lm feb 2016

A Reflection of Life on Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake

Love is in the air on

Lake Gaston

Roanoke Rapids Dam: Holtzclaw’s legacy

2 | Lake the Magazine

XN

LV25

0343

COME VISIT OUR

NEWLY REMODELED

BRACEY LOCATION

The

NEW

2900 State Rte 903 • Bracey, VA

434-689-3663Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 Days a Week

Visit one or all of our locations in Bracey, Creedmoor, Ahoskie, Roanoke Rapids & Emporia and Goldrock

12-14 ITEM VEGETABLE BAR: Including the Best Collards in

Eastern North Carolina

DESSERT BAR FEATURING: Pecan Pie, Lemon Pie, Chocolate Cake,

Carrot Cake, Banana Pudding, and Our Famous Strawberry Shortcake

FEATURING: Country Style Steak

Western RibsPork ChopsGrilled and Fried

& MUCH MORE!!!

2 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 3

XN

LV25

0343

COME VISIT OUR

NEWLY REMODELED

BRACEY LOCATION

The

NEW

2900 State Rte 903 • Bracey, VA

434-689-3663Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 Days a Week

Visit one or all of our locations in Bracey, Creedmoor, Ahoskie, Roanoke Rapids & Emporia and Goldrock

12-14 ITEM VEGETABLE BAR: Including the Best Collards in

Eastern North Carolina

DESSERT BAR FEATURING: Pecan Pie, Lemon Pie, Chocolate Cake,

Carrot Cake, Banana Pudding, and Our Famous Strawberry Shortcake

FEATURING: Country Style Steak

Western RibsPork ChopsGrilled and Fried

& MUCH MORE!!!

PUBLISHER Titus L. Workman

[email protected] 252-410-7065

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Baretta Taylor


MANAGING EDITOR Matt Lindberg


NEWS EDITOR Tia Bedwell


AD EXECUTIVE Rhonda Irby


DISTRIBUTION

252-537-2508

Lake the Magazine916 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids NC 27870P.O. Box 520, Roanoke Rapids NC 27870252-537-2505

Copyright 2016 Lake the MagazineNo portion of Lake the Magazine may be reprinted in any form or posted on the Internet without the permission of the publisher.

On the cover: Terryn Owens captured a beautiful winter sky from her home on Lake Gaston.

Cover photo by Terryn OwensCover design by Hope Callahan

On the cover...

Contributing writersJenny Gray, Khai Hoang,

Carol Moseley, Nick Sitzanis, Jane Teasley and Christina Wells.

Contributing photographersKhai Hoang, Jenny Gray

and Tia Bedwell

Layout and Design Hope Callahan & Bryan Clark

Like us on Facebook, search Lake the Magazine

For more Lake Country events, stories and where to pick up future editions, visit RVLakeMagazine.com

14

6

12

8

24

Lake the Magazine | 5


The Valentine’s Day we celebrate on Feb. 14 is now primarily associated with romantic love, including hearts, flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals, balloons and greeting cards. However, Valentine’s Day began as a

celebration of martyrdom and self-sacrifice.I do not view these two associations of Valentine’s Day as

being mutually exclusive. In fact, there can be no genuine love without the concept of self-sacrifice. When do you know that you truly love someone? If you are a parent, you know it’s the moment you look into the face of your child. You love them unconditionally and would lay down your life for them without hesitation, the ultimate sacrifice. That same love should be the basis for true romantic love. If making your spouse or significant other happy makes you genuinely happy, then you have that kind of love. The key is you are BOTH willing to make sacrifices for the other. True love is not one-sided.

There are many unique ways to celebrate Valentine’s

Day here in the Lake Gaston region. Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year. There is no better way to celebrate both aspects of Valentine’s Day than by attending a church service with your loved ones to celebrate romantic love, familial love and agape love. If you have children and plan on going out on Sunday night, a school night, this will be a chal-lenge. Do not despair. Take your valentine out for a romantic breakfast or lunch, perhaps at Tammy’s Place in Littleton, or a fabulous brunch, such as The Back Door Bistro & Bakery in Littleton.

Lake Gaston’s sunsets are amazing! Why not have a deli-cious dinner at one of our waterfront restaurants, such as The Pointe at Lake Gaston or Watersview, while feasting on the brilliant oranges, reds, yellows and purples of the sunset reflected on the water. Enjoy a lunch or early dinner in the beautiful, distinctive and historic “Mud House,” known as The Kennon House Restaurant in Gasburg, Va. The restaurant offers a country buffet on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. You may wish to rent a boat at one of the local marinas for a daytime or dinner cruise. Make an entire weekend of it and

Love is in the air


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN LAKE COUNTRY

BY CHRISTINA WELLS

rent one of the many gorgeous Lake Gaston homes, available at off-season rates.

Take a drive over to La Crosse, Va., and visit Rosemont of Virginia Friday, Feb. 12 until Sunday, Feb. 14, for Rosemont’s special Wine & Chocolate Wine Pairing – available only for the holiday weekend! The regular tasting fees are $10, but for $5 extra, experience hand-crafted chocolates paired with Rosemont’s wines! This tasting is the perfect Valentines experi-ence for your sweetheart or your best girlfriends! On Saturday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m., Rosemont will offer a romantic dinner (best accompanied by Rosemont wine)! Chefs Kevin Rosenfeld and Mike Dotti will be preparing a four-course, love-inspired menu sure to impress that special someone. The four-course meal is $59, inclusive of tax and gratuity, per person and will be charged at the time of reservation. Wine is not included in this price, but wine pairing options will be available. A limited number of reservations will be accepted, so contact the Winery today to make your reservations! For more information and to preview the menu, visit rosemontofvirginia.com.

Looking for gifts unique to the Lake Gaston region? How about a gift certificate for the lady in your life to take time for herself at Healing Kneads Therapeutic Massage & Day Spa or Fresh Faces Spa, both offering facials, massages, manicures/pedicures and more. Gentlemen may enjoy a gift certificate for a class or a membership to Frontline Defense Firearms Training Center in Warrenton, N.C. How about an amazing seaplane ride with Pilot Steve Harris of Sanddollar Seaplanes? What a romantic way to take in Lake Gaston’s scenic beauty! Enjoy entertainment at one of the many performance venues around Lake Gaston – Lakeland Theatre Company in Littleton, The Co-

lonial Center for the Performing Arts in South Hill, Va., Meherrin River Arts Council in Emporia, Va., and The ArtBank of South-side Virginia in Lawrenceville, Va.

Give to each other by giving of your time. In addition to spending time with your loved one, you could choose to give time to one of the many nonprofits, civic clubs and churches in the Lake Gaston region. Just think how good you will feel after spending time together giving back to your community.

However you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I hope you will spend time with your true love here in the Lake Gaston region.

Christina Wells is the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce execu-tive director. For more information about the chamber and Lake Country, visit www.lakegastonchamber.com.

Love is in the air


The New Year has passed and it is hard to believe we are already in February. This month is special for me, as I celebrate my love for the important women in my life: My mother, wife, daughter and Yia Yia (grandmother).

For this month’s story from around the world I would like to share a personal story about my Yia Yia. In loving memory of Yia Yia Rodopi Zacharopoulos, Feb. 14, 1931-Jan. 13, 2008.

Yia Yia was born on Valentine’s Day, so it has always been a special day to me. I have many wonderful memories of this double-occasion day. The one Valentine’s Day that stands out in my mind is the one I shared with my Yia Yia in 1995 shortly before I moved to the U.S.

I was a young teen living in Salamina, Greece. I was working in the shipyard with my uncle during the mornings and going to school in the evenings. On this particular Val-entine’s Day, a Tuesday morning, I got up super early and started preparing cookies to surprise Yia Yia, as she loved sweets.

With my moth-er’s help, I mixed the batter and baked a whole batch of Yia Yia’s favorites. As I finished baking and icing the cookies, I got ready for work.

About 6 a.m., I walked next door and left the cook-ies as a surprise on Yia Yia’s front porch. My Yia Yia is usually an early riser so I was concerned she would catch me and ruin the surprise. With a bit of luck, it turned out she had decided

A sweet surprise

LAFAMIGLIA COOKING

BY NICK SITZANIS


The February recipe I would like to share is one of my favorites. I hope it will help you make a wonderful Valentine’s din-ner for your loved one. This recipe is an altered version from Country Living.

Seared Grouper with Corn, Squash and Tomato

Ingredients2 grouper fillets or other firm fish such as halibut, cod or salmon1 teaspoon Kosher salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper2 tablespoons olive oil1 large squash 1 medium shallot1 cup fresh yellow corn kernels or frozen whole-kernel corn2 cloves garlic1 cup cherry tomatoes2 tablespoons cold butter1/4 cup torn basil leaves

Method:Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook fish 4 minutes on

each side until browned and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.Sauté squash and shallot 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in corn and garlic, then sauté 2 more minutes. Reduce heat

to low. Stir in tomatoes, butter and basil, cooking until butter is just melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon vegetables onto serving plates and top with fish.

to start her birthday by sleeping in. When she awoke, there would be a beautiful plate of decorated Valentine’s cookies.

After delivering the cookies, I continued to my daily routine of work and school. When I finally got home that evening, I quickly showered and checked with my mother to find out what she had prepared for dinner. She told me my Yia Yia needed to see me for a minute and I needed to walk to her house. When I walked to Yia Yia’s house, I found a wonderful surprise on her front porch. She had worked all day to make me my favorite meal. There was a card that read

“I love you. You are the best grandson a Yia Yia could ever hope for.”

I often would get surprises and special things from my Yia Yia, but I was not expecting a wonderful meal on what was supposed to be her special day. She made this Valentine’s Day one of the sweetest memories I have. Happy Valentine’s Day, Yia Yia.

Nick Sitzanis is the chef de cuisine at the Kennon House Restaurant in Gasburg, Va.


Due to the high volume of submissions, Lake the Magazine staff decided to publish two parting shots this month for your enjoyment.

BONUS PARTING SHOTPHOTO BY CHELSEA THARRINGTON


2012 Jackson Bypass Road Seaboard, NC 27876 252-534-1430

See our portfolio of services and what our clients say atwww.jonesfencecompany.com

“We do more than just fences”Vinyl Siding, Replacement Windows, Decks

Vinyl Screen Porch Enclosures, Custom Vinyl Rails

XN

LV24

7216

THE SPORT SHOP LTD3400 Durham Road • Roxboro, NC 27573

Phone: 336.599.0135

THE SPORT SHOP ON LAKE GASTON1835 Eaton Ferry Rd • Littleton, NC 27850

Phone: 336.599.0135

Come see us at the 2016 Raleigh Convention Boat Show • February 5-7at the Raleigh Convention Center • Check out a new Harris Flotebote!

Lake and Dock Service to Lake GastonIn Business since 1968

Cobalt Dealer since 1984

www.sportshopltd.comXNLV246773

Boating emergency equipmentSTORY AND PHOTOS BY KHAI HOANG

There are always people out on the lakes in the Roanoke Valley, but not everyone is al-ways taking proper safety measures.Someone even died in April at the Roanoke

Rapids Dam due to a boat collision, and it took officials days to find the body because the person wasn’t wearing a life jacket.Sgt. Glen Hatcher with the N.C. Wildlife Resources

Commission was one of the people who conducted the search for that person.He recommended people always have life jackets while

on the water, especially when it’s dark.“Anyone boating at night in that area should be wear-

ing a life jacket at all times,” he said previously. “Make sure your navigation lights are working and all safety equipment is on board and is readily available.”According to Jane Teasley, an auxiliary with U.S. Coast

Guard, there are numerous items a person or group should always bring on a boat trip.These items include life jackets for each person on

board, a fire extinguisher, a throwable cushion posi-tioned at the captain’s chair, an anchor, a first aid kit and a VHF radio.Teasley said she sees people not bring safety equipment

while on the water “all the time.”

“Folks don’t realize that life jackets on children under 13 is a federal requirement – and would also save many lives,” she said. “They often don’t check their fire extin-guishers to see if they ‘died.’”But besides just bringing proper safety equipment,

Teasley also shared proper behavior while on a boat. She said not to ride on the bow of the boat while it’s in motion, not to overload the vessel and to ensure every-one can swim.Finally, she recommended everyone also take a boating

safety course.Teasley added a misconception about safety people

have while at Lake Gaston is not worrying because they can see the shoreline.“However, unless everyone on board can swim – it can

be a very daunting experience if they get stuck out on the water – or if their boat becomes on fire,” she said. “Life jackets are very essential for everyone on board.”In addition, she’s heard numerous stories of people be-

ing ill prepared while on the water. For example, Teasley said people often run out of gas in their boats.“Mechanical problems occur very frequently,” she said.Also, people who start an inboard motor without vent-

ing the fumes first has caused explosions, Teasley added.“I could go on and on about ‘neglect,’” she said.

Photos taken at Fred’s Boat Sales and Service


2012 Jackson Bypass Road Seaboard, NC 27876 252-534-1430

See our portfolio of services and what our clients say atwww.jonesfencecompany.com

“We do more than just fences”Vinyl Siding, Replacement Windows, Decks

Vinyl Screen Porch Enclosures, Custom Vinyl Rails

XN

LV24

7216

THE SPORT SHOP LTD3400 Durham Road • Roxboro, NC 27573

Phone: 336.599.0135

THE SPORT SHOP ON LAKE GASTON1835 Eaton Ferry Rd • Littleton, NC 27850

Phone: 336.599.0135

Come see us at the 2016 Raleigh Convention Boat Show • February 5-7at the Raleigh Convention Center • Check out a new Harris Flotebote!

Lake and Dock Service to Lake GastonIn Business since 1968

Cobalt Dealer since 1984

www.sportshopltd.comXNLV246773

XN

LV25

1440

EastonLeather ChaiseReclining Sofa

Anderson Rocker Reclineronly only$1499 $349

Lake the Magazine | 15 14 | Lake the Magazine

VEPCO’s president leaves behind legacy

he never sees


The grave of a Jack Gilbert Holtzclaw in Richmond, Va., is surprisingly modest for a man who left behind a huge monument: The Roanoke Rapids Dam.

Holtzclaw was born Nov. 22, 1886, in Putnam County, Ga., and died Dec. 13, 1955 ,in Richmond. He was the president of Virginia Electric and Power. Co. (VEPCO) from 1929 until his death.

According to a book, “Men of the South: A Work for the Newspaper Reference Library,” Holtzclaw developed a liking for all things electrical and decided to make the subject his life’s study. He attended the Georgia School of Technology at Atlanta, graduating in 1907 with a degree in electrical engineering.

STORY BY JENNY GRAY and PHOTOS BY TIA BEDWELL


Jack Gilbert Holtzclaw

His obituary ran in the Dec. 14, 1955, Wilmington Morning Star, which said he was 69 years old when he died. According to the obituary, “His office said Holtzclaw did not feel well when he returned from a company di-rectors meeting in New York last week,” and he entered a Rich-mond hospital for a checkup.

Erwin H. Will became presi-dent and chairman of VEPCO fol-lowing the death of his mentor, Holtzclaw. Will made an address in 1965 in Richmond regarding the history of VEPCO, and men-tioned the Roanoke Navigation Company that developed canals and water power using the Roa-noke River.

When Holtzclaw came to VEPCO in 1929, just before the Great Depression, the company had slightly more than 100,000 customers and did an annual business of $11 million, Will said.


“Jack was only 43 years old but had more than 20 years of utility service when he accepted the office of presi-dent, a post he held for 26 years. In 1954, he facetiously remarked: ‘I’m in a rut. I haven’t had a promotion in 25 years.’”

In 1947, VEPCO became an independent, publicly-owned utility with 11,000 shareholders and 450,000 customers.

In 1929, the company had obtained from the Federal Power Commission a license to construct a dam and power plant on the Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids. It had acquired all the land necessary for the project, but the Depression delayed construction, Will said. After World War II, the development of the dam became economically feasible and VEPCO applied for a new license to build the

hydroelectric project.A bitter court battle ensued with the Secretary of the

Interior which said the Flood Control Act gave the Interior Department all responsibility for all future hydroelectric power. The chief of the Power Bureau testified, “it would be better that Roanoke Rapids never be developed.”

In the end, the Federal Power Commission decided to grant the license, and this decision was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The application for the license was filed in 1948, and the Supreme Court decision came in 1953.

Will states no time was lost in starting the project, com-pleted in 1955 and dedicated in April 1956 in honor of Holtzclaw, who guided it to a successful conclusion.

But, Holtzclaw was not there for the dedication, dying in

Lake the Magazine | 2120 | Lake the Magazine


December 1955 of a heart attack.

In October 1933, deep in the midst of The Great Depression, Holtzclaw ad-dressed a group of people from the Virginia Military Institute, telling them what traits are needed in busi-ness. The account was published in the Oct. 23, 1933, edition of The (VMI) Cadet.

“I feel very keenly about the young fellow just out of college without a job. He has spent a lot of money to fit himself better for life, yet he finds no one who will give him a chance to enter the battle. He is bound to be bitter and sour at business and the world,” Holtzclaw told the gather-ing. “However, if he has en-thusiasm, brains and force and a determination to be satisfied to start at the rock bottom, he should not be long in finding employment and success.”

Editor’s note: This is the final and third install-ment in a series of stories by Gray. See December 2015’s edition for the story about how the river played a large part in settlement of the Roanoke Valley and January 2016’s edition for a story on the dedication of the Roanoke Rapids Dam.

O’Sail’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is back for 2016.

The general theme for guest speakers this year is something everyone deals with: Aging. Whether it is ourselves, our parents or our grandparents, the

natural progress of aging can be managed, planned, rewarding and healthful.

The first dinner was Jan. 21 and the surprise guest was Alisa Huffman, MSW, JD, according to a press release from Kathy Dikeman, O’Sail board member. She is a family and elder law attorney, social worker and mediator.

“When I play the gratitude game with my kids, I always list my educational opportunities near the top,” said Huffman in the press release. “Early in life, I learned that often, good things come from difficult experiences. College was like that. I was able to at-tend The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill because of a scholarship from the N.C. Veteran’s Administration. This opportu-nity would not have been possible except for my father’s lifelong disability from service in the U.S. Army Air Corps.”

She said she has always been a person serious about life.“As an undergraduate studying psychology and religious stud-

ies, I enjoyed exploring some of the big, unanswered questions from my childhood: Is there a purpose and meaning to life? If so, how do we find it? Does suffering pay off? What happens after we die?”

After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNC, she entered a three-year graduate program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. At the time she graduated, Southern was the only accredited Master of Social Work program within a seminary.

After graduating, she practiced clinical social work for five years before entering law school at Campbell University. She practiced law in Wake County before her 13-year career as a court manager in state government. Most recently at the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts, she worked as the senior manager of Court Programs, where she supported court programs across the state: Family courts, custody mediation, drug courts, domestic violence and alternative dispute resolution.

Said Huffman: “Like all of us, the formal hats I wear (social

worker, lawyer, court administra-tor) and infor-mal hats (wife, mother, divorcee, sister, friend, daughter) are integrated into all that I do. One reason I decided to return to the practice of family and elder law at this point in my life is so that I can wear the various hats I’ve collected over the years to help families grow and evolve through some of the tough transi-tions in life.”

Dinners con-tinue Feb. 18 and March 17 at the Lake Gaston Lions Club, 139 Stanley Road in Henrico. These dinners are used as a fundraiser for O’Sail, the Organization to Support the Arts, Infrastructure and Learning for the Lake Gaston community.

Proceeds are used to provide grants to support projects by nonprofit organizations that serve the Lake Gaston community.

Each dinner features a surprise guest speaker. Social hour be-gins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The three-course din-ner, featuring salad/appetizer, entrée and dessert, will be catered by david’s Restaurant and Catering of Roanoke Rapids.

Tickets are $25 per person for each night ($15 is tax-deduct-ible), and may be purchased online at osail.org/our-events/guess-who-s-coming-to-dinner or in person at the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce, 252-586-5711.

For more information, email [email protected] or go to www.osail.org.


Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner 2016

CorrectionJanuary’s story “Building a dream” should have stated the home Tommy Daniel built on Lake Gaston sold for $1.8 million — not

$2.8 million.Lake the Magazine apologizes for the error.The article also needs clarification. It stated realtor Brenda Thompson is with Coldwell Banker at the Lake. The business is prop-

erly referred to as Coldwell Banker Advantage.

STORY BY TIA BEDWELL


Furnishing homes in the Roanoke Valley and Lake Gaston since 1904 XNLV

1389

24

931 Roanoke AvenueRoanoke Rapids

252-537-2528www.shellfurniture.com

Pick your style, pick your fabric...and have your furniture within 21 days!

England Custom Comfort Center

Abundantly More283 Premier Landing at Amy's Hallmark Roanoke Rapids, NC

252-533 -1841 • Monday - Saturday 10 am - 8 pm • Closed Sunday for worship

XNLV

2028

98


HELLEBORE – LENTEN ROSEHellebores (Helleborus orientalis) aka the Lenten

rose are easy-care plants much like their cousin the daffodil. They are shade-loving plants that have dark green foliage year round. Hellebores begin blooming in late winter to early spring, gracing the garden with colorful blooms in shades of white, yellow, purple, red or pink. Their rose-shaped blooms which appear at or below the plant’s leaves are either a solid color, have speckles or in-tricate streaks. The flowers are really sepals, which is the reason they are long flowering, sometimes up to three months. Though buried in snow this evergreen perennial not only survives but thrives. Use them as specimen plants or as groundcovers under deciduous shrubs, conifers or evergreens to add a splash of color and when the blooms fade, you can still enjoy the attractive green clumps of foliage.Hellebores are known for their variability which

is part of their charm. Flower form may be round, star shaped, single flower or semi-double. If you want a certain color or flower type buy when it is in bloom.Hellebores do not like to be moved, so pick a

spot and leave them there. Mulch new plants in spring and fall to prevent weeds and to conserve

Hellebores and preparing mulch

for spring


PRACTICAL GARDENERBY CAROL MOSELEY

moisture. There are two schools of thought on pruning the old foliage. The bloom spikes emerge in the center and the old foliage lies down. Some say to remove the foliage at this time and others say wait until the new leaves emerge to prune. Either way, it is important to remove the old growth as it provides shelter for slugs and harbors whiteflies.

TASKS FOR FEBRUARY:Fluff the Mulch: What is fluffing mulch and why should you

do this? I’ll address the why first. Mulch becomes compacted and forms a crust that prevents or impedes water absorption. Winter annual weeds (common chickweed, hen and bit, etc.) start popping up and can take over in no time. Fluffing the mulch rids my beds of weeds before they bloom and reseed a new crop. It also breaks up any crusted or matted mulch to water to penetrate and the beds will look better. Now the how: Pull a stiff garden rake through the mulch

lifting and fluffing until the entire bed is refreshed being careful not to disturb any emerging bulbs or flower roots.Trim liriope (monkey grass) before new growth forms. Use

pruners, a string trimer, or your lawn mower to cut it to an inch tall to make room for new foliage.

Carol Moseley learned the love of gardening from her mother and father. Both were avid gardeners; his focus was vegetables and hers were flowers and shrubs. Carol has been garden-ing since 1969, and in 1999 completed the Master Gardening Training Course through the N.C. Coopera-tive Service. She said she was very fortunate to learn how to grow and use herbs from her dear friend, the late Diane Morris, the Herb Lady


It’s probably hearsay for us here in the mid-south to talk about cold weather and cold water. However, while our season is short, the water and air do get cold and that combination can become deadly with-out proper care.

Hypothermia is defined as “subnormal temperature of the body.” While the condition can happen whenever the air or water is cold enough and the body cannot maintain its normal temperature, we will be addressing hypother-mia as it relates to our boating — and on our lake.

Obviously, the colder the water and air, the quicker and deeper the problem. A cold rain with windy conditions will quickly lower body temperatures unless protective clothing is worn. In the Coast Guard whenever the water

temperature is 60 degrees or less and the air tem-perature is 50 degrees or less, they must wear special protective suits and if they are not avail-able, they cannot go out on the water.

Lake Gaston will cer-tainly meet those criteria in the dead of winter. So, here we are again with the old prevention/response situation. How can we prevent hypother-mia?

If it is really cold, stay home. If you want to be on the water, then bundle up. Wear layered clothing

with a fleece-like material next to the skin and waterproof and wind-breaking outer clothing. Take warm drinks and food along. When on the boat stay out of the wind and rain if possible. It takes the heat out of our body. Don’t stay out long, and at the first sign of hypothermia, return to shore.

What are the symptoms?• Shivering• Bluish lips and fingernails• Loss of feeling in extremities• Cold, bluish skin• Confusion• Dizziness• Rigidity in extremities• Unconsciousness• Coma

These symptoms are caused by the body trying to get the blood into its core to preserve organs and life itself. These will come on rapidly or slowly, depending on the environmental temperature. The colder, the quicker.

If you are still in the boat, head for shore and a warmer environment. If you are in the water, get out as soon as possible! Climb onto the boat hull or sit in the boat, even if it is full of water. It may seem colder out of the water, but your body heat dissipates quicker in the water than out. If the boat has sunk, then there are some things you can do. First, keep all of your clothing on, including your hat and shoes.

When people are cold on land, the natural tendency is to exercise. This brings the inner warmth to the skin and makes us feel warm. Not so when in the water. The inner body heat needs to be conserved, so stay still. Since you are wearing a life jacket, pull your arms and legs close to your body. This is called the Heat Escape Lessening Pos-ture (H.E.L.P.). If you are in a group, huddle together.

As the boat captain, once the person is out of the water — take measures to conserve heat and slowly warm the victim up. Be careful about applying objects that are too hot. When experiencing hypothermia there is little feeling in the extremities and they could be easily burned. Warm liquids help, but be sure the victim doesn’t choke or that the liquid does not burn the mouth.

As with most incidents, prevention is the key with response kicking in when prevention fails. With hypother-mia the response needs to be quick and early in the pro-cess. Once deep hypothermia sets in it is often difficult to reverse the symptoms. They accelerate and could result in coma and death. Immediate professional response is a must in deep hypothermia.

So, when the cold weather comes, and it always does, stay by the fireplace with a good book and enjoy the cold rain through your window. Warm weather always follows.

The Coast Guard Aux-iliary boat-ing safety classes are taught the third Satur-day of each month from March to September. For infor-mation on enrolling in this class, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 252-586-5711.

Jane Teasley is former Flotilla commander and current Public Affairs officer and treasurer of Flotilla 93 on Lake Gaston. Teasley has been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for nearly 15 years. For more information, contact Teasley at [email protected].

WATER SAFETYBY JANE TEASLEY

Hypothermia

The H.E.L.P position.


OUR ADVERTISERSTO JOIN US, CALL

252-537-2505 EXT. 266

Abundantly More.............................................................23 Carolina BBQ & Chicken..................................................2Daughtridge Gas Co..........................................................5Halifax Regional Medical Center....................................32 Hardee’s Furniture...........................................................27 JES Foundation Repair......................................................11 Jones Fence & Custom Vinyl ..........................................13 Mid-Atlantic Eye Physicians ..........................................23 Renew Crew .....................................................................5 Salted Rim Designs .........................................................23 Shell Furniture .................................................................23 Story Properties ............................................................27 Tar Heel Tire ...................................................................27 The Bayberry Retirement Inn .......................................27 The Sport Shop, Ltd. .......................................................13 VCU Community Memorial Hospital .............................3 Warrenton Furniture Exchange ....................................13

“Lake Gaston Real Escapes”

1-888-800-3002252-586-0888

www.storyproperties.comLargest selection of VACATION RENTALS on Lake Gaston!

REAL ESTATESTORYPROPERTIES

SALES

LKGSTORE

VACATION RENTALS1245 NC Hwy 903 • Littleton, NC

XNLV

236752

Tax Refund Sale

252-977-2325Hwy. 301 between Wilson & Rocky

Mount at Sharpsburg

M-T, Th-F: 8:30am - 7pmW, Sat: 8:30am - 5pm

Closed on Sundays

Featuring the area’s largest selection of the best name brands!

XNLV1942


BUSINESS & SHOPPING

1. ACE Hardware of Lake Gaston 144 Elams Road Littleton NC 27850 252-586-0330 www.lkgacehardware.com

2. The Daily Herald 916 Roanoke Avenue Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-537-2505 www.rrdailyherald.com 3. Daughtridge Gas Co. 1728 East 10th St. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-533-0101

4. Edward Jones Bonnie Caudle, financial advisor 195 Old Farm Road Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-537-1728 www.edwardjones.com

5. Overby Marine 1847 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton NC 27850 252-586-3593 www.overbymarine.com

6. Halifax County Visitor Center & Dog Run 260 Premier Blvd. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 1-800-522-4282 www.visithalifax.com 7. Sanders Super Stop 6328 Gasburg Rd. Valentines VA. 23887 434-577-2202

If you would like to advertise your business on the regional map of

Lake the Magazine, call 252-410-7047

and ask for Rhonda Irby.

1

510

8


4. Edward Jones Bonnie Caudle, financial advisor 195 Old Farm Road Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-537-1728 www.edwardjones.com

5. Overby Marine 1847 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton NC 27850 252-586-3593 www.overbymarine.com

6. Halifax County Visitor Center & Dog Run 260 Premier Blvd. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 1-800-522-4282 www.visithalifax.com 7. Sanders Super Stop 6328 Gasburg Rd. Valentines VA. 23887 434-577-2202

8. ReNew Crew Bracey VA 434-636-5540lakecountry@renewcrewclean.comlake-gaston.renewcrewclean.com

9. Riverside Mill Antique Mall • Art Gallery • Designer Outlets 200 Mill St. Weldon NC 27890 252-536-3100 www.riversidemill.net

10. Story Properties Real Estate Sales & Vacation Rentals 1245 N.C. Highway 903 Littleton NC 27850 888-800-3002 or 252-586-0888 www.storyproperties.com

3

7

24

69


PARTING SHOTPHOTO BY JERRY THOMPSON

Kingfisher seeking breakfast on Roanoke Rapids Lake.

SPEC245082

roanokeclinic.com | 252.537.9176 1385 Medical Center Drive | Roanoke Rapids, NC

WOMEN’S HEALTH | FAMILY MEDICINE

Roanoke Clinic is excited to announce that

Dr. Carol Anne Rupe has recently joined

our talented and caring medical team.

A graduate of Georgetown University’s

prestigious School of Medicine, Dr. Rupe

is a board-certified Family Physician

with more than 25 years of experience

in caring for patients. A Diplomat of the

American Board of Family Practice, Dr. Rupe

specializes in caring for women, and provides

comprehensive health services for women

of all ages and life stages.

Areas of expertise include:

Treatment for Post-Menopausal Women

Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Bone & Breast Health

Dr. Rupe is now welcoming new patients!

To make an appointment, please call us at (252) 537-9176.

lm feb 2016

Documents