By Mike Shutak
Pork will be sizzling and smoking this weekend in Newport when the 34th Newport Pig Cookin' Contest is held Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31.
This year, 85 grillers and chefs will be cooking at the largest "whole hog" cooking contest in America. The Pig Cookin' will begin this year at 4 p.m. Friday with an opening ceremony, presided over by Mayor Derryl Garner.
A chief cook meeting will be at 7 p.m.
After a full night of cooking, the contestants will be judged in two groups the next morning.
Judging for group A begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, while judging for group B is at 10 a.m. Winners will be announced from 1-2:30 p.m. during the awards ceremony.
This event isn't just for the cooks; there are arts, crafts and music for everyone who visits the event. Admission for visitors will be free.
Several local bands and performers will provide entertainment Friday evening. The Morehead Brass Consortium will perform from 4-5 p.m., followed by the Conch Stew Band from 5-7 p.m. The Ginger Thompson Band will pick up after them from 7-10:30 p.m.
There will also be entertainment on Saturday with Ryder Preston from 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 5 p.m. will be Sammy O'Banion and Mardi Gras.
Barbecue plates will be sold for $6 each and bulk pork sold for $6 a pound. Sales will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
All revenue brought in by the Pig Cookin' goes to donations for various charities and other organizations.
Jim Bristle, Newport Pig Cookin' Contest president, said this year, 25 groups will be receiving funds from the Pig Cookin', from Meals on Wheels to the Boy Scouts.
March 30
4 p.m. Opening Ceremonies with Mayor Derryl Garner
4-5 p.m. Morehead Brass Consortium
5-7 p.m. Conch Stew Band
6:30 p.m.- midnight rides and crafts
7 p.m. Chief cook meeting
7-10:30 p.m. Ginger Thompson Band
March 31
8 a.m. Judging begins for group A
10 a.m. Judging begins for group B
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Rides and Crafts
10 a.m.-noon Ryder Preston, Elvis impersonator
12:30-5 p.m. Sammy O'Banion and Mardi Gras
1:30-2:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
By Taylor McCune
By the time you read this, I should be out on maternity leave getting to know my new favorite little person. Whether or not I'll be cognizant that time is passing is another question.
You see, I went into this pregnancy nervous about a lot of things as a first time mom. Changing budgeting habits was a scary idea, being responsible for another life was nerve-wracking and knowing my life with Richard would never be quite the same -- even in such a positive way -- felt depressing at times. I've managed to take those concerns and deal with them by now. But one thing I'm still completely terrified about? Sleep.
It's way too early for me to be awake as I write this, and I'm still pregnant. There is no little one needing a changing or feeding. No, I'm just awake. When I got my positive pregnancy test, I immediately mourned sleeping in on the weekends and feeling rested on weekday mornings once the baby arrived. Little did I know those things would disappear almost immediately. For six months I've woken several times a night, every night. I've laid in bed for hours unable to rest, regardless of my exhaustion. I've been told it's practice for when the baby does arrive, and I'll be grateful.
Hopefully by now, I'm reaping whatever "benefits" promised by all that lack of sleep. But I admit, I'm scared. I love sleep. I hope by now I'm still getting some!
