people & places
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Beavers in the Stream B Y A N N A LO U I S E PIC KE NS
The community has gathered at Duke Park for the annual Beaver Queen Pageant for the past 15 years. Contestants dressed as beavers compete for the crown as part of a fundraiser for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, a nonprofit that works to preserve, protect and restore the local watershed. This year, the 16th annual pageant was held virtually for the first time due to COVID-19. Community members of all ages watched online episodes that included introductions of the six contestants, talent showcases and formal interviews. Meghan Mishalanie aka “Pain Fonda,” a “retro fitness beaver,” won the title of Beaver Queen, and more than $17,000 was raised for ECWA. Other pageant winners included the Most Sagacious “Beaver Sanders” (Jean-Patrick Grillet), Cleanest Beaver “Boy George Beaver” (Gabrielle Rudesill), Best Tail/Costume “Dr. Beaverly Crusher and Locutus of Beav-org” (Olivia Dietrich and Hal Schnee, respectively), Best Talent “Dr. Dam Savage” (Ken Davis) and the People’s Choice and Best Stage Presence “Martha Dam” (Shannon Drake). 16
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durhammag.com
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august 2020
1 Shannon Drake aka “Martha Dam” won the “People’s Choice” award and “Best Stage Presence.” 2 Meghan Mishalanie, aka “Pain Fonda,” was named this year’s Beaver Queen. 3 “Dolly/BeaverJuice” Anastasia Maddox. 4 Jean-Patrick Grillet’s “Beaver Sanders,” modeled after Bernie Sanders, was named “Most Sagacious.”