10/14/2026
On Friday, October 9, 2026, Bro. Peter Hedges and WB Michael Talbott headed up to the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford NC to represent the Valley of New Bern at the 14th annual Smoke Under The Oaks Barbecue cook-off. They prepared 16 Boston Butts and 30 pounds of chicken. They, along with 15 other barbecue teams from across the state, worked through the night to cook up the Barbecue and chicken quarters for the MHCO Homecoming festivities that took place on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The evening included an impromptu visit by GMNC Steve Norris and other Grand Line Officers. Despite the rainy weather that moved in during the night, there was fantastic masonic fellowship to be had under the canopies that sprang up on the lawn beside the St. John's building. the night air filled with the aroma of hot coals slowly cooking up delicious BBQ.
