Falcon SuperNova Pink Diamond iPhone 6 has an 24-carat gold case with a large pink diamond on the back.

15B

11

Number of cell phones in the world, which is more than one phone per person on the planet.

One cell phone today has more computing power than all the computers used on the Apollo 11 moon landing.

LOOK, LISTEN & LEARN OUTER SANDBOX

Sounds Like a Cult

In this chatcast, Isabela Medina-Maté and Amanda Montell look at various phenomena in our culture, such as theater kids and minimalists, and then compare them to the framework of a cult. The goal of the podcast is to follow up on Montell’s work titled Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, which explores how language can be used to manipulate the dynamics of a cult. The concept of Sounds Like a Cult is playful, but it also has a deeper meaning: cults are never too far away.

Vocabulary Builder by Magoosh

In this documentary, Ghost Church, journalist Jamie Loftus explores the history of American spiritualism, the age-old tradition held across the country of mediums attempting to commune with the dead. He explores the conflicts between the seance-havers and the spiritualist community. The series looks at religion, loneliness and grief, with on-site interviews with pastors and spiritualist practitioners.

Noisli

Many of us have used the radio or TV to mask other noises (or our own thoughts). These contraptions are designed to seek our attention, and boy do they ever. But we got work to do! Noisli helps you create an environment that is conducive to creativity. The app comes with 28 high-quality background sounds that can be played individually or combined with other sounds. OK, let’s get to work!

ROAD TRIP!

Road trip! Beyond the boundaries of our little sandbox, there is much to see. Here are a few events worth checking out. For events with a more local flavor, check out moorechoices.net. And check with locales before heading out!

OCTOBER 15–16

Woolly Worm Festival

Banner Elk | woollyworm.com

Fastest worm up the string predicts the severity of the coming winter depending on the winning worm’s color. At least that’s how they do it in the mountains. Worm races, music, food and more. The perfect autumn weekend.

NOVEMBER 16–20

Cucalorus Film Festival

Wilmington | cucalorus.org

Recognized as “One of the Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” Cucalorus celebrates independent and international film for five days in historic downtown Wilmington. The festival features over 90 films from various countries. Come for the films, stay for the bonfires and moonshine. It’s a win-win!

NOVEMBER 18 20

Piedmont Craftsmen Fair

Winston-Salem | piedmontcraftsmen.org Get your Christmas shopping done early this year. Shop handmade goods in Winston-Salem just before Thanksgiving. Quality craftsmanship and high-end design have always been the hallmarks of this event. Since 1963, this fair has showcased the work of more than 150 skilled artisans from across the Southeast. It allows attendees to meet the artisans and view their creations.

QUOTES

“No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.”

– Christopher Morley

“What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow.”

– Mary Shelley

Health Tips

The Sun Goes Down

As fall sets in and the days get shorter, we naturally get less vitamin D from the sun. If you find yourself cooped up more, make sure to take a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption, helps boost immunity and mood and can help lower blood

bedtimes and normal wake-up times, try not to sleep in, turn off blue light emitting devices an hour before bed (TVs, phones and tablets) and don’t go overboard on the melatonin. Put on a meditation app, close your eyes and drift off.

Schedule Something Fun

As the weather gets colder, we have a tendency to stay inside, watch more Netflix than we should and overall hibernate a bit too much. It’s no wonder

Live Lightly

Tips on living a more sustainable life

pressure, among many other benefits. Try to get at least 600 IU per day.

Are You Ready for Standard Time?

Clocks will fall back an hour on November 6. Gaining that extra hour of sleep time for one night is awesome, but can affect our sleep routines. For those of us who are sleep-deprived, you won’t be able to fix your sleep schedule in one night, but you can use this day to get started on a new routine and adopt some better sleep habits. Keep your usual

Seasonal Affective Disorder flairs its ugly head around this time of year. To help combat it, make sure to plan some fun outings (yes, outings, as in, out of the house) this fall. How about running a corn maze, meandering through a haunted house, signing up for a Thanksgiving fun run, or even a weekend at the beach. We’re lucky here in the Sandhills that the weather isn’t too extreme, so get outside this fall, even if it’s just a couple weekends each month. Your mind and body will thank you.

To reduce your plastic consumption, try two steps: 1) Buy products from a variety of retailers and 2) Don’t use plastic disposables.

Instead of disposable plates and utensils, use real food products such as porcelain and flatware. Stainless steel is great for flatware and there are palm leaf “disposables” that can be reused multiple times before being thrown in the compost bin.

You can also buy larger sizes of your medications (that ibuprofen comes in jumbo packs of 2,000 pills now!) and use toothbrushes and razors with interchangeable heads.

Metal safety razors or straight razors are great sustainable versions of the plastic ones, but should only be considered if your hands are very stable. Safety first, kiddos!

Preschool/Toddler

Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch

Written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Illustrated by Pat Schories

There’s no better way to get your little ones into the spirit of autumn than with this classic. Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch is one of many in the series, but I received this as a gift after my first child, and there hasn’t been a child in my family (immediate or extended) who hasn’t enjoyed Biscuit’s adventures since. Read as the little girl takes her “sweet puppy” to find the perfect pumpkin for a jack-o’-lantern and see Biscuit discover some exciting surprises. “Woof, woof!”

Elementary School

Dinosaur Club: The T. rex Attack

Written by Rex Stone

I don’t know what it is about fall, but it always gets me in the mood for dinosaurs.

I must have taken some field trips to dinosaur parks in the fall when I was in school. Thankfully, you don’t have to be close to real dinosaur fossils to experience the prehistoric creatures. Dinosaur Club: The T. rex Attack is the perfect book for the young (and old) aspiring paleontologist in your family. Part of a series of books, the story follows Jamie and Tess who find a secret entrance into a world of dinosaurs. While fictional, the book is filled with dinosaur facts, timelines and maps to satisfy all your dinosaur cravings.

Picture Book

Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle

Written by Cathy Ballou Mealey

Illustrated by Kelly Collier

Squirrel wanted a bike, so he and his friend Sloth went to the store. “Squirrel dashed ahead. Sloth followed behind. Way behind.” As Squirrel and Sloth work as pickle packers to earn enough money to buy the bike, they learn valuable lessons on teamwork, perseverance and the benefits of bringing different qualities to a friendship. This is one of those stories that just makes you smile.

Middle School

The Length of a String

Written by Elissa Brent Weissman

A sweet book of discovery, The Length of a String shares the story of Imani—an adopted Black girl who lives with her Jewish family in Baltimore—whose one wish for her bat mitzvah is to find her birth parents. As her big day approaches, Imani discovers a journal written by her great-grandmother, Anna, who recently passed away and begins reading of Anna’s journey fleeing Nazi-occupied Luxembourg during World War II. Imani soon finds many parallels of Anna’s life with her own.

Adult

The Messy Lives of Book People

Written by Phaedra Patrick

When the infamously reclusive

bestselling author Essie Starling passes away suddenly, her one dying wish is to have her house cleaner (and only friend)

Liv finish her last novel. As Liv begins the daunting task, she discovers a surprising connection with the late author, one that will inevitably change her life as well as the ending of the book. Oh, it’s a book I didn’t want to end! This would make a wonderful gift for yourself or someone you love.

SP

Good Reads

by Darcy Connor

RogueRescue

A second chance for bully dogs

Story by Greg Girard

Photos by Amanda Jakl and courtesy of Fontana Palmer

Goosewas found collapsed at a nearby farm, bloodied and scarred, his left eye damaged and beyond repair. Willa was found in a woman’s yard, struggling to walk, emaciated and with infected head wounds. A toenail was ripped out of her right front paw and it’s believed she was used as a bait dog, meaning a dog whose mouth is tied shut, usually with duct tape, and is used to increase the aggressiveness of fighting dogs. Violet was found locked in a trailer, starving to death with her six puppies before being rescued.

These are just a few stories from the journal of Fontana Palmer, founder of Rogue Active Duty Animal Rescue (R.A.D.A.R.), a nonprofit organization that specializes in saving bully dogs from dogfighting and abuse.

It is estimated that around 16,000 dogs die each year in dogfighting. A single fight can last hours and ends when one dog is killed or is too injured to continue fighting. As reported by the Humane Society, in describing the details of one particular dogfight, a convicted dogfighter wrote, “Miss Rufus spent most of the rest of the fight on her back and Bandit broke her other front leg high up in the shoulder, as well as one of her back legs, in the knee joint. The only leg she didn’t break, she chewed all to hell. She had literally scalped Miss Rufus, tearing a big chunk of skin off the top of her head alongside one ear.”

Seeing the transformation of these dogs, you can see it in their eyes. There’s just no other feeling. I get chills.

They know, every dog I’ve visited, that I’ve pulled from a bad situation, they know me, and it’s like, you know that they know.

“ ”

Fontana Palmer, founder of Rogue Active Duty Animal Rescue, which specializes in saving bully dogs from abuse and dogfighting, with Barbie and Bug.

RogueRescue

Broken legs, bites, malnutrition, neglect, these dogs are raised to kill or be killed. Rogue Active Duty Animal Rescue takes the dogs in, treats their emotional and physical needs and then works to find a safe, caring home.

Above images are of Maple. She was found walking down the road dragging a 22-pound logging chain. She was adopted by the Palmer family.

Below is Roman. He was a junkyard dog pulled from the shelter kill list. He is now a certified service dog for a veteran in New York.

Bully dogs, which include Pit Bulls, Bulldogs, Boxers and Bull Mastiffs, are often the breeds of choice for dogfighting because of their fierce loyalty to their owners and their strength. Dogs used for fighting are often raised in isolation, spending most of their brief lives tied to a heavy chain and conditioned to fighting with the use of steroids and other drugs to enhance muscle mass and aggressiveness.

Palmer began witnessing this firsthand when living in Macon, Georgia. A reservist on orders eight months out of the year, and with an activeduty husband, she was stationed at Robins Air Force Base, where she kept finding stray dogs.

“It’s a big area for dog fighting,” says Palmer. “And we just kept finding these dogs with injuries, on the side of the road, outside our boxing gym one day. I found three puppies on the side of the road once and, after a while, my husband said we have to do something, we can’t keep paying for all this stuff.”

Palmer had been volunteering at a local shelter and thought, I can start my own rescue. So in 2017, she established R.A.D.A.R., bringing it to Moore County when they moved here three years ago. R.A.D.A.R. will try to help any dog that needs saving, but Palmer has focused on the bully breeds because her first dog

Ammo, who she’s had for 13 years, was saved from a fighting ring.

“I’ve always been kind of the underdog, believe in fighting for the underdog thing,” she says. “And it’s these cases that we’ve seen, they’re just brutal.”

But the breed, when raised humanely, can be just as loving as a labradoodle. After years of bad press and the common use of bully breeds for fighting, Palmer says her mission is now balanced between saving and rehabilitating bully breeds and educating both the public and future owners of the breed.

“If you Google pit bull or bully breed now, it still says a dog known for its ferociousness. So a big part is education along with saving the dogs. Because you have a powerful breed, you have a bigger responsibility, to the dog and the community, to train it, to keep it on a leash.”

In the five years since its inception, R.A.D.A.R. has found homes for 104 dogs,

RogueRescue

which Palmer modestly notes isn’t that significant, explaining they’re not a rescue that “flips dogs” or tries to find a home immediately.

“It’s not that big of a number compared to other rescues. One, because I have a full-time job and kids, but also because, at minimum, we keep a dog for two weeks. Minimum decompression time is two weeks, because a dog in a shelter or a dog in a stressful environment does not have the same personality. And dogs that are injured or sick, we keep longer. We don’t even count the time for those dogs because that wouldn’t be fair. So, I say quality over quantity, but really I just feel like I have such a big responsibility to make sure that these dogs we adopt are a good representation of the breed and the rescue.”

Palmer says the long-term plan is to find a for-profit shelter that can help fund the expenses of the rescue. Food and vet bills are its greatest costs, and, right now, the average rescue costs upward of $900, depending on the condition of the dog.

“It used to cost around $250 per dog, maybe up to $400 if we put them through a full training course, but the cost just keeps going up. I’m not getting money back at this point. We refinanced our house. I’ve had to scale back because costs have gone up so much, which has been hard. That doesn’t stop me from hearing people say, if you don’t come get this dog, I might kill it. So, there’s a human aspect to rescue.

“I used to go to every call. I was six months pregnant and I’d put my slippers on and I’d go get it. And now I have to just realize that you can’t save every dog.”

The goal, of course, is to find a loving home for each dog. Today, Palmer has two foster families that help the dogs acclimate to life in a home before being adopted, but she says the need is much greater, hoping that someone who reads this will consider fostering. It takes time and patience, but the reward is worth it.

Palmer says: “I guess passion is the biggest thing, right? Fulfillment. I like my job. I like being in the military, and it gives me structure. But it doesn’t always give me fulfillment. Seeing the transformation of these dogs, you can see it in their eyes. There’s just no other feeling. I get chills. They know, every dog I’ve visited, that I’ve pulled from a bad situation, they know me, and it’s like, you know that they know. And knowing that a dog is in a good home, you can sleep well at night.”

For more information on R.A.D.A.R., visit facebook.com/rogueactivedutyanimalrescue.

Depending on your viewpoint, the fact our area is relatively devoid of spooky sites is either a good thing or a bummer. Granted, we do have our share of ghost stories—the Holly Inn and Theatre Building in Pinehurst have noted some strange appearances over the years—but nothing that would bring an international group of ghost hunters to our sandy home. That made us start thinking, just where are the spookiest places on Earth? What kind of specters are haunting our realm? We did a little research and came away with some truly frightening places. Visit them if you dare!

haunted places

Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania

Yup, this forest is, you guessed it, deep within the Transylvania region of Romania. Believed to be the most haunted forest in the world, it is known as Romania’s Bermuda Triangle. The forest has been the source of all kinds of strange occurrences, from ghosts and apparitions to UFOs and portals to other realms.

The woods are named after a shepherd who wandered into the trees more than a century ago with his 200 sheep and was never seen again. Since then, many more disappearances have been reported, with people simply vanishing. A 5-year-old girl was lost in the forest only to reemerge five years later wearing the same clothes she was lost in and having no memory of her time away.

Locals never enter the woods, and those who do brave the forest report feeling anxious and agitated, as if someone is watching them. Electronic devices are known not to work, voices are often heard and strange lights have been seen coming through the trees.

Even the vegetation is strange, with trees growing at weird angles and one mysterious clearing right in the middle of the forest.

Ancient Ram Inn, England

Built on a pagan burial ground, this nearly 1,000-year-old inn boasts up to 20 spirits haunting its halls. The land is intersected by two “ley lines,” or straight alignments drawn between various historic structures and prominent landmarks. Some believe

these ley lines have high spiritual energy and it just so happens the lines intersecting at the Ancient Ram Inn lead to Stonehenge.

Constructed in 1145, the inn first housed workers who were building St. Mary’s Church. During the building of the church, streams were diverted and many believe this opened up a portal to dark energy and spirits, thus beginning centuries of hauntings.

In 1968, John Humphries bought the inn and made it his residence. The first night, Humphries claims he was grabbed and dragged across the room by a “demonic force” after going to sleep. Other hauntings include a witch who was burned at the stake near the church in the 1500s and the discovery of children’s bones underneath the staircase with ritualistic daggers scattered among the remains.

Bhangarh Fort, India

Legend has it that this abandoned fortress in the desert built in 1573 was cursed by a sorcerer after being rejected by an adored local princess named Ratnavati. Tales of Ratnavati’s beauty and kindness spread throughout the area, ultimately reaching a tantric priest known to delve into black magic. Knowing she would never fall in love with him freely, he cast a spell on a bottle of perfume Ratnavati’s maid purchased for her. The princess learned of the priest’s plan and smashed the perfume bottle on the ground in front of the priest, instantly turning the bottle into a boulder and crushing the priest. Before he died, the priest cursed the princess,

Hoia Baciu Forest in Romania is known to be the spookiest woods on Earth.

Some believe the forest is a portal to other worlds.

haunted places

her family and the village around the fort. A year later, a neighboring tribe defeated the Bhangarh and killed the princess.

The fort has been considered cursed and haunted ever since. It’s believed no one in the village near the fort can be reborn, based on their Hindu religion, and any villager who tried to build a home near the fort would find that the roof would collapse mysteriously. Guests are allowed to visit the site, but not after sunset.

Catacombs, Paris

If the idea of touring an underground labyrinth with the bones of more than six million people stacked in creepy designs doesn’t freak you out, then the ghosts and haunting stories of the Parisian tunnels will.

During the Middle Ages, the ground around Paris was speckled with limestone quarries that were used to build the great cathedrals of France. As the city grew and expanded above these excavated tunnels, the weakened ground gave way and

The bones of more than 6 million people are buried in the Paris Catacombs and there are about 200 miles of tunnels.

Some claim, when you visit at night, voices from the walls beckon you to venture deeper into the tunnels until you're lost forever..

buildings began collapsing. At about the same time, Paris was running out of space to bury the dead, with burials tainting drinking water and making people ill. So Parisians decided to start moving the buried remains to the former quarries, not only solving their cemetery challenges but also fortifying the weakened ground above. The bones of the dead were carried to the catacombs at night so as not to offend the citizenry.

Descending the stairs to the catacombs, visitors are greated with the sign: Arrete! C’est ící l’empíre de la mort, meaning “Stop! This is the empire of death.”

Voices are often heard throughout the tunnels and the haunting of Philibert Aspairt is well-known. During the French Revolution, Apsairt became lost in the tunnels and his body was not discovered until 11 years later. His ghost is believed to haunt the tunnels, particularly every Nov. 3, the anniversary of his disappearance.

Garden

Secrets of a Leaf Pile

Our landscapes play an important role in supporting wildlife, and what we do in them every autumn can either enhance or inhibit that role. These areas are havens for creatures, large and small, depending on what we plant in them and how we tend to our cultivated spaces.

Leaf removal by raking or blasting leaves away with a leaf blower only to be hauled off to the landfill robs your landscape of valuable nutrients and destroys critical habitat.

Most butterflies use the leaf litter for winter protection of eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises or adults. In addition, queen bumblebees, wasps, moths, fireflies, lady beetles and ground beetles seek protection from predators and the elements in leaf litter or brush piles because natural nesting habitat offers far superior nesting options as compared to artificial bee hotels.

A legion of other life forms nest in the leaves. Gnats, spiders, lace bugs, snails, worms, beetles and millipedes support turtles, birds and amphibians as food.

BY CLAUDIA WATSON

N.C.

Leaves also help plants weather spring freezethaw cycles, providing additional insulation for their root systems. In addition, leaves are natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and fertilize the soil as it breaks down.

In order to provide an overwintering habitat, rake leaves in the autumn as they fall and before insects seek them for habitat and move leaves to the edges of your property where they will remain undisturbed. These beds will decompose and add nutrients to your soil.

Cover leaf piles or beds with burlap or other porous cloth if needed. Place boards or branches on the fabric to keep it from blowing away.

Also, don’t mulch. Shredded leaves may contain more dead insects than live ones. Leaves should be intact to maximize their value as invertebrate habitats. Whole leaves hold more air pockets and, when wet, stuck-together leaves are a dream world for tiny critters.

• Locate a space in the shade where leaves and pine needles are allowed to layer and collect year after year and can serve as a sanctuary for solitary bees and other insects.

• Make leaf mold compost. No organic matter is needed—use only the leaves.

• Retire the noisy, smoky, gas-powered (and electric) leaf blower. Instead, use a battery-operated blower with consideration for your neighbors.

/NCMGMooreCnty

Whitefish

By ROBERT NASON

Whitefish is a catch-all term for several species of fresh and saltwater fish. The most familiar and popular to eat are cod, haddock, flounder and sole. There is, in fact, a whitefish species, prevalent in the Great Lakes, but fishmongers use the term whitefish to encompass any white-fleshed fish.

For culinary purposes, recipes that call for whitefish may specify a certain species, but in general any whitefish will do because of its mild flavor that is highly adaptable in the kitchen.

Whitefish is also easy to prepare and can be steamed, grilled, baked, poached, sauteed or fried, to name a few. Whitefish is also a great complement to any number of savory sauces.

The health benefits of whitefish are extensive, from reducing inflammation and maintaining bone structure to lowering your cholesterol and providing a high source of protein to your diet.

Whitefish Buying Tips

> Whole fish: Look for shiny skin, tightly adhering scales and bright, clear eyes. Flesh should be firm and springs back when pressed. Tail should be moist and flat. Gills should be red and free of slime.

> Fillets: Look for translucent fillets with a pinkish tint. Flesh should appear dense without gaps between layers. If the fish is wrapped, the package should contain little to no liquid.

> Frozen: Look for shiny, rock-hard frozen fish with no white freezer burns or ice crystals. Make sure package is well-sealed. Avoid packages sitting above the frost line in the store’s freezer.

> And always, the fresher, the better!

At the Table

Lemon Butter Baked Whitefish

thelemonbowl.com

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 6-ounce white fish fillets such as tilapia, cod or whitefish

1/4 cup butter unsalted, softened

2 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons minced herbs such as parsley, oregano, basil

1 lemon zested and thinly sliced

Fish Stew

simplyrecipes.com Serves 4

Ingredients

6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

3 large cloves garlic, minced

2/3 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped

1 1/2 cups fresh chopped tomato

2 teaspoons tomato paste, optional

Directions

2. In a small bowl mix together softened butter with garlic, salt, pepper, minced herbs and lemon zest.

3. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and place fish fillets in a single layer.

4. Brush butter mixture evenly on top of fish then top with lemon slices.

5. Bake until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 1520 minutes.

1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 1/2 pounds white fish fillets, cut into 2-inch pieces

Pinch dried oregano and thyme

1/8 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a large, thick-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. Add parsley and stir 2 minutes. Add tomato and tomato paste, and gently cook for 10 more minutes or so.

2. Add clam juice, dry white wine and fish. Bring to a simmer, and let simmer until the fish is cooked through and easily flakes apart, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and Tabasco. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Classic Ceviche foodandwine.com Yields 8

Ingredients

1 pound fresh ocean whitefish fillets, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice

1 medium white onion, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

2 medium-large tomatoes, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

Fresh hot green chiles, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped

1/3 cup chopped cilantro, plus a few leaves for garnish

1/3 cup chopped pitted green olives

1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (optional)

Salt 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1 large avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

Tostadas or tortilla chips, for serving

Directions

1. In a 1 1/2-quart glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the fish, lime juice and onion. Use enough juice to cover the fish and allow it to float freely; too little juice means unevenly "cooked" fish.

2. Cover and refrigerate for about 4 hours, until a cube of fish no longer looks raw when broken open. Drain in a colander.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, green chiles, cilantro, olives and optional olive oil. Stir in the fish and season with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon. Add the orange juice or sugar.

4. Cover and refrigerate if not serving immediately. Just before serving, gently stir in the diced avocado.

Pan-Seared Whitefish cookingwithcocktailrings.com Serves 2

Ingredients

2 (6 to 8 ounce) boneless, skin-on whitefish fillets (tilapia, halibut, cod, bass)

Kosher salt, as needed

Freshly ground black pepper, as needed

2 tablespoons canola oil, or another neutral oil like grape-seed

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

½ medium lemon

2 teaspoons nonpareils capers

2 tablespoons chopped mixed herbs, like chives, tarragon, parsley

Lemon wedges, for serving

1. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Season all over with salt and pepper.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil and heat through.

3. Place the filets skin side of the fish down in the pan, pressing down gently for a few seconds so the skin doesn’t curl. Sear, until the skin is golden and easily releases from the pan, about 3 minutes.

4. Carefully flip the fish using a spatula and add the butter, lemon juice and capers to the pan. Continue to cook, tilting the pan so the butter pools in the side of the pan. Use a spoon to splash the butter over the top to baste the fish until it’s cooked through, about an additional minute.

5. Garnish with the herbs and serve the fish with lemon wedges on the side.

SP

Beer Matters

Oktoberfest Is Here!

BY JAMIE DOOM

THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR when we, the People of the Sandhills, begin diligently looking for any sign, no matter how trivial, that autumn is on the way.

We have survived the dog days of summer, the kids are back in school, football is on the TV, yet still the summer continues—only now with more humidity. And usually sometime in September, right as we are losing hope, something begins to happen at all our local breweries and taprooms in the area: Oktoberfest arrives!

Even in the heat, the malty, bready, slightly bitter goodness is a hopeful reminder that soon there will be brisk mornings, flannel, sweater vests, bonfires and days without sweltering heat.

The history of Oktoberfest beer began in Bavaria, of course. According to the Oxford Companion to Beer, we can find a direct historical line to märzenbier or Oktoberfest “in a decree issued in 1553 by the Bavarian ruler Duke Albrecht V, in which he forbade all brewing between April 23 and September 29. The decree was to prevent

brewing during the warm season, when, unbeknownst to microbially ignorant medievals, ambient bacteria would often infect the Bavarian beers and quickly spoil them. Brewers would, therefore, work overtime in March (März) to make enough beer to last until fall. These March beers were usually brewed slightly stronger than regular beers and they were stored cool—that is, they were lagered (usually in a cave or cellar) so they would keep better.”

In 1841, märzenbier became fixed as a beer style when Spaten Brewery of

Munich brewed it for the first time at that year’s Oktoberfest. That same year, Dreher Brewery near Vienna, Austria came out with a similar beer which is a Vienna Lager. Since then there has been a bit of overlap between märzenbier, Vienna lager and Oktoberfest. The Vienna beers tend to be just a touch hoppier and more dry, whereas märzens have a sweet, caramel-like maltiness. Many of the Vienna-style lagers are called festbiers now.

Oktoberfest is held every year in Munich and other places in Bavaria from September 17 to October 3 with more than six million international and national visitors attending the event.

During the 16-day event as much as 1.7 million gallons of beer will be consumed just at the Theresienwiese Fairgrounds in Munich, Germany. Of course, millions more gallons of this beer are consumed around the world during this time.

In Germany, only six breweries are able to call their beer “Oktoberfestbier”

and they are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten. Here in North America, we don’t have to follow German law, so most breweries will call their beers Oktoberfest or Festbier.

Locally, every single brewery in Moore, Lee and Cumberland Counties has some version of märzen or festbier on tap beginning sometime in September or October. I suggest you try them all, so you will be even better prepared for the märzen madness next year.

My favorite Oktoberfest situation in the greater Sandhills area is at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom in Hope Mills. Vernardo (Tito) SimmonsValenzuela has created a delicious, authentic märzen lager using Munich, Caramunich, and a tiny bit of biscuit malts and hopped it with all noble hops.

“We let it take its time to lager out and lots of care was taken to make sure it is neat and clean,” he says.

This beer is one of my favorites

brewed in this area and I really love the name: Märzen Attacks! Also look out for two other beers Tito brews around this time every year, Blacktoberfest and Festbier.

Dirtbag Ales also holds a traditional three-day Oktoberfest every year complete with stein-holding competitions, German field games, a Bavarian brass band, and all the German food you could imagine. This year it is September 30 to October 2. German dirndl and lederhosen are strongly encouraged.

I would love to drink a good fresh märzen or Oktoberfest every month of the year, but because of its name, the buying public won’t drink this beer after October, offering only a brief window of time to enjoy this malt-toffee goodness.

So this October and every Oktober, lets all raise a heavy stein in appreciations to those “microbially ignorant” medieval Germans who made this beautiful beer possible!

1. LIGHT IT UP

Matches and candles go together like peanut butter and jelly. Pick up a twosome at DAHR.

2. SLATHER UP

Boost your immune system with a body balm. Smell great and FEEL great. Head down to Bump & Baby in Pinehurst to get some.

Sure we burn candles year round, but there's something about fall that inspires us to light up. Check out the varieties at DAHR.

ELocal SP Shop

it is the season of football, bonfires, and all things cozy. Shop local this fall for all your autumnal necessities.

"Having an empty laundry basket is the best five seconds of the week."

3. PUT THE KETTLE ON Curl up with a good book and a hot cup of tea in this comfy chair. Find it at DAHR.

4. WEAVE IT IN We're a sucker for a woven bag. This Day & Mood handbag is perfection. Get it at Courtney's Shoes.

5. ONE A DAY

One pill to help stave off snacky cravings. Sign us up! Available at Off the Rail Nutrition.

E6. COLOR ME STRIPED Laundry is a never ending task. Make it more tolerable with a cute hamper. Get it at Bump & Baby.

"Roses are red, mud is brown. 'Round here we tailgate with the radio up and the tailgate down."

-Earl Dibbles Jr.

Good shoes take you good places. Head to Courtney's Shoes to find out where you're going!

1. INNER COUGAR

Or should we say inner leopard. Check out this gorgeous agate necklace from Courtney's Shoes.

2. ALWAYS COMFY Everyone needs a pair of kicks to run errands. Pick up these bad boys at Courtney's Shoes.

3. GRILLIN' SEASON

Tailgating season is upon us. Stock up on the best BBQ sauce now so you're never without! Get it at Purple Thistle.

4. DRINK UP! Loaded with B-vitamins, vitamin C, ginseng, caffeine, herbal tea, and aloe. This is success in a cup. Get it at Off the Rail Nutrition.

5. OUR KIND OF DENIM

Denim never goes out of style. This Ahdorned bag is perfect for high school football games. Get it at Courtney's Shoes.

6. ANOTHER PAIR? Sure, you just bought a pair, but let's get another, shall we? Check out Cooper & Bailey's for these Dolce Vita sneaks.

Nutrition that tastes like dessert? Yes, please! The Reese Cup protein shake packs a punch with 260 calories and 30g protein.

Pick one up at Off the Rail Nutrition.

3

1. SHAKE IT OFF

Protein shakes don't have to be chalky. They can be super tasty. Head over to Off the Rail Nutrition to try one out!

2. WIZARDY NAPKINS

If you're throwing a Harry Potter potter, you need thses adorable napkins that look like invitations!

Pick up a pack at Lily Rose in Aberdeen.

Shop the Stores

Bump & Baby

3 Market Square, Pinehurst thebumpandbaby.com

Cooper & Bailey's

21 Chinquapin Road, Pinehurst cooperandbaileys.com

Courtney's Shoes

135 Beverly Lane, Southern Pines courtneysshoes.com

3. PUMPKIN SEASON

Don't forget to stock up on pumpkin decor this fall. So many choices at DAHR in downtown So. Pines.

4

"Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble."

-William Shakespeare, Macbeth

DAHR

168 NW Broad Street, Southern Pines furnitureinthepines.com

Lily Rose

122 W. Main Street, Aberdeen jackhadden.com

Off the Rail Nutrition

1381 N Sandhills Blvd., Aberdeen facebook.com/offtherail

4. JUST A LITTLE BOO

Light up your backyard or patio with these adorable ghost luminaries. Lots of other Halloween designs too at Purple Thistle. Go check them out.

Purple Thistle

100 Magnolia Road, Suite 102, Pinehurst purplethistleshop.com

Be Inspired( )

A Workable Palette

BY CHRISTIN HIRLEMAN

YOU MAY REMEMBER a few months ago I was writing this column looking into the sea. Ah! Now, my view is a blank canvas on my well-loved easel. This blank canvas is in a studio space I recently occupied in downtown Southern Pines. I think it’s kismet that a little spot opened up at a time when I could imagine myself painting again. I’ve had the creative itch for a couple of months, and my current artistic endeavors haven’t been cutting it.

I love that we’ve picked back up with “A Night with the Makers” events. Being with a room full of people having fun and making something out of nothing brings

me a type of joy that I don’t find anywhere else. I also think it is wild that I turn my art into sustainable and reusable napkins and towels. Y’all, I had to teach myself to sew. It is basic and very obviously the work of a novice, but I learned how to transition my art into something I could continue to share. For me, creating textiles is an accessible and sustainable version of a “print.” I can turn my original abstract art into an everyday thing you use to dry dishes or throw over a shoulder to absorb your infant’s endless drool (or worse).

Before 2020, I had a space where I’d paint in my home. That changed and I moved into a quirky little

600-square-foot attic of an old house where my easel couldn’t stand upright because the ceilings were so low. Then I moved to a larger place (with higher ceilings, thank goodness) where I had acquired two cats. If I haven’t mentioned Bonkers and Berlioz before, I apologize. They are absolute cat perfection and take up 98 percent of my social media. But Bonkers likes to be very involved in my creative process. What does that mean? Paws darting in and out of the sewing machine, walking across the keyboard as I edit my column, and the one time I tried to set up my easel to paint there was an incident that involved him and a very wet canvas. So while my ceilings may be higher, my biggest hazard still remains insistent on his involvement in my art.

But I want to paint again. I feel excitement and intimidation mixed together as I sit here typing away. A month ago, I couldn’t imagine myself investing in a space to use solely for creating. I’m grateful that everyone in my life is delightfully supportive of my studio adventure. I wish I could say that I’m as confident as they are. There is a very tangible fear that when I do pick up a palette knife, I won’t feel as connected to my art as I did in 2019.

Despite the fear, I’m letting myself be vulnerable and I’m trying. Maybe it’s maturity, maybe it’s naiveté. Either way, I am embracing how vastly different I am from when I last created a work that I was genuinely proud of. While I don’t know what my art will say now, I am proud to be brave enough to sit in the unknown.

We are all moving into a season where things typically slow down as the days become shorter, and we collectively take a breath to enjoy the rest that cooler weather brings. Yet here I am, moving in the opposite direction. Jumping into this studio space and an intuitive drive to make, I hope you’ll feel inspired to take a little bit of a risk and lean deeper into your creative self. Let reading this column be the sign you need to just go for it. Whether that is carving out time to make, granting yourself permission to try something and be less than great at it, or maybe taking a bigger leap in sharing your work. Regardless of what feels right (and maybe a little scary), know that I’m cheering you on and celebrating your bravery and willingness to try.

SP

Share your creativity on Instagram: Hashtag #SandandPineMag.

Also, go to @consciouslychristin to find Christin's work.

Parenting PinesIN THE

Boys Club: No Girls Allowed, with One Exception

BY AMANDA ODEN

MY OLDEST CHILD, AND ONLY DAUGHTER, started kindergarten this year and our entire family is definitely still adjusting to the change. I’m glad she’s spending her days with amazing teachers who want to nurture her young mind. And I’m thankful that someone else is now responsible for teaching her math, because the only time I’m good with numbers is when

I’m justifying my Target purchases. But this transition has honestly not been the smoothest and we’re all just trying to settle into our new routine.

I was excited the week before school started. Being a stay-at-home mom is challenging in any capacity, but being the primary caretaker for three very rambunctious and precocious children has been

exhausting! I was genuinely looking forward to lightening my workload (by one-third anyway) though I was concerned about my children dealing with separation anxiety. I’m lucky that all of my kids are super close and play well together. Sure, they have been known to fight like cats and dogs and can get on one another’s nerves sometimes, but ultimately they’re all three the best of friends.

and tried to run into the classroom after her. I cried too. Mostly because my baby was starting school, but also because now I had the boys ALL day,

BY MYSELF! No more tea parties. No more pretending to be princess ballerinas. From 8:45 to 3:10 our household was truly and officially a boys club.

After a couple of days, though, we kind of found our groove. We drop

more dirty laundry and our grocery budget is out of control and I’m spending a fortune on Band-Aids and Magic Erasers, I’m glad I get this year with both my boys before Arlo is off to school next fall. And I’m especially thankful they made an exception for Queens in the No Girls Allowed membership clause of The Boys Club!

“Once we drop Bowie off at school it will just be Mommy and the boys all day by ourselves!” Arlo, my middle child, cheered and said, “Yay! Like a club! No girls allowed!” I tried explaining to him that his mother was actually, in fact, a girl and so perhaps we should rethink some of the club membership rules? To which he replied, “You’re not a girl, you’re the Queen, so you can still be in the club.”

Thinking my sons were going to have trouble getting used to being without their Sissy for the majority of the day, I tried to hype up the experience. “Once we drop Bowie off at school it will just be Mommy and the boys all day by ourselves!” Arlo, my middle child, cheered and said, “Yay! Like a club! No girls allowed!” I tried explaining to him that his mother was actually, in fact, a girl and so perhaps we should rethink some of the club membership rules? To which he replied, “You’re not a girl, you’re the Queen, so you can still be in the club.” Not one to argue with good common sense, I let it slide.

Bowie off and head to the park. We stay at the park until our shoes are full of sand and our pockets are full of treasures like weird rocks and bottle caps and flower petals. Then it’s home for lunch where we eat dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets and practice our best dinosaur roars and rank our favorite dinos. (T. Rex is always No. 1 but Ankylosaurus is catching up and is a real contender for a place of honor.) Then we run around the kitchen island yelling nonsense until someone slips and gets an ouchie, followed by about nine million snacks and then approximately one hour of building robots and machines out of cardboard boxes that I pull from the recycling bin. And before I know it, our day is done and it’s time to go pick up our girl.

Not one to argue with good common sense, I let it slide.

My days with just the boys are different in so many ways, but they’re still just as sweet. Even though there’s

www.SandandPineMag.com | 39 The first day of school was rough for sure. Arlo had a meltdown during drop-off when it fully dawned on him that his sister was going to be having experiences he wasn’t allowed to be part of. Our youngest, Indy, wailed when his sister said, “Bye!”

Moolah

OH, IT’S THAT FABULOUS TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! The weather turns cooler, kids are back to school, and the holidays are headed our way. But no worries, right? You have it all budgeted out. Or do you? If you are a faithful reader of this Moolah column, then you know not all months are the same let alone holiday season. Every year there is something new that sneaks up and surprises us. And, yes, it normally comes with a price tag. So, as you work on your holiday plans, be wary of these eight expenses that can sneak up on you and your savings!

1. Tricky Travel—Scary extras when traveling can really start to add up. Hotel parking, hotel or inflight wi-fi, snacks on the plane/drive, checked bag fees, souvenirs and, if that travel is international,

SHEREE LANCASTER STAR OF THE PINES WEALTH MANAGEMENT

roaming charges are just a start to a whole new list of costs. Be sure to start with a budget before you leave your house, and try as best you can to stick to it.

2. The Host/Hostess with the Most—Whether you are cooking yourself or catering in, this is always an expense that needs curbing. Plan the menu down to the ingredients and be sure to remember that family member who requires a specific dietary request.

3. Decorate Like a Rockefeller—Putting up multiple trees, putting on a ground show for airline traffic over your home, changing your color theme annually, etc. All these things are costly, especially when it comes to your electricity bill. Be sure to map out your décor and fight the urge to add on and on and on. What you have in those stacks of tubs in the attic is probably all you need to show your festive side this holiday season.

4. Power Play—Yup, while we are on the subject of those beautiful holiday light displays, they aren’t the only contributor to that power bill going up. You will be cooking more and people will be coming in and out of the house, which can cause the heat/cooling system to run. Not to mention all your electronic forms of entertainment! It all runs on power, so keep in mind you’ll be using more energy during the holidays.

5. Goblin Gas—I saved this tip for a point of its own. Gas has been up and down this year, making it hard to plan for the cost ongoing. And while we’ve seen a dip in gas prices recently, we never know when it will change, especially during hurricane season. Holidays are the same way. You will be running out to get this and that. To see this person and attend that function. Plan on filling your tank more often.

6. Dracula Dress Code—OK, you know who you are. Every year you buy a whole new holiday outfit(s). It might have started with yourself but now you are buying matching outfits for everyone in the family, including the dog. Yes, it’s creating memories and wonderful photos but it can also use a bit of your savings. Just map it out, and be sure it’s a sensible tradition for your family and budget.

7. I Couldn’t Say No—Ah, no: the most powerful word in the English language.It’s the time of year when you get invited to all sorts of gatherings—at restaurants and bars and in people’s homes. There’s no avoiding that you’ll be spending money attending these events. A lot of these invites come last minute too. So, think fast and decide if a cordial decline is in your budget’s best interest. Your peace of mind come January will thank you.

8. Just One More—I saved this for last. I myself am guilty of this, despite my own well-thoughtout holiday gifting list. I see something while out shopping and think, “Such and such would love this.” Don’t do it. You made a list, you checked it twice, don’t be naughty, no one is that nice … to ruin your budget over.

Here’s a final thought I’ll leave you with—a little trick I have done for years, one which makes my husband chuckle every time, even though he compliments me on it. I have a “holiday” notebook. I keep track of the gifts I give from year to year, and their cost, and then a section for “tips” for next year. It helps me budget and to be sure I don’t forget anyone. Try it out and see if it works for you!

Affiliated with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC. Securities offered through Capital Investment Group, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC, 100 E. Six Forks Road, Ste. 200, Raliegh, NC 27609 919.831.2370

Whether you are cooking yourself or catering in, this is always an expense that needs curbing. Plan the menu down to the ingredients and be sure to remember that family member who requires a specific dietary request. ”

SPwww.SandandPineMag.com | 41 “

Aberdeen

The Neon Rooster

114 Knight Street theneonrooster.com

Friday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.

•

The Black Feathers

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m.

Tom Leeb

El Chapin

106 W South Street elchapintogo.com

Thursday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m.

Live music

Carthage

Maness Pottery & Music Barn

10992 NC-24 facebook.com/clydemaness

Every Tuesday, 6 p.m., Free

Live bluegrass, country and gospel music

Time Out Sports Grill & Bar

1005 Monroe St., Ste. K tosportsgrill.com

Fridays & Saturdays, 8 p.m., Free

Karaoke with Carolina Vibez

Southern Pines

The Bell Tree Tavern

155 NE Broad St. thebelltreetavern.com

Every Saturday, 9 p.m.

Live music on the patio

•

• The Black Feathers, Oct. 7

The Neon Rooster Aberdeen

Jefferson Inn

150 W. New Hampshire Avenue jeffersoninnsouthernpines.com

Every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

SoPines Sessions

Every Friday & Saturday, 9 p.m.

Live music

Legends

1113 Old US Hwy 1 facebook.com/legendssop

Every Monday, 9 p.m.

Karaoke

Music in the Park

Downtown Southern Pines

Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.

Kristi Dixon

Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.

Tim Wilson

Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.

Matt Foley

Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.

Tim Stelmat

Neville’s Club

130 W. New Hampshire Avenue

Every Friday & Saturday, 9 p.m. Live music

Every Sunday, 10:30 p.m. Karaoke

Every Tuesday & Thursday, 9 p.m. Open Mic-eoke

O’Donnell’s Pub

133 E. New Hampshire Avenue facebook.com/odonnellspubsouthernpines

Every Thursday & Saturday, 9 p.m. Live music

Pinehurst

Tufts Memorial Park

1 Village Green Road vopnc.org

Friday, Oct. 14, 5:15 p.m. Bantum Rooster

•

Dates and times subject to change. Check directly with event organizers before making plans.

Photographs courtesy of the artists

What book do you always recommend? “Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How To Say No.” I think we can all work on choosing and understanding our boundaries to make a large impact on our lives.

What makes you laugh most? Sebastian Maniscalco. His jokes remind me of my childhood and he hits home on a lot of things.

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better? Being at home with my family or a call with my mom.

What’s your favorite family tradition? Christmas Eve dinner. We have a sevenfish dinner representing and celebrating the seven sacraments.

Do you believe in love at first sight? No, I think love can grow and I think it’s a choice every day.

Do you live by any piece of advice or motto? Do your best always and when you fail keep trying until something works.

If you found out today was your last day on Earth, what would you do? I would try and see or talk to as many loved ones as possible.

What is something new you’d like to learn?

I’d love to learn plumbing or electrical work. I think it’s important to know how to fix things you own.

What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? I think everyone should volunteer in their community at least once.

What is the best and worst thing about getting older? Best thing about getting older is not caring as much about what others think of you. Worst thing about getting older is time and how quickly it passes.

Nicola Squires

Co-owner, High Octane

GETTIN' HYGGE WITH IT

Puzzles

DIFFICULT

Place numbers into the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains each of the digits 1 to 9. No guessing is needed.

EASY

Across 1. Prefix, whale 4. Long fish 8. Jelly-like mass 12. Handwoven Scandinavian rug 13. Forest growth 14. Storm 15. Inhabitant of Yemen 17. Ireland 18. Woe is me 19. Saturated 21. Rich tapestry 23. Book leaf 24. - Connery 25. Howl 26. Dry (wine) 29. Facial twitch 30. Flood embankment 31. Attempt 32. Writing fluid 33. Second-hand 34. Infant's carriage

35. Performs 36. Stop 37. Capital of Mali 40. Wyatt41. Cain's victim 42. Capital of Manitoba 46. Adds 47. Root of the taro 48. French, water 49. Springing gait 50. Measure of medicine 51. Arid Down 1. Bawl 2. Optic organ 3. North American larch

Alcohol burners

Greek goddess of strife

Allow

Vacillated

Braid

Reposed

10. Monster 11. "Has - ". Person who once was 16. Dash 20. Leer 21. Italian wine province 22. Riding strap 23. Surfaces a road 25. Conferred upon 26. Needy 27. Periods of history 28. Type of inflorescence 30. Good fortune 34. Persian fairy 35. City in central Belgium 36. Outrigger 37. Freshwater fish 38. Adjoin 39. Brief note 40. Finishes 43. Revised form of Esperanto 44. Otic organ 45. Stay rope

words

column.

46 | SAND & PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2022 clues)

words

Puzzle answers found on SandandPineMag.com

Last Word

Mob Mentality

From one dog all the dogs bark.

- Marty Rubin

In the 1950s, researchers performed an experiment where they put a single participant in a room with seven collaborators. The group was shown four lines and they were asked to determine which two lines were the same length. Two of the lines were clearly identical but the seven people that were accomplices to the experiment were instructed to purposefully give the wrong answer. The participant answered last. Thirty-three percent of the participants answered wrong, conforming to the group.

When the participants were asked why they chose the wrong answer, a majority said it was because they wanted to fit in and believed the rest of the group was seeing something they weren’t.

The history of mob mentality—aka herd mentality, hive mentality or groupthink—dates back centuries. Evidence of it is in the Bible and there are innumerable historical examples of a mob taking over individual thought— think Salem Witch Trials, the French Revolution and the Holocaust.

Mob mentality, however, is not only associated with negative, violent actions. If you’ve ever been in a sports stadium or attended a concert, you’ve probably participated in mob behavior simply by cheering for your team or dancing to music. Even ordering the same drink as your friends when out at a bar is a light form of mob mentality.

Psychology Today defines mob mentality as when like-minded people in a group reinforce one another’s viewpoints, thus strengthening the opinions of each person in the group. Basically, the group feeds off itself, making the participants more and more confident in their ideas. This, of course, can lead to events like January 6,

where people would not think of attacking the Capitol as individuals but, as part of a like-minded group, those same people were climbing through shattered windows screaming “Hang Mike Pence.”

The power of a mob is undeniable, magnetizing an individual’s moral compass and scrubbing all reason. Indeed, scientists call it Contagion Theory, where collective behavior is irrational and results from the contagious influence of the crowds in which individuals find themselves.

The difficulty in stopping this groupthink is that much of the mob’s energy derives from human emotion— succinctly described in the expression “caught up in the moment.” We are, after all, human and the basic desire for belonging or being part of something bigger can often take hold of one’s senses.

To avoid a Lord of the Flies future, experts offer several tips for avoiding mob mentality, including taking a conscious step back before making a decision and understanding the ways that stress affects your decision making. But the main suggestion is to always make informed decisions. Don’t rely on one source of information. Don’t rely on the loudest voice in the group. Just because an idea is repeated again and again doesn’t make it true. Unfortunately, looking at all sides of the issue and forming your own opinion takes effort and bravery. The fate of Piggy and Simon come to mind.

h a t m a k e s o u r w i n g s s o d a r n g o o d ? L e g e n d s n e v e r u s e s f r o z e n w i n g s , w e m a k e o u r o w n s a u c e f r o m s c r a t c h , a n d w e g r o w o u r o w n p e p p e r s . S t o p i n a n y t i m e b e t w e e n n o o n a n d 2 a m f o r l u n c h , s n a c k s o r c o m f o r t f o o d . T r y o n e o f o u r d a i l y d r i n k s p e c i a l s , a m i c r o b r e w , o r l o c a l b r e w e r y b e e r . W h e n t h e w e a t h e r i s n i c e , s i t o u t o n t h e o u t d o o r p a t i o . T h e r e ’ s n o t h i n g m o r e s a t i s f y i n g t h a n g o i n g t o y o u r f a v o r i t e n e i g h b o r h o o d b a r a n d g r i l l f o r s o m e g o o d o l e c o m f o r t f o o d , f r i e n d l y f o l k s a n d l o t s o f f u n .

C e l e b r a t i n g o u r 1 0 y e a r a n n i v e r s a r y , L e g e n d