The president of the N.C. Coastal Federation, a retired business executive, would have been surprised years ago if someone had asked him if he was an environmentalist.
Our Coast
Our Coast’s Food: Oyster Stew
Coastal N.C. natives will put up with jalapenos in their pimento cheese and bourbon in their pecan pie, but don’t mess with their steaming bowls of oyster stew.
A Winter Walk Through Culture
Sam Jones of Ocracoke often let his beloved horse, IkeyD, into the house for songs around the piano. Learn more about Sam, his horse and other cultural tidbits of the island.
Kayaking Ocracoke in Winter
A winter paddle through the marshes of Ocracoke may bring you face to face with a belted kingfisher, which will impress you with its diving aeronautics.
What to Do About the Circle of Stones?
The foundation stones that were left behind when the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved 15 years ago have become almost sacred ground on the Outer Banks, but they are now threatened by storms and erosion.
Coastal Sketch: Veronica Carter
Though she’s on the board of an environmental group, Veronica Carter won’t go camping if she can help it. But try to put a landfill in her neighborhood and she’ll be quick to call you out.
The New Face of Fishing
Two brothers and a childhood friend got their college degrees and became commercial fishermen and entrepreneurs. Meet the new breed of fishermen.
Coastal Sketch: The Unseen Pilot
Steve Stone, Brunswick County’s deputy manager, is described in this second half of a personality profile as “steering the ship from under the deck.” His unseen hand guided the county to its leadership role in stormwater controls.
Coastal Sketch: Steve Stone
The farm boy became deputy manager in Brunswick County, one of the fastest-growing in the country, and championed low-impact development to improve water quality.
Our Coast’s Food: The Seafood Bible
For more than 30 years, Joyce Taylor taught North Carolinians how to buy, cook and store N.C. seafood. Her book remains as indispensable to seafood cooks as a shrimp peeler.
A White Christmas at Hatteras
The unusual appearance of a snowy owl has excited birders flocking to Cape Hatteras. Our naturalist, Sam Bland, joined them.
A Coastal Christmas Icon
Nick Harvey of Davis had an idea several years ago about making Christmas trees from crab pots. They’re everywhere now, even in Hawaii and Alaska.
Reviving the Heartbeat of Sunset
The rhythmic, thumping sound that cars made crossing the old pontoon bridge was called the heartbeat of Sunset Beach. Though the old bridge has been replaced, the heartbeat remains.
Sunset Beach
North Carolina’s southern-most beach town celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Even the sand seems to like the place.
Our Coast’s Food: Sweet Potato Pie
The rich, spicy treat these days may pop up most often at the end of holiday meals, but in years past sweet potato pie was the start of a hard-working fisherman’s day.
Flounder Gigging
Each fall, flounder begin to find their way to the ocean, with fishermen in pursuit. Some use hook and some use net. Sam Bland, our intrepid naturalist, explains the age-old art of gigging for them.
