ADACHI REVIEW CLICK HERE

DRAM TREE SOCIETY HOSTS GATHERING

EDENTON WELCOMES THE WHISKEY PROJECT GROUP

ADACHI MAKES SENSE OF SENSE..."Sense and Sensibility (2026): A Little Too Raw for My Taste"

CHESSON OFFERS MAIN STREET EDENTON REPORT

Gov. Stein, CEO Schuback cut Whiskey Project Ribbon

Whiskey Project Ribbon Cutting Attracts Local, State & Federal Officials

A waterfront ribbon cutting Tuesday marked a new chapter for Edenton manufacturing as The Whiskey Project Group opened a North American facility that will connect northeastern North Carolina workers with maritime customers across the Americas and Europe.

For company founder and Chief Executive Officer Darren Schuback, the occasion also marked another step toward a goal shaped by nearly 25 years of military service: building the boats he wished he had while serving as a Navy frogman.

The Australian maritime technology and advanced manufacturing company celebrated the opening at 125 Dye Plant Road with Gov. Josh Stein, state Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, U.S. Rep. Don Davis, Edenton Mayor Hackney High, company employees and other guests.

The 60,000-square-foot facility occupies a 50-acre waterfront site and will serve as the company’s primary North American production and sustainment hub. The operation is expected to create 30 new jobs initially, with additional employment anticipated as production develops.

Those positions will include advanced manufacturing, engineering, technical services, vessel repair and maintenance, offering skilled employment opportunities for Edenton and surrounding communities.

Stein described the opening as a new opportunity for Chowan County and the region. In his remarks, he pointed to the potential for employment to grow toward 200 new jobs as the operation expands, with opportunities for engineers and manufacturing workers.

“North Carolina has the skilled workforce, manufacturing expertise, and maritime heritage that companies like The Whiskey Project Group need to succeed,” Stein said in the announcement accompanying the opening. “This investment will bring good-paying jobs to northeastern North Carolina, strengthen our national security, and create new opportunities for the people of Chowan and neighboring counties.”

Schuback’s remarks centered on gratitude — for employees and their families, customers who trusted a young Australian company, and a community willing to become part of its future.

His experience operating in demanding maritime environments, he said, exposed him to the consequences when equipment fell short. When he founded The Whiskey Project Group in 2019, his objective was straightforward.

“I had one simple goal: to build the boats that I wish I had while serving,” Schuback said.

That experience helped shape a company focused on designing vessels around the needs of the people operating them, particularly when lives and missions depend on their performance.

What began as an idea has grown into a business serving military, law enforcement, rescue, commercial and other specialized maritime operators. Schuback described the Edenton facility as both an investment in the company’s future and a commitment to the United States.

“This facility represents growth. It represents opportunity. It represents our commitment to the United States,” he said.

But the buildings and equipment, he emphasized, are only part of the story.

“Facilities don’t create success. People do.”

Schuback thanked employees for their work, resilience and commitment, along with the sacrifices made by their families. The finished vessels and public announcements, he said, reveal only part of the effort behind the company’s growth. Less visible are the long hours, setbacks, risks and determination required to reach those milestones.

He singled out the United States Marine Corps for its role in helping the company develop, thanking the Marines and leaders who backed its vision and challenged it to innovate and improve.

The relationship, he said, extends beyond the boats themselves to the capabilities they provide: helping Marines move faster, operate farther and maintain a tactical advantage in demanding maritime environments.

“Our job is simple: to give operators every possible advantage,” Schuback said.

The Whiskey Project Group designs, builds and sustains advanced watercraft for defense, government, commercial and recreational customers. Its Edenton operation combines aluminum and composite vessel manufacturing with repair, maintenance and other services intended to keep vessels operating throughout their working lives.

The governor’s announcement identified Whiskey, NAiAD and VYCOR among the brands the facility will support. They include tactical multi-mission vessels, high-performance rigid-hulled inflatable boats and utility craft.

Establishing production and sustainment operations in Edenton brings those capabilities closer to American customers while creating opportunities to develop local workers and supply chains.

Schuback also acknowledged the Australian embassy and Austrade for helping the company establish connections and expand internationally. He thanked the waterfront property’s owners and staff for their partnership, then turned his attention to the town.

“You didn’t just provide a place to build boats,” he said. “You provided a place to build the future.”

For High, the opening represented the promise of careers that allow residents to develop skills and support their families close to home.

"This is a wonderful day. On behalf of the Town of Edenton, it is my pleasure to welcome The Whiskey Project to Edenton and Chowan County. There is much to be excited about, especially what this project means for our future. Darren, we are delighted that you have chosen Edenton and Chowan County as the home for your U.S. operations."

The mayor thanked the visiting officials for making time to travel to northeastern North Carolina and welcomed the company to Edenton and Chowan County.

High connected that investment to the community’s long-term prospects.

“Their location here means opportunities for our citizens to develop new skills, build careers, support their families, and create a stronger future right here at home — a community where they can live, work, and play,” he said.

Since 2015, eight Australian companies have selected North Carolina for new or expanded operations, accounting for more than 600 jobs and more than $245 million in capital investment.

In Chowan County, the facility joins recent investments in technology employment and downtown infrastructure.

As Schuback looked ahead, he described the opening as a beginning. The vessels built in Edenton will support critical missions, he said, while the jobs will support families and the partnerships will strengthen the community.

The company’s responsibility, he added, is to keep listening to customers, investing in employees and building the vessels operators need.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved,” Schuback said. “We’re excited for what comes next, and we’re just getting started.”

Highly Humorous

Edenton Mayor Hackney High shared this story with the gathering as an opening to his remarks...

....Now, people who know more about these things than I do will tell you it’s always a bad idea to start a speech with a joke. If your attempt at humor falls flat, all the air comes out of the room, and you’re left with nothing.

Well, I’m going to violate that rule, and I need to ask you to do one thing: When I finish telling this story, please laugh.

"Darren, I was relieved that you made light of your beautiful Australian accent, because it ties into the story I’m about to tell. I appreciate you giving me that opening.

As The Whiskey Project was making its transition to North Carolina, Darren spent a tremendous amount of time and energy flying between Australia and Edenton. When he was here, I had several opportunities to meet with him, learn about his personal story and hear more about his company.

I enjoyed getting to know him and looked forward to every opportunity to learn more.

One evening, my wife and I were having dinner at Herringbone. I was telling her about this interesting Australian fellow and the company he wanted to bring to Edenton, which I was very excited about.

As luck would have it, Darren walked in at that very moment.

I said, “Honey, he’s here! I’d love for you to meet him.”

I caught Darren’s eye and waved him over. What I didn’t know was that he had just arrived from a flight from Australia.

He came over, greeted my wife in that beautiful Australian accent and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m actually tired.”

But what I heard was, “I’m actually Todd.”

My face fell. The color drained out of it.

Oh, my goodness, I said. I have to apologize, Todd. I’ve been calling you Darren this entire time.

Darren stepped back and looked at me rather quizzically. My wife rolled her eyes and looked at me like I had three heads—which is not that unusual.

Luckily, she came to my rescue.

“Honey,” she said, “his name’s not Todd. He’s simply trying to tell you he’s tired.”

SHRIMP LOVERS CONVERGE ON GREEN FOR FRIED SHRIMP DELIGHT

Edenton Chowan Chamber Hosts Shrimp by the Bay

Shrimp by the Bay hosted a tent filling crowd.

Shrimpers, of sorts, gathered from far away towns to enjoy the Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce annual Shrimp by the Bay shrimp feed. Huge plates of perfectly prepared shrimp along with standard accompaniments were enjoyed by just short of 300 guests.

The yearly event has become a friends, neighbors and family tradition.

This year the event snuck in just before the rain dampened many spirits over the weekend. Saturday’s storm blew through Edenton earlier on Saturday morning, clearing sidewalks of window shoppers and proved to be a lengthy washing. The Edenton Farmers Market opened to a supportive umbrella toting crowd.

After last week’s Taste of the Inner Banks and this week’s Shrimp by the Bay, the courthouse green will be closed for a time to those seeking a gathering. Courthouse green culinary events have slowed down. However, for those concerned about next weekend’s meal, St. Ann’s is holding a take out only Fried Chicken Dinner Sale on Saturday Oct. 24 from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. TAKE OUT ONLY...

ADACHI: "A little too raw for my taste"

Elinor, Marianne, Margaret face predicaments

By Darryl Adachi

Sense and Sensibility (2026): A Little Too Raw for My Taste

Let’s start with a brief primer on Jane Austen’s England. In the late 18th century, middle- and upper-class women who did not marry faced a delicate balancing act: maintaining their respectability without the benefit of an independent income. For a woman who remained unmarried into her mid-twenties, marriage prospects could diminish considerably, leaving her with some decidedly unappealing options.

There was, for instance, the fate of the permanent dependent. Unmarried gentlewomen generally lacked the financial means to live independently and often found themselves taking up residence in the households of married brothers, uncles, or brothers-in-law. In exchange for room and board, they were expected to earn their keep as unpaid housekeepers, nurses to ailing relatives, or nannies to their nieces and nephews. Their employment options were limited, too. If family charity ran dry, a gentlewoman had few socially acceptable ways to earn a living without compromising her place in society. Two of the more respectable options were becoming a governess or a lady’s companion.

Such was the predicament facing the Dashwood women—Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret—in Sense and Sensibility. When their father, Henry Dashwood, dies, his estate passes to his son, John, from a previous marriage. John initially intends to provide for his half-sisters, as his father had hoped. But his notoriously selfish and snobbish wife, Fanny, persuades him that giving them a substantial allowance would amount to depriving their own young son of his rightful inheritance. Austen was particularly adept at portraying the original mean girls: women who wielded sarcasm, social ambition, and psychological manipulation to undermine other women. Fanny is a prime example.

Left without a secure inheritance and facing pressure from Fanny to vacate their home, the Dashwood women accept an offer from their cousin, Sir John Middleton, to move to a modest cottage in Devonshire. There, they become acquainted with local society, including Mrs. Jennings, a widowed, exuberant, and relentless gossip who turns out to be a fiercely loyal friend and something of a protective mother figure. They also encounter Colonel Brandon, a bachelor and retired British Army officer whose quiet integrity and steadfast loyalty to the Dashwoods make him one of the story’s more admirable characters.

And this is where the story takes off.

Sense and Sensibility revolves around the efforts of family and friends to encourage the Dashwood sisters toward suitable romantic attachments, with marriage very much the intended destination. At the center of the romantic complications are Edward Ferrars, Elinor’s love interest, and Willoughby, with whom Marianne falls passionately in love. Edward loves Elinor, but personal complications and a powerful sense of honor prevent him from declaring himself free to marry her. For much of the film, we suffer alongside Elinor as she struggles with a painful and complicated mixture of emotions that she largely conceals from her family. Matters are made worse by the fact that Edward is Fanny’s brother, and Fanny fiercely opposes any prospect of a romance between him and Elinor. As for Willoughby, he turns out to be considerably less than the ideal suitor Marianne imagines him to be.

I won’t be giving anything away by saying that Sense and Sensibility ultimately ends happily. Austen’s novels generally tie things up rather neatly, reflecting the conventions of the marriage plot and the novel of manners, in which the restoration of social order and the resolution of romantic entanglements were expected features of the genre. That said, I can offer my thoughts on the film itself, and I’ll try to do so with at least a modicum of literary restraint.

The 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one, and it is easy to see why. Directed by Ang Lee and anchored by an exceptional cast that included Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, it remains a particularly appealing interpretation of Austen’s novel. Having seen both versions, I found the 1995 film bright, enchanting, and romantic. The 2026 adaptation, by contrast, appears to favor a darker, moodier atmosphere. The earlier film is celebrated for its warm, lush cinematography, sweeping score, and traditional Regency elegance. The newer version seems to take a more deliberate turn toward gritty realism, with muted colors and subdued lighting replacing much of the glossy perfection associated with its predecessor.

Let’s get nit-picky here.

I waited nearly two hours for the sun to come out. Until the film’s closing moments, virtually every exterior shot, whether in the countryside or in London, seemed to take place beneath a blanket of gray clouds. I’m not sure this is quite the image the British Tourist Authority would choose to promote. And the interiors were hardly more inviting. At times, I found myself wondering, “Were candles really that hard to come by in the late 18th century?” Dinner parties featuring lavish food and elaborate dancing were dimly lit, as were scenes set in virtually every home. The overall effect was so gloomy that I was tempted to reach for the flashlight on my mobile phone. Atmosphere is one thing; making the audience strain to see what is happening is quite another.

Then there is Marianne.

She is certainly not unattractive, but was it the director’s intention to make her look just a little feral? I appreciate the desire to introduce a measure of 18th-century realism but surely combs and hairbrushes were available even to ladies of limited means. Marianne’s hair looked perpetually unkempt, while Elinor appeared to have mastered the art of proper grooming and styling. I found myself focusing on Marianne’s hair in almost every scene in which she appeared. Is this a petty observation? Perhaps. But I have to say that it was distracting.

Whenever I watch a period film set in Austen’s world, I find myself wondering whether there might have been an 18th-century equivalent of the Arthur Murray School of Dancing. There seems to be an unwritten rule that every Austen adaptation must include at least one elaborate dance scene. Perhaps these gatherings provided one of the few socially acceptable settings in which gentlemen and gentlewomen could enjoy a degree of physical contact without inviting scandal. That is all well and good. What fascinates me, however, is the intricacy of the dances themselves. We are not talking about the waltz, the foxtrot, or the cha-cha we might have learned in ballroom dancing classes at school. These dances are highly choreographed, stylized affairs, with intricate steps and precise formations that the participants execute with remarkable aplomb. Where, I wonder, would young women like the Dashwoods have learned all these moves, without the benefit of YouTube tutorials or TikTok videos? It is a question that invariably crosses my mind whenever I watch one of these sequences in an Austen film.

So, what did I think of the film?

For me, it was simply a bit too raw. When I think back to the 1995 Sense and Sensibility and even the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, I realize that my taste in Austen period dramas tends toward the more polished and visually sumptuous. I prefer my Regency England with a little more romance, a little less gloom, and perhaps a few better-combed heads of hair. This newer version may, in fact, offer a more realistic portrayal of the hardships and uncertainties facing women like the Dashwoods. Its grittier aesthetic may be precisely what the director intended, and viewers who prefer their period dramas less polished and more grounded may find much to appreciate. As for me, I’ll happily leave it to moviegoers to decide whether this adaptation disappoints or whether it represents a more determined attempt to remain faithful to Austen’s world. Perhaps the director was trying to be, shall we say, Austen-sibly true to the period.

Enjoy the Food, Spill the Tea, Coming to Edenton

DINNER AND A PLAY.....

...SPILL the TEA

Edenton Tea Party musical to open new performing arts center at John A. Holmes HS

The women of the Edenton Tea Party will take center stage in their hometown when Spill the Tea! becomes the inaugural production at the new John A. Holmes Performing Arts Center.

Performances are scheduled for Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. The final performance falls 252 years to the day after the Edenton Tea Party. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved at www.spilltheteamusical.com.

Created by Edenton native Laurie Edwards, the musical draws inspiration from the 51 women who signed a declaration on Oct. 25, 1774, pledging their support for a boycott of British goods. Their actions provide the foundation for an original story and score that combine history, humor and the relationships of a town caught up in revolution.

Led by Penelope Barker, the women took a public stand at a time when they could neither vote nor hold public office. Their declaration attracted attention far beyond Edenton, with news of their protest reaching London.

For Edwards, bringing the musical home gives the production special meaning.

“There’s something pretty magical about watching this story unfold where these women actually lived and made history,” Edwards said.

Spill the Tea! portrays its characters as friends, spouses and neighbors navigating both everyday tensions and revolutionary change. The story brings Revolutionary-era Edenton to life, with part of the action extending to London.

The score blends pop, orchestral and traditional Broadway styles. According to the production announcement, the show takes a humorous and sometimes irreverent approach while recognizing the significance of the women’s decision to make their voices heard.

The hometown production marks a new chapter for local performing arts, opening the John A. Holmes Performing Arts Center with a story rooted in Edenton’s history. It also joins the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Spill the Tea! is funded in part by a grant from America 250 NC, a program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Sponsors include Colony Tire & Service, Regulator Marine, Dr. and Mrs. Alex Kehayes, and Willful Entertainment

Area Restaurants Tease Palates for Charity...

EATING SO OTHERS MAY

It was a culinary adventure for charity. A palate tease pleasing an overflow crowd of tented tasters sampling flavors from Edenton, Elizabeth City and Hertford eateries joining together to raise funds and awareness of food insecurities.

The line-up of restaurants offering samples of their specialties pleased the crowd of close to 200 people enjoying samples of She Crab Soup, BLT’s in a cup, BBQ pulled pork and along with delightful cream puffs.

While guests enjoyed a variety of flavors and mingling conversations, the chefs and staffs of the participating restaurants deserve a round of applause for leaving their home bases on a Saturday night to donate time, staff and ingredients.

The Broad St. Diner’s She Crab Soup was a huge. Steve and Mary Pat Gaffney have become known for their signature Broad St. Diner dish. The soup will be available beginning Saturday at the Edenton Farmers Market. Ronnie Bates took time out from the recent opening of The Capital Pizza Tavern to support the event with new menu samplings.

A Taste of the Inner Banks, regional restaurants and community members gathered under a rain pattered tent on Edenton’s Courthouse Green to benefit the Food Bank of the Albemarle.

The gathering had a mission that reaches well beyond the tasting tables: helping neighbors across northeastern North Carolina put food on their own tables.

Inspired by the former Taste of Edenton, the event revived a local tradition with a regional focus. Organizers announced that sponsorship support would allow all ticket proceeds to go directly to the Food Bank of the Albemarle.

Helping make the evening a success were Timmy Turner of Main Street Edenton; Leslie Hogan, CAC Board member, along with James Beard Award winning chef and event judge Ricky Moore; Denise Barnes, owner of The Venue; and Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce President Susan Creed, bartender for the evening. Sponsor Kellogg Supply’s employees enjoyed VIP table service, while “Island Gerry” Maddox provided the music.

The evening also brought Hogan, former director of College of the Albemarle’s culinary program, together with two former students: Marsharel Moore now chef and owner of the Electric Garden, and Ashley Tedrow, a COA graduate and former lab assistant who now teaches cooking to area high school students through COA. For those hungry for another local offering, Broad Street Diner will feature she-crab soup at the Edenton Farmers Market beginning Saturday, with the soup also available at the diner.

Participating kitchens included Bistro Tropical, Blake’s Bistro, Broad Street Diner, Capital Pizza Tavern and Carolina Moon Bakery. College of the Albemarle, Cypress Creek Grill, Currituck BBQ, Downtown Roots, Electric Garden and Waterman’s Grill also joined the culinary lineup.

Together, the participants offered a chance to discover different kitchens in one setting while supporting a shared community cause. Beneath the trees on the historic green, tents and tables provided an informal backdrop for an evening centered on food and fellowship.

Chef and cookbook author Ricky Moore was also on hand, with copies of his SALTBOX Seafood Joint cookbooks displayed at his table. The James Beard Award-winning chef, whose Durham restaurant celebrates North Carolina seafood, was announced as the event’s guest judge for the Outstanding Dish Award and presenter of the People’s Choice Awards.

While the tasting highlighted the pleasures of sharing a meal, its beneficiary works year-round to make nutritious food available to people facing hunger. Based in Elizabeth City, the Food Bank of the Albemarle partners with more than 100 nonprofit and community organizations across 15 northeastern North Carolina counties, including Chowan, Bertie, Martin and Perquimans. These local partnerships help bring food assistance closer to the people who need it.

Among those partners is the Edenton-Chowan Food Pantry, a member agency of the Food Bank. The pantry also participates in its network of backpack programs, which provide children with food for weekends when school meals are unavailable. Other backpack partners include Good Shepherd Food Pantry, Ahoskie Food Pantry, Camden Food Pantry, Eagles Wings Food Pantry, Food for Thought and Currituck Extension Foundation. Through these organizations, support for the Food Bank helps reach families and children throughout the region.

For the restaurants, volunteers and guests gathered on Courthouse Green,was a celebration of local food with a special ingredient, an act of generosity—helping make the next meal possible for a neighbor.

DRAM TREE SOCIETY HOSTS GATHERING

EDENTON WELCOMES THE WHISKEY PROJECT GROUP