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Scenes From Croakerfest 2014
Song, Hats, SeedsJuly 8, 2014
Conversations ran two ways on Croakerfest Saturday. One subject: the weather. In the wake of Hurricane Arthur, a breeze blew, and kept temperatures mild, more New England summer than North Carolina.The New Bern band, The Tone Peddlers, one of four bands to play on Saturday behind the giant croaker. The fish and the stage were new to Croakerfest this year.And Croakerfest this year was more spread out. The Methodist Church lot at Freemason and South Avenue featured more booths than before, freeing up some space in Lou Mac Park. The layout, introduced by Croakerfest’s new organizer, Cheryl Thompson, got a lot of thumbs up.
Some scenes and faces from the 34th Annual Croaker Festival.
In Lou-Mac Park, fire pits and other metal work were on display at the Barnes Metalcraft tent.Susan Cheatham was one of the artists working en plein aire. She was working on a scene of the fairway along South Avenue.Another kind of painting was going on at the Heartworks Kids Carnival. Connor Lane of Havelock gets a face painting transformation to Captain America.Linda Applegate sported the pirate hat. She was one of the organizers of the Kids Carnival that raised funds for Heartworks.At the nearby Kids Park, contestants such as young Piper Stone of Havelock, had a go at spitting watermelon seeds. Piper got three feet. The winning spit was 22 feet.Many more photos of seed spitting .. and Croakerfest .. just ahead.
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Lee Hood, who grew up in Bayboro and lives in New Bern now, was painting near the Lou Mac pier on Saturday. He was one of three plein air artists working as part of Croakerfest.A few flicks off the toothbrush added some texture to a scene Lee Hood was painting.Another scene along the waterfront Saturday: a contrast in approaches of how to spend the afternoon.Harriett Scharr had fish for sale at the Oriental Woman’s Club tent. They were made by OWC from screen.Those fish also figured in the awards that OWC’s Ladies of the Neuse gave to winners it picked in the parade. Jim Hartmeyer and Betsy Quitkin displayed those at the Croaker Booth on Saturday.Carol McAdoo of the Oriental Woman’s Club shows off some of the hats the OWC was selling.Croaker hat at the farmers market. Jennifer Del Rio wears one.[page]
On the Tingle family’s front lawn — there were the Kids Park and Heartworks Kids Carnival. At the Kids Park, dozens of hula hoops were at the ready for anyone who wanted to give them a spin. Or a whirl.The Pamlico Community Band kicked off the festival on Friday afternoon. A new stage, festooned iwth a large croaker was built for the event – the main stage used to be near the water, at ground level./Aft of the stage. Becky Ackiss, who in other years was at the front conducting the band, was playing bass this year.Where there’s Croakerfest, there’s the Garbologist, keeping the trash cans from overflowing. Greg Bohmert was in his familiar place at the forklift controls but says the job may pass on next year.Jayne Stasser organized the garbology crew this year. There were specially colored, cut-away tee-shirts for them. Here Jayne and her grandson TJ Wooton of Cincinatti, model the back and front.Croaker hats were showing up elsewhere in town. Jennifer Del Rio sported one at farmers’ market booth Saturday morning..Croaker hats weren’t the only head toppers. With pirates as the festival theme, a lot of pirate wear was seen. Will Flannery was not walking the plank but rather the Lou-Mac pier.[page]
Members of the New Bern band, The Tone Peddlers.Rose Hunter of New Bern danced in the shaded lot to the side of the stage.Both parties and some candidates set up booths at Croakerfest. Here, a booth for Whit Whitley who is challenging State Representative Michael Speciale in November.The Pamlico Republican Party tent. To the left is the Pamlico Library tent where used books were for sale.Handmade croaker hats were for sale at the OWC booth..[page]
This year, Heartworks, the childrens center in Bayboro, ran part of the children’s area, selling tickets to the inflatible pirate ship and to games of skill..Inside the inflatible pirate ship at the Heartworks Kids Carnival.Sail Boats and A Lesson In Auxiliary PowerAt the Heartworks Kids Carnival, Penny Flaherty explained the sailboat race to 3-1/2 year old Madison Daniels of New Bern. The concept: use the straw to blow on the sails and send the boat down the long course (a gutter, in the bigger person’s world.)Madison provided a few gusts….. but then sussed out another use for the straw. With it, she prodded the little boat all the way to the end of the race course.And then, for good measure — and the amusement of those watching — Madison pushed the little boat back to the starting line.For her efforts, Madison won a pirate mask.[page]
SeedinessAt the Kids Park Saturday afternoon, there were balloon tosses and tugs of war and a watermelon seed spitting contest.
Emery Haluska of Tennessee showed particular style in sending the seed flying 14-1/2 feet.The tarp on which the seeds landed. Contestants stood on a ladder to the right and let loose….Which seed to choose? Contestants were allowed five seeds to spit.Ehren Rolle of Oriental gives it a go, and seemingly, her all as she prepares a seed for spitting.Then, after some coaching from her mother, Lili Stern, lets it fly.12-year old Emma Rice of Washington, NC gets the projectile ready. She said she’s never been in a seed-spitting contest before... and sends the watermelon seed on its way with the start of a smile. That proved to be a winning formula. Emma won the contest with an off-the-tarp shot of 22 feet.[page]
For some contestants there seemed to be a joy..at simply making the attempts.Craig Stone of Havelock offers some pointers about trajectory to his son Aidan. (There was a good breeze blowing Saturday afternoon and the higher in the air the seed got, the theory went, the farther it would travel.)Aidan Stone of Havelock prepares to let fly one of his five watermelon seeds.One contestant, Hollie, gave it a good go.… and then helped the officials locate where the seed landed.A bit of trepidation on taking on this new sport.Kameron Stevens of Grantsboro sends a seed on its way.[page]
Piper Stone of Havelock was one of the youngest contestants. She followed the seed’s trajectory with her downward glance from the ladder.The windup… ... and a subtle delivery.Some contestants brought both a resolve…… and appreciation of the silliness of it all.Emma Rice of Washington, NC, the champion seed spitter at the 2014 Crokerfest. For her efforts she received the watermelon left over.[page]
Tug of War:
The final tug of war.More tugging…… further back in that line. It appeared that this side of the rope was under-ballasted compared to the other, as was evidenced a moment later.Those in the front line fell first.Fireworks capped off Croakerfest 2014. (Photo: Ben Casey)