Page 10 The Shoreline November 2005
Meet Your Neighbors - The Fasnachts
I find some of the responses I receive to
the question, “How did you find Pine Knoll
Shores”, a little different. I recently sat down
and chatted with a non retirement family and
discovered they had been guests of mutual
friends, the Helwigs, on Beechwood Drive.
After several visits with them, they really
liked the ambience of our area. However, the
point I am trying to make is the fact that a
very important desire of theirs for their distant
future was pulling at them when they visited.
Both of them are from Pennsylvania and had
fioped some day to be fortunate enough to
settle down near the ocean and enjoy beach
life to its fullest, be that fishing, boating or just
walking in the sand. Pine Knoll Shores was
an immediate answer to their long cherished
dreams.
They found a house that suited their needs
at 141 Loblolly Drive. It was “hello” North
Carolina and “goodbye” Pennsylvania. Larry
and Darlene Fasnacht along with their son,
Larry, are now permanent residents. This is not
to say that the transition was an easy one since
both had five siblings. They and their parents
were hard to leave but it has had an unexpected
effect. While most of their brothers and sisters
lived in Pennsylvania, they communicated by
phone except for special occasions. Darlene
told me that now they do not have time to go
and visit “up north”. Some members of their
large family or friends are usually in residence
for short vacations all summer long.
An incident occurred on moving day that
was traumatic to everyone, especially young
Larry. We can all sympathize with moving in
problems especially when a large lab, Maggie,
is involved. She was also in a new environment
By Marge Green
and wanted to explore. Before they knew it
Maggie was missing. Envision, if you can,
your pet loose in a new area without proper
identification. The telephone number and
address on her collar were for another area.
Their friends, the Helwigs, were contacted
to help with their disaster. Do you call the
police? Do you have an animal rescue officer?
How can you get the word out? Layne Helwig
organized her friends. The Fasnachts’ close
neighbors were contacted and
soon various sightings of
Maggie were reported. I
am sure the canals were a
strong magnet and once
in the water what’s a
lab to do but enjoy?
Within a relatively
short period of time,
Ryan and Lily Sweet
came down the street
with Maggie on a leash.
That neighborhood
concern and acts
of kindness to
the Fasnachts
cemented within
them the idea they
had chosen wisely
and this is where
they wanted to live
out their dreams.
Darlene was born in New Brunswick,
New Jersey. She was actually raised in
Pennsylvania living there until she moved
to Pine Knoll Shores. Larry was bom in
Grantville, Pennsylvania. They met on a
blind date. I must say the young lady who set
it up probably heard no thanks from either
Darlene or Larry. Unfortunately there was
a little misunderstanding as to expectations
of their “date”. One was overdressed for the
occasion and the other underdressed since he
came straight from work. However, we will
leave it there since true love did eventually
prevail and they have been happily married
since 1990.
Darlene graduated from Central Columbian
High School in Bloomsburg,
Pennsylvania. Her
field of interest
has been teaching
children with special
needs, specifically
mental retardation.
She received her
training at Harrisburg
Community College
and then her degree
from Millersville
University. She
worked in special
education for ten
years. All of
that time she
was continually
upgrading her
training so she
could better meet
the needs of her students since she considered
it a blessing to be their teacher and mentor.
She has received certification to teach in North
Carolina Schools. Currently she is teaching at
St. Egbert’s School in Morehead City.
Larry graduated from Lower Dauphin High
School in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. He
then entered a four year apprentice program
graduating as a journeyman pipe fitter. He
has one of those specialized jobs where he
could almost live anywhere. Now he works
in management of large projects, often under
extreme conditions, around the world building
and repairing pipe lines for oil, gas and nuclear
companies.
Their son, Larry junior, is in the eighth grade
at Morehead Middle School. He is a real neat
fellow. He has so many interests. He thinks like
an engineer. When he was seven, he built a
Legos truck with a motor which could function
as designed. Now at age 13, he is building his
own gas powered trucks and air planes. His
future seems to be in mechanical engineering
but only so long as it is in an applied usage
where he can get his hands on the project.
Before taking my leave I inquired what they
liked the best about their town. As you would
expect it was the beach life and the people
who have been so kind, caring and helpful.
Young Larry finds it hard to miss a day at
the ocean. He loves tubing and fishing with
his father. Darlene mentioned a special word
of thanks goes to the earlier pioneers who
did so much to protect our maritime forest.
They all like the South with its welcoming
atmosphere. Where else could you enjoy the
water, and have a dock for your boat at your
back door? There was just one negative, the
mosquitoes last summer were really bad. I
told them that was a little unusual and this
year was certainly better.
Now that you know a little about the
Fasnachts, stop and chat sometime when
ever you see them out. They are a pleasure
to know.
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