By Miles Layton

Random thoughts…

News spread fast — Ralph’s Pizza of Edenton caught on fire Tuesday.

I spoke to the owner, Ralph Casbarro, on the phone this morning. Suffice it to say, he’s not in good spirits, nor should he be. Ralph and his wife Leslee told me that they’re planning to attend the Edenton Town Council meeting tonight. Too soon to say, but I don’t think Casbarro is going to the meeting to learn more about the council’s plans for architectural design guidelines, the proposed data center moratorium, ask why the town is underwriting a grocery store, or listen to the discussion of censuring Councilman Aaron Coston. Government meetings tend to be pretty boring, but I suspect tonight will be a must-see-TV kind of meeting. My, my, my … feels like “As the Stomach Turns” from the Carole Burnett Show.

Reminder — Perquimans County Planning Board will be discussing a rezoning request (REZ-26-02) and sketch plat review for Briarwood Estates, a planned 133-lot residential subdivision on Woodville Road. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. tonight at the library. To learn more, see our story here.

I love this quote from Nichole Hoggard — “Our county’s identity is rooted in open land, family farming, and quiet rural life, Paving over that landscape without the infrastructure, schools, or public safety resources to absorb it turns a unique farming heritage into suburban sprawl.”

Back to Edenton Town Council — council is expected to consider a resolution supporting a Building Reuse and Restoration Grant application for a property tied to a Virginia-based company that has the same address as a company that has reportedly hired Michael Reardon as a consultant, according to court records. Reardon recently filed for bankruptcy and closed the company that was formerly located at the site.

According to the meeting agenda, the town “supports submission of a Building Reuse and Restoration Grant application on behalf of Project Alpha Tango, to be used toward the renovation of 109 Anchors Way Dr.” in Edenton. The agenda does not name the property’s owner.

Public property records identify the site as the former Daedalus Yachts building, once the base of boat-building operations for Reardon — wait, where have I heard that name before!? Oh yeah, click here.

Records show the property is now owned by Reflections Maritime USA Inc., which acquired it June 26, 2026, for a listed price of $0.00 — that’s a good price. According to the Deed, Reflections is a Virginia company, but the state has no public record of its existance. Reflections address is the same as that of American Yacht Corporation, which Reardon listed as his employer in his bankruptcy filing. The address of the both companies is listed as 101 W. Main St., Suite 500, Norfolk, which is the corporate address of the law firm, Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black, PLC, which specializes in maritime and admiralty law. But, that could mean that the lawfirm applied for the business license, not that it’s the company’s actual address.

The county GIS lists the owner’s mailing address as in care of Darryl Adachi, 407 S. Broad St., Edenton. Adachi was previously a close associate of Reardon.

A Google search for Reflections Maritime doesn’t come up with anything. The closest company is one based in Dubai. The company’s website describes it as a super yacht refit business with “multiple decades of combined super yacht refit experience.” It says it offers paint, carpentry, electrical and engineering teams, and that it handles turnkey projects, including project management.

The documents reviewed do not explain the terms of the property transfer or why the company is seeking a presence in Edenton. It is also unclear how Project Alpha Tango relates to Reflections Maritime, other than the shared address.

The draft resolution states that the Building Reuse Program, under the Rural Grants/Programs Section of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, provides grants to local governments. It describes the program as providing funds for renovating vacant buildings for entities that will create new, full-time jobs. It adds that the Building Reuse and Restoration Grants Program was created to spur economic activity and job creation by assisting in the productive expansion of existing industry buildings in small towns.

If approved, the resolution would:

• Commit the Town of Edenton to provide administration and oversight of the grant request, if a grant is awarded.
• Authorize the mayor to execute and file an application on the town’s behalf with the N.C. Department of Commerce for a grant to assist in the project.
• Authorize and direct the town manager to furnish any information the Department of Commerce requests in connection with the application or project.

The resolution states that the town intends to request grant assistance from the Department of Commerce program for the project.

Received a news tip from a VERY trusted source that an important elected official – no one who is local-local – had a heart attack recently and may need bypass surgery. I’m not going to reveal who that is because that’s all on him to announce that kind of news, though it is news, same as it was when Biden’s autopen was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

That said, I made standard inquiries through official channels for a generic statement, maybe one saying that he’s a tough old bird, thanks for the prayers and well-wishes. That I didn’t get a statement speaks volumes about the lack of transparency, but based on everything, I understand, though I think the public has a right to know.

Reflecting on my years in coal country in West Virginia, I remember then-Governor Joe Manchin leaving me with some wisdom – always be upfront and transparent, because sharing the truth is easier in the long run and shows you trust people’s judgment. And usually, they’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.

All that said, you and your family are in our prayers.