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To get Far and Away, it helps to have adequate tankage. This boat may now be living up to its name; it was at the town dock a few months ago.

Monday March 15, 2010

Looks like we get a chance to dry out. That Oriental Weather Forecast gives us days and days of clear-ish skies and temps in the 50’s and 60’s. Ah, spring…

Of course, when it does rain, it’s great to capture that fresh water in order to use later. A few years ago, the Cooperative Extension Service taught a workshop about rainbarrels and what’s more, made them available for sale at a really cheap price. They’re doing it again, this time for $40 a barrel in a fundraiser for Pamlico’s 4H kids. Signing up early is key to getting your barrel. You can read about it here.

Sunday March 14, 2010

Now look Elmer, it isn’t hard – just set that clock ahead an hour and you’ll be right with the world. With the beginning of daylight savings time today the sun will be with us later in the day – sunrise is 7:17a, sunset 7:12p. We “lose” an hour though… that’s why you may feel a bit grumpy this morning as you stumble out for coffee.

The fed govt expanded daylight saving time in 2007 – they said it was to save energy. Maybe that’s true, but early this morning it isn’t making sense. Daylight savings time begins on the second Sunday in March and continues until the first Sunday in November.

Not quite as warm today but still a sunny afternoon forecast with highs near 60.

On the water winds 15-20 today in the Pamlico Sound marine weather forecast – but look out for gusts to 30 knots coming Monday night and Tuesday.

80 runners took to the streets of Oriental Saturday in the 7th running of the Lucky Charms Challenge – click here for the story.

Saturday March 13, 2010

Good morning, and what a good and busy day it’ll be….

The Farmers’ Market’s kicking things off — amid the produce and other food this week, a few of the vendors will be selling veggie plants so you can grow your own. While you’re out there, cheer on the runners and walkers in the Lucky Charms Race. Meanwhile, some folks you see this morning may be running with a pot of chowder in their hands, to get to the cook-off in time. Tonight the Madison Singers are at a Pamlico Musical Society concert at the High School, and the St Pat’s day dinner — with Murphy Family music — is at St. Peters. Details for everything are in What’s Happening.

And yeah, there’s some rain in the Oriental Weather Forecast but it’s not the cold, bone-chilling rain of recent months. Look at today’s high.. it’s near 70!

Friday March 12, 2010

4:51p There are questions about rain and the Chowder cook-off. Here is the deal – it will go on, rain or shine. There will be tent(s) – and if there is a cool rain the chowder will keep you warm. Come on out either way….

9:23a Along with warmer temps, the weekend has lots going on in Oriental. Friday Flicks tonight at the Old Theater, the Saturday brings The Lucky Charms Race, Chowder Cookoff and the St Patricks Corned Beef Dinner – see all the local goings on in What’s Happening.

Rain in the forecast, but some sun should poke through Saturday and even more so Sunday afternoon.

Thursday March 11, 2010

12:45p Governor Perdue speaks at PCC 2p today – to hear the speech online click here. TownDock.net will be at the event and have photos online during the speech.

5:40a The Gov is coming to our little county today. NC Governor Beverly Perdue speaks today at Pamlico Community College – the subject is education. Perdue will emphasize her “Career and College – Ready, Set, Go” initiative. The event starts at 2p and is open to the public. The Delamar Center seats 650 and the school is advising guests to arrive early.

For those unable to attend, TownDock.net will stream the speech audio live online – check back here for the link after noon.

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Spring keeps raising its head a bit more – temps today near 70 in the Oriental forecast.

The service for Betty Brandon is set for this Saturday 11am at Bryant Funeral Home. More about the life of Florence Elizabeth Betty Brandon – click here.

Saturday March 6, 2010

9:14a Here in the village, a sad note. Betty Brandon passed away this morning, at age 88. Betty is already very much missed…

6:09a We’ve received some notes of sorrow after reporting the death of Charlotte Castro, the 2-1/2 year old daughter of Molasses Creek musicians Lou Castro and Marcy Brenner. The Ocracoke Island Journal has some more information. Included in there is an address or two, for those who may want to send condolences to Marcy and Lou who have played in Oriental not only as part of Molasses Creek, but as their own duo, Coyote.

Molasses Creek played at Oriental’s Old Theater last night with a couple from Wilmington standing in.

It’s late in coming, but we may be on track for spring with this weekend’s Oriental Weather Forecast. Feed that spring fever… get out and absorb it.

The Farmers’ Market’s happening this morning. Eggs, desserts and some transitional winter-to-spring plants to tuck in to the ground.

Meanwhile, Pamlico County’s Girl Scouts have a few more boxes of cookies to sell. Sherry Meador says they’ll be selling them out in front of Miss Ruth’s Town-n-Country starting at 9a. Sherry notes that the cookies “freeze well.”

Friday March 5, 2010

Condolences go out to Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro, known to Pamlico Musical Society audiences as the band, Coyote. They are also part of another Ocracoke band, Molasses Creek, and were to be in Oriental tonight for a performance. Marcy and Lou’s 2-1/2 year old daughter, Charlotte, passed away this week. There is a funeral this morning in Ocracoke. While Marcy and Lou won’t be performing tonight, they wanted the rest of the band to do so.

Julie Rahm, who has organized tonight’s concert says that a duo from Wilmington, the Barnraisers, will perform with Molasses Creek. The show, a fundraiser for the Red Cross, is sold out.

A warming trend is here. Upper 40’s today and the Oriental Weather Forecast gives us temps in the mid-60’s by Sunday. On top of that.. this warmth comes not with rain but with clear skies. Good weather to get out and do things. More in What’s Happening.

Wednesday March 3, 2010

3:27p Oriental’s Town Board met last night, mostly in open session. We have the rundown of what went down, here.

6:40a 6:42a While there may be the threat of snow, temperatures are above freezing – little accumulation is likely. Weather Radar indicates that most of the moisture has moved past us and is heading north. The Oriental forecast has a cloudy day ahead with a high around 40.

This might be a day not to be on the water – the Pamlico Sound marine forecast has gusts up to 45mph possible, with a gale warning in effect until 1pm.

Monday March 1, 2010

So, we got thru February and now March is here — the month that brings us spring. Just not right away. While today’s got some sun in it, the Oriental Weather Forecast has rain in the works for tomorrow and the possibility of some snow. In case we weren’t ready to embrace spring quite yet.

If the clouds aren’t obscuring things, we should have another great look at the full moon tonite. Last night’s was stunningly bright.

On tap this week, Oriental’s Town Board meets tomorrow night. Among the items on the agenda, there are two people applying to be on the Tourism Board: long-time Oriental resident Grace Evans, and Missy Baskervill who runs a real estate company in town and lives in Arapahoe. There’s yet a third seat vacant on that board, and seats to be filled on the Planning and Parks and Rec Boards, too. Those interested may apply at Town Hall.

What’s Happening shows lots of things coming up this week and an action packed month of March. The library has its Middle East book discussion tomorrow night. The ever-popular Ocracoke-based band Molasses Creek catches the ferry later this week to play the Old Theater on Friday night.

Fairies of another sort yesterday at Pamlico Community College’s Delamar Center yesterday for the Falstaff Festival. Hundreds of folks turned out to watch the comic opera “Falstaff” and its plots and schemes and yes, fairies.

Friday February 26, 2010

February, we are soon reminded, is the shortest month and this one has been short on warmth. The thermometer may be reading 50 mid-afternoon but the winds made it seem chillier. That Oriental Weather Forecast for this weekend looks to have similar temps — low 50’s for a high — but happily, no rain.

You can take some of the edge off the chill tomorrow when the Circle10 Gallery holds its annual Stew-N-Brew fundraiser. Details are at What’s Happening.

Another artistic endeavor happens on Sunday at Pamlico Community College with the production of “Falstaff” a comic opera locally composed and adapted from Shakespeare. Tix there are a bargain — $6 — and for that you get the opera, and several other musical performances. We have the story, here.