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Mixing Bowl back from the West Coast to continue
Family ties the tradition and work for Bay River
Oysters. The cycle is continuing.
Saltwater runs fast through these
veins. The vibrant green of summer
By Gena Lashley marsh grass, the sparkling of the blue
waters of the Pamlico Sound, and
his past weekend, I drove cup by her chair, and I loved to hear the distinct smell of salt and plough
my family down to Lowland, her “Down East” accent. She grew mud bring sweet memories of my
TN.C. Lowland is a very small up on Portsmouth Island before her childhood. I’m so thankful that my
community on Goose Creek Island father moved them to Lowland and children were able to see it, smell it,
and it is where my family (paternal) she had the iconic “Ocracoke Brogue” and feel it in their hearts. Help And Hope For Those In Need
settled hundreds of years ago. that those who lived on remote islands www.chesterfieldfoodbank.org
Lowland is an interesting little place. in N.C. tended to have.
The land is flat, flat, flat, and there Being a waterman is the Mercer A Completely Different Experience in Dining
are creeks and canals on either side way, and has continued through
of you while you drive down. Houses the generations. My great-great- LUNCH HOURS
that once sat on regular foundations grandfathers on both sides were Sun-Fri 11:00 am - 2:15 pm
have now been elevated on pilings due fishermen, their sons were, my
to the constant threat of flooding that grandfather was as a young man DINNER HOURS
has become increasingly worse as the before becoming a state trooper, and Sun - Thu 4 pm - 9 pm
Fri - Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
years have passed. Our family’s home three of his four sons (my father and
has not been elevated, and it is still uncles) were commercial fisherman. 12730 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Chester – 804.751.9898
standing even after Hurricane Irene My uncles and father have moved
flooded the entire downstairs. She is a from commercial fishing to other
beauty of an old house, built in 1925 occupations on the water. My father
by my granddaddy, Jewell Mercer, is the ferry captain from Cedar Island
and all nine of his children were born to Ocracoke, one uncle works on a
and raised there. My great-aunt still tugboat, and the other has started his
lives there today. own oyster farm (Bay River Oysters,
I have been meaning to take the Mercer Seafood Co.). Now, bringing
children down to Lowland for the it full circle, my brother is moving
last few years. They are now old
enough to understand and (I think)
appreciate the history behind our
family. I had the perfect reason to
take them down, our family reunion.
My father’s family (the Mercers) have Alzheimer’s
a reunion annually, and have started
holding the reunion down in Lowland
where it all started. I love that I get Specialty Center
to see my Papa (who will be 90 in
March) so proud and happy at these
Puppy Breaks Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & reunions. Out of nine children, he was
the second oldest and has been the
Pet Care provides a wide
Daily Walks variety of professional pet patriarch of the family for the last 40
years. He and three sisters are all that
Seniors Pet Care care services designed to are left of Jewell and Joella Mercer’s
keep all your pets happy
nine children.
Cat Care in the place they love home, remembering the smell of
I took my children by the Mercer
best - home! Call today to
Field Trips schedule your free in-home cooking rutabagas and chewing
consultation.
tobacco that permeated the air when I
Pet Sitting Visits was a little girl. I remember running
around that house barefoot, playing
Custom Services with my cousin outside as the grown- Living with Alzheimer’s: Late Stage Seminar
Pet Taxi ups sat in the house and talked. presented by the Alzheimer’s Association
Shrimp boats, trawlers, crab pots,
th
Mention this ad and shrimp nets dotted the landscape Wednesday, August 16 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
like trees. My Grandma Jo (great-
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© Barossa Franchise, LLC. For franchising information please visit snagglefoot.com
news@villagenewsonline.com AUGUST 2, 2017 05