Myrta Santana-Santini

Myrta Santana-Santini was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to North Carolina the summer before starting college. She is an Odyssey Scholar at Elon University double majoring in Art History and Professional Writing and Rhetoric. Professionally, she works on campus as a student assistant for both the office of the Provost and the Registrar. After her graduation on May 2021, she hopes to pursue a career in the publishing and editing industry, where she can combine her passion for words and reading.

Abby Fuller

Abby Fuller is from Dallas, TX and is a Junior at Elon University, majoring in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, and Professional Writing and Rhetoric and minoring in Environmental Studies. Professionally, she works at the Elon’s Writing Center, nannies in Alamance County, and volunteers with Young Life. She is also the Non-Fiction Editor for Colonnades literary magazine and enjoys reading novels, writing, and hiking. After graduation, she wants to pursue her MFA in Creative Writing and move back to Texas. 

Stephanie Neu

Stephanie Neu is a student at Elon University, double majoring in Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. Stephanie is involved in various leadership positions at Elon’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Elon Feminists, as well as Kappa Delta Sorority. She is also a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society and the 2022 Periclean Scholars cohort. Professionally, Stephanie has interned for Newport Presbyterian Church, Fairwood Press, and edited children’s picture and board books for Joel Chalmers.

Erica Payne

Erica Payne is a senior at Elon University pursuing a BA in Journalism and a minor in Professional Writing Studies. During the summer of 2018, she worked as an editorial intern where she edited and published articles for Townvibe Magazine. This is where she developed her passion for lifestyle journalism, specifically fashion and health and wellness. She recently concluded her summer internships as an Editorial Intern for PureWow and a Style, Planning, and Fashion Intern for The Knot. 

Homeland Creamery Food Review

Through the sparse, winding back roads approximately fifteen miles south of Burlington, North Carolina sits Homeland Creamery, one of the most raved about places in the area to get ice cream, milkshakes, and more. It’s your classic mom and pop shop, family owned and operated, and open all year long because well, there’s never a bad time for ice cream. Wanting to test it out ourselves, my friend Leah and I hopped in the car and made our way down highway 62 and through the roads covered in fresh fall foliage, say that ten times fast. Right as you’re about to enter the parking lot, you can look to your directly across the road and see the cows and dairy farm up close and personal. 

When we entered the store, we were greeted by the friendly woman behind the counter and endless flavors to choose from. They had their staple year round flavors as well as seasonal options. Think of every classic flavor ice cream joint should have and it was there: chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream, peanut butter, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, coffee. Their southern charm shined when we were greeted by less traditional flavors: black cherry, lemon crunch, butter pecan, cupcake, and more. Their seasonal flavors put you right into the holiday spirit with apple pie, pumpkin pie, and peppermint.

I wanted to try a fair share of the ice cream but not take up too much of their time so I sampled a bit of their double dark chocolate, coffee, cookies dough, and chocolate reese cup. All of them were unbelievably creamy with a decadently smooth texture. The flavors were distinct and they had enough chunks of cookie, peanut butter cups, etc. to get a taste of each in every bite. I decided to get two scoops for my order, one double dark chocolate and one cookies and cream. The double dark chocolate was rich enough to taste noticeably more intense than regular chocolate without being overpowering. I had not sampled it prior to choosing but the cookies and cream had a different texture than the rest of the ice creams. It tasted as if it had freezer burn and was not as nearly as smooth as the rest of the flavors. I’m not sure if it was a bad batch or how the recipe for that flavor specifically affected the texture. Overall, Homeland Creamery does a great job at creating creamy and delicious ice cream as well as coming up with popular flavors. The home town feel and welcoming atmosphere left us feeling welcomed as we enjoyed every last bite.

 

Written by: Hayden McConnell

The Power of Abundance

“We have everything we need, right here at home.”

No one could have said it better. The Piedmont region of North Carolina is home to Abundance North Carolina, an organization whose mission is plain and simple: “Bring people together to exchange ideas and build strong communities resilient in the face of challenge.”

I went into my phone interview with Executive Director of Abundance, Tami Schwerin, with only a brief knowledge of Abundance. I wanted to have a grasp on the foundation’s mission but also be able to learn about it through her perspective.

You might think a simple mission comes with a simple solution, but Abundance’s solution is well, quite abundant. Year round, they are working on various projects ranging from annual events such as the Pepper Festival, to one-off events such as their Renewable Energy and Local Food Summer Camp in 2013. Through working with their local community, they were able to educate more people on the importance of locally sourced food, where it comes from, and even how to grow their own. From there, it bloomed.

Diving deeper into our conversation, I wanted to ask Tami more about sustainability as a whole being that it was one of the driving forces in the organization. She discussed how in 2012 a farmer came to Abundance to inquire if it was possible to discuss sea levels rising and ways in which local farmers could prepare for the ways climate change was affecting their farms. This developed into the now annual Climate Change conference where farmers and interested minds can attend to discuss plans on facing the environmental challenges that drastic weather change brings. 

When asking her about what sustainability means, she said “It’s not sustainable if its only sustainable for a certain demographic” which I think sheds light on something we often forget. Sustainability is meant to encompass more than just facing environmental change, while that is a very important component. Tami discusses how she believes “diversity is the key to strength”. 

Tami went through what every single parent dreads, losing their kid. Following the death of her son, she realized that death is something we all deal with alone and that grieving is a very personal process, but why did it have to be that way? The Death Faire was developed to provide a space for the local community to be able to openly discuss death and grievance. This is why their events, such as the Death Faire and Pecha Kucha (a storytelling event where the community gathers to discuss sustainable topics), are important because it reminds us that in order to be sustainable, we must be open to discussing all challenging topics such as death, race, social justice, and how we treat the environment.

 Abundance is here to remind us that there should always be an open space to talk about the things that scare us because without that, change will never come. 

If you’d like to checkout their website it is listed below. Scroll to the bottom to find their new video “Spirit of Abundance” featuring the wonderful Tami Schwerin!

https://abundancenc.org/

Written by: Hayden McConnell

Abundance NC’s 12th Annual Pepper Festival

Just off of the tree-lined, winding path of Highway 64 nestled into Piedmont North Carolina lives the quaint, charming town of Pittsboro. While many of its residents embrace small-town values and quiet southern living, Pittsboro is far from traditional. The town is home to individuals with varying passions; artists, farmers, students, and innovators live harmoniously. 
 
Pittsboro supports software developers, antique shops, biofuel research, art galleries, mom-and-pop businesses and more. This community represents a blend of history and contemporary ideas where the arts and sciences are woven together to create something exceedingly unique. 
 
While the nature of Pittsboro seems contradictory, the ideas of collaboration and cooperation are ingrained into its values. Community events attract individuals of all backgrounds into the downtown, and this fall, one event stood out from the rest: Abundance NC’s 12th Annual Pepper Festival.  
 
PepperFest took place on September 22, 2019 from 3-6pm. The festival is hosted by Abundance North Carolina, an organization that cultivates and celebrates community resilience. This annual, outdoor event is a celebration of sustainable agriculture, local farmers, and the creativity of the Piedmont’s chefs, brewers and artisans.

Pepper-themed dishes made with locally grown North Carolina peppers, provided by Abundance NC, are served to over 3000 hungry patrons each year. 
 
As we approached the festival, the popularity and energy of the events was obvious. Main Street Pittsboro was lively with families and foodies eager to partake in the pepper-filled festivities. For only $35 we were free to sample a large selection of food and beverages with spice levels ranging from sweet bell peppers to sweltering habaneros. 
 
Eager to try the spicy creations, we made our way to the main street to check-in where each attendee received one spork to use in hopes to reduce waste of plastic utensils. The emphasis on environmental consciousness promised by Abundance NC was made even more clear as we passed three electric cars being shown off by the Triad Electrical Vehicle Association. The futuristic Teslas contrasted starkly with the historic brick courthouse just across the street. The festival featured several more environmental initiatives beyond the spork including compostable cups for samples and recycling bins that lined the street.
 
We spent the next hour walking up and down the line of white tents while melodies from live bands echoed in the background. We sampled everything we could get our hands on; pepper beer that made our lips burn, hot Louisiana style jambalaya, cold gazpacho, smoky sausages and more. Each item was spicer and more flavorful than the last. By the end we were full and hot, whether from the spicy peppers or the 80 degree North Carolina sun.
 
The Pittsboro Pepper Festival was a unique experience that reflected the town’s values of environmental sustainability and community engagement. We left PepperFest with a great appreciation for local farmers, culinary creativity and – of course – peppers.
Written by: Leah Graf

A Taste of Saxapahaw: The Eddy Pub

Set on the banks of the idyllic Haw River in the quiet, quirky town of Saxapahaw is a farm-to-fork eatery that is serving up its own version of pub fair. The Eddy Pub, the name eddy referring to a resting place on the river, has been creating unique dishes ranging from classic southern comfort to European bistro delicacies. The restaurant opened in doors in 2010 with hopes to feel like ‘Saxapahaw’s living room.’
Eddy Pub is committed to using local, organic produce, as well as GMO-free protein and sustainably caught fish. A driving force behind this value for high-quality, nutrient rich ingredients is Executive Chef and local farmer Isaiah Allen. Allen’s passion for cooking and his dedication to the eat local movement and sustainable cuisine elevates the community culture in the Eddy. The restaurant engages its neighbors such as Haw River Farmhouse Ales, Left Bank Butchery, Saxapahaw Village Bakehouse and other local vendors by featuring their products on its menu.
 
The menu presents a variety of options laid out into several categories including cheese and charcuterie, small plates and sides, traditional pub fare, chef’s creations, and desserts. The kitchen also offers a daily dinner special, a separate brunch menu and an extensive wine and beer list.  
 
As we walked into Eddy Pub on a late September evening, the comforting ambiance of the wooden tables and exposed brick drew us in, while soothing songs from a live guitarists echoed throughout the small restaurant. We sat in the corner next to a window overlooking the renovated river mill lofts across the quiet street and eagerly scanned the menu.
 
While it was surprising to see classic pub favorites like Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers & Mash on the same page as Korean dishes like a Fried Rice Bowl and Chicken & Pumpkin Dakjuk, it was clear that each dish supported locally and ethically sourced foods. I opted for a charcuterie and cheese board that featured several local meat and dairy farmers, a beer from the tap room just below the pub, and the special dinner entree consisting of fresh scallops and succotash. 
 
The charcuterie and cheese board came out first, and although it was small, it was packed with flavor. The bacon jam and Goat Lady Dairy Chevre stood out as my favorites – the jam was the perfect combination of 
sweet and savory, while the goat cheese was light and creamy. After washing down the appetizer with a crisp, hoppy Haw River Farmhouse IPA, my main course was served. 
 
 
 
I have never not loved a scallops that I have eaten, and Eddy Pub’s scallops were no exception. The spicy succotash was an excellent contrast to the creamy, buttery fish. The texture of each bite was perfect, the flavors were vibrant.

I do wish that the dish had been warmer and I could have eaten several more scallops, but overall I was very satisfied with my meal. 

I am eager to return to this Saxapahaw gem to experience more of Chef Allen’s culinary creations. The Eddy Pub is an essential component of the cultural rebirth that is putting this former mill town in rural piedmont North Carolina on the map.
 
 
Written by: Leah Graf

Snapshot: Franklin, NC

Deep in the mountains of North Carolina is the town of Franklin. When walking down Franklin’s main street, there’s a memorial or sign for every period of history: a sign talking about the town’s role in the French and Indian War, a history trail on women in the region, an homage to the Scots-Irish who settled in the area, and a Civil War Memorial, among others. Along with a strong cultural legacy, the town’s streets are lined with small businesses that serve as the social glue of the community. Franklin serves as a small hamlet to its citizens and one of the most luxurious and touristy stops for those brave enough to hike the Appalachian Trail. Franklin is a town of a bygone era, one of community and heritage with a bright future in Appalachian Trail tourism. 

Written by: Angela Myers

Lake Lure: Your Perfect Next Getaway

Have you ever wanted to visit the same scenic town that Johnny performed that iconic lift with Baby in Dirty Dancing? Or do you just want to spend a peaceful long weekend in the foothills region of North Carolina? Then plan your next vacation with the family, a bachelorette weekend, or couples getaway in Lake Lure. This town borders around a large lake and offers boating and kayaking opportunities, as well as shopping and leisure. Across from the historic Lake Lure Inn, is a white sand beach, perfect for a friendly volleyball game or beautiful pictures with the whole family. If you cannot make it for the yearly Dirt Dancing Festival, hosted in early September, fans of the movie can book the cabins used in the films, walk down the meaningful steps that Baby and Johnny began their love story, or just experience the breathtaking view that will make you feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. 

Written by: Abby Fuller