It's Wednesday May 16, 2012
Dock Quote: “When you temporarily...
News From The Village Updated Almost Daily
NC’s Legislature opens its short session on Wednesday May 16 and opponents of tolls on the commuter ferries in our area are taking that fight to the General Assembly on that opening day. The original plan to hire a bus to go up has been changed and now individuals who care to take part are driving to Raleigh on May 6 and meeting in front of the Legislative Building at 9a. For more info on how to take part or about the emails to write and phone calls to make, see tollfreeferry.org.
To read an account of how Pamlico County got stuck with the tolls in last year’s budget, click here. Other TownDock.net stories on what is in effect a tax on our highway are available here, here, here, here, and here.
Spring’s arrival means the return of the Wednesday Night Sail Race. Boats rendezvous at Oriental Marker #1 on each Wednesday for an impromptu race around the government marks. Just show up. The race starts at 1730 GPS time. There is a warning horn at 1725 (usually) and again at the start. Which ever is more upwind, Garbacon or Adam’s Creek, is the weather mark, round the other as the leeward mark and finish at Oriental 1. VHF Channel 72 for communications. Questions contact Joe Valinoti – joesail1@gmail.com.
According to a May 14 notice from Oriental Town Hall, “The Mayor of Oriental, Bill Sage has called a special meeting of the Town Board, on May 17, 2012 at 11:00am. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the consideration of the proposed contract, between the Town of Oriental and the Fulcher interest. In addition, there will be a public hearing set for the proposed street closing at this time. The Town’s attorney Scott Davis has indicated he will be available at this meeting.” The meeting will be held at the First Baptist Church, across Broad Street from Town Hall.
At a meeting on May 8, the Town Board indicated it could vote to approve the swap at this special meeting and would give the public an opportunity to speak as well. Though the release didn’t state it, Town Hall confirms that, according to Mayor Sage, there will be a public comment period at the May 17 Special Meeting. Town Hall says “there may be a time limit as we generally allow each speaker three minutes.”
Oriental’s Old Theater presents “Duck Soup” as its Friday Flick on May 18 at 7:30p. The 1933 Marx Bros flick satirizes dictators, Fascism and authoritarian government with sight gags and some of the most inspired physical comedy ever to hit the screen. Cost is just $5 and for that you get all the popcorn you care to eat and an installment of “The Green Hornet.” This is the last Friday Flick of the season; they’ll return in September. Box office opens at 6p on May 18.
The Oriental Farmers’ Market happens every Saturday from 8-11a on Hodges Street between South Water and the harbor. There you’ll find fresh produce, eggs and baked goods as well as plants and artisans’ work. Stop by on your way to or from the yard sales. Click here to see what’s for sale this week, May 19.
If you have something locally made or locally grown, you’re welcome to sell it at the Oriental Farmers’ Market. (No manufactured items,please; things made by the vendors themselves are what folks have been coming to the market for for years.) To join the market, see our simple guidelines and call 675-0180.
Pamlico Community College Foundation holds its annual golf tournament on Saturday May 19 at the Minnesott Golf and Country Club. The Pepsi Cup Tournament raises funds for the PCCF and its work to improve opportunities for students at the college. Cost is $70 per golfer and spaces are limited to 24 foursomes — 96 golfers in all. Ticket price includes roat turkey lunch, golf cart, mulligan and tee, and Continental breakfast, which starts at 8:30a. Shotgun start is at 9:30a. Golfers who hit a hole-in-one on any par 3 hole win a prize. A hole-in-one on Hole 5 wins a Hawaii trip valued at $10,000. Closest to the pin, longest drive most accurate drive prizes will also be awarded for men and women and there’s also a chance to win a 50/50 raffle. batting a thousand in bringing rain free skies to past tournaments. To register, contact Melody Henry at 252-249-2272.
Oriental Free Will Baptist Church will host an evening of gospel music featuring the Royal Descendants from Goldsboro on Saturday May 19 at 7p. Refreshments to follow. The performance is free to the public (a ‘love offering’ would be accepted..) The Free Will Baptist Church is at 600 Ragan Road.
A one-day boater safety course takes place on Saturday May 19, sponsored by the US Coast Guard Auxilliary Flotillas 20-03 at Oriental and 20-05 out of Fairfield Harbor. It will take place at the Pamlico Heritage Visitor Center and Museum on Hwy 55 in Grantsboro. The course will cover basic boating practices. The information offered will satisfy the new requirement that those between 16 and 26 who operate a vessel with 10 or more horsepower be trained in safety. Those who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate that dould lower boat insurance premiums.
The USCGA class will meet from 8:30a to 4:30p on May 19. Cost is $15 for course material and certificate. For more information and required pre-registration, contact Judy Wise at 252-745-4555 wiswjudi@yahoo,com or Bob Manning 252-638-5588 manningbob@suddenlink,net
150 yeas ago, in May of 1862, the steamer, “Oriental” sank off of the Outer Banks. Decades later, that shipwreck would give our town its name. You can learn more about the ship, the wreck and the town at Oriental History Museum. There’s a portlight from the wreck, a ship’s model, photos from the wreck site. And since navigation error was suspected in the wreck, the Museum has added a special display of compasses loaned by area residents. They have stories of their own. The Museum is located on Broad Street across from Denton Pharmacy and the post office and is open Friday 11a-3p, Saturdays Noon–4 pm, and Sundays 1-4 pm. For more on the story of the sinking of the Oriental, click here.
Now in its 17th year, Oriental’s Children’s Theater Workshop is taking applications now for its 2012 classes in July. The schedule this year has two two-week-long sessions. The first is from July 2 thru July 13. 1st and 2nd graders in a morning session while those in grades 5, 6 and 7 gather from 2-5p. In the session running from July 16 thru July 27, Grades 3 and 4 will meet from 9-noon, while Grade 8-12 gather at the Old Theater in the afternoon. Cost per student is $25 for the two week session with instructor Jenni Sisk. To get the brochure and registration form, click here.
The Village Gallery welcomes watercolorist Pat Holscher as its guest artist for May, featuring selections from her recent series on shore birds. Holscher, who lives in Washington, NC says she loves watercolor for its “fluidity, transparency and spontaneity. I cherish the challenge of letting the paint take over and produce the visuals which cannot be duplicated. The paint truly is the master and it allows me the joy of ‘going along for the ride’.” Gallery spokeswoman Judy Wayland says that at the American Watercolor Society’s Annual International Exhibition, Pat won the gold medal of honor in 2009 and achieved signature status in 2010. Her work will be on display at Village Gallery through May. The gallery, which exhibits the works of many local artists, is located at 300 Hodges Street across from the harbor and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10a-5p.
Oriental’s History Museum is showing off more than two dozen paintings by the late Lucille Truitt. Lucille, who owned the Ol’ Store with her husband Billy, depicted scenes around town in her works. The Lucille Truit exhibit of paintings will be on display thru June. The Museum is located on Broad Street across from Denton Pharmacy and the Post Office and is open Friday 11a-3p, Saturdays Noon–4 pm, and Sundays 1-4 pm. (Come see the paintings at the Museum’s Shipwreck Party – marking the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the steamer,‘Oriental’ — on May 5.)
Oriental’s Town Board meets Monday April 30 at 8a for another budget workshop. It’s held several of the special budget meetings the Board has held to work out a budget for the fiscal year starting in July. The meeting takes place at the First Baptist Church across from Town Hall and is open to the public.
The Leukemia Cup Regatta returns to River Dunes — and the Neuse River — on Friday and Saturday June 9-10, 2012. For a look at the 2011 LCR, click here.
The first Saturday of July falls late this year and so, Croakerfest will be celebrated on Friday-Saturday July 6-7. Mark the calendar now….
The Third Annual Dragon Boat Races happen in Oriental on the weekend of August 10-11. More details coming soon about how to register. Here’s a look at the 2011 race.
Voters in Pamlico County will be deciding who represents them in the NC House and Senate for the next two years. To help out, TownDock.net and the Pamlico News are holding a Candidates Forum on Thursday evening October 11 at Pamlico Community College. Candidates for the House and Senate races are being invited as are the four candidates seeking places on the Pamlico County Commission in the Oriental area — Districts 2 and 5. The Forum is taking place a week before early voting begins on October 18. More details coming. Mark the calendars now.
The NanNoWriMo Write In is coming and no, it’s not a political effort, but an event. The Pamlico Library will be hosting a Write In on Saturday, November 3rd, from 9a to midnight. It’s part of November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) during which writers are encouraged to attempt to write a full novel of 50,000 words in a single month. Those first few days of the month feature get-togethers such as the one at the Library where participants try to get off to a productive start. Writer John Claude Bemis will speak at the event, and the organizers are looking for some local self-published authors to talk about the emerging ebook market. For more info contact librarian Kat Clowers at 745-3515. More details coming.
Oriental’s Drummin’ Dragons get together every Thursday night from 7-8:30p. All are invited – come on by and learn to drum. (They have some spare drums for you to try.) They’ll be out in Lou Mac Park for the drum circles soon, but in the meantime, you’ll find them on Thursday nights at the Perry Griffin Recreation Room at 300 High Street. Listen for the beat and you’ll find them….
Find a bargain in your clothes shopping and help Hospice of Pamlico County at the same time. The Hospice Thrift Shop on Highway 55 in Bayboro is open from 10a to 4p Monday-Thursday and 10a-1p on Friday and Saturday. The shop now has spring and summer clothing for sale. You’ll also find household items, jewelry, art work and books. (You really can score some fine threads there…..) All of the proceeds go to support Hospice of Pamlico County. They’re looking for more donations of clothing, jewelry and housewares which you can drop off at the shop during business hours. For more info, contact the store manager, Bette Baldwin at 745-5033.
The Pamlico Chorale meets every Monday evening at 7p at The Oriental United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The Chorale performs in concert at least four times a year, including Spirit of Christmas weekend and opening the Croaker Festival. If you love to sing, the Chorale is the place to spend a few hours every Monday. Everyone is welcome. For more info, contact Carla Byrnes at 745-4793 or 670-4960.
Share ideas with fellow anglers. The Lower Neuse Anglers Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month, at 7p. Typically the group has met at Town Hall but while hurricane renovations are underway there, LNA will be meeting at Carl Baxley’s at 7101 Brigantine Blvd in the Sail Loft subdivision.
The Oriental Express Bicycle Club invites anyone with a bike to join them for their Recreational Ride on Saturday mornings. It winds its way through th Old Village and on to the Dolphin Point area. It’s about 8 miles and the pace is very undemanding. Conversational you might say. Just show up with bike and helmet and you’re off!
In addition to their Saturday morning recreational ride in Oriental, the Oriental Express Bicycle Club also goes on longer and faster rides on Sundays and Wednesdays. These are ‘no-drop’ rides focused on fitness and fun. For more info, including the days, locations and times, check out the Bicycle Club’s web site. or call Doug Sligh 249-3362 and Cynthia Cochran 249-0761.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets in several locations in the area throughout the week.
At Oriental Free Will Baptist Church on Ragan Road, Tuesdays at 8pm and Thursday at noon. At St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Freemason Street, Sundays at 8pm.
And at Rock of Zion Church on Hwy 306 in Grantsboro, on Fridays at 8pm.
There is also an Al-Anon group meeting Tuesdays from 8-9pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Oriental.
When you go to the bank, you can help the food bank feed those who don’t have enough to eat.
Pamlico County Fishes And Loaves is collecting canned goods and they have a drop-off point inside First Citizens Bank in Oriental. Fishes and Loaves is a cooperative effort of a number of churches and organizations in Pamlico County working to provide food to the hungry.
The Oriental Woman’s Club holds its meetings on the first Tuesday of the month at 1pm at the clubhouse at 1007 Gilgo Road. Guests are welcome. For further information contact Connie Wilkinson, 249-3658
Its first thrift store was such a success that Habitat for Humanity of Pamlico County has moved its ReStore down Hwy 55. The new address, as of mid-January 2011, is 14172 Hwy 55 in Bayboro. Hours are 10-3, Monday thru Saturday. As before, the store specializes in furnishings and fixtures for the home and the materials to help build it. Proceeds go to the Habitat efforts to build affordable housing in Pamlico County. If you have items to give to the store and you’d like the donations picked up, give the store a call at 745-1106. That’s also the number to call if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer with Habitat’s latest home construction project.
Handy with a hammer and nails? Pamlico County Senior Services needs more volunteers to help build handicap access ramps at the homes of some of Pamlico’s older residents. Senior Services provides the materials while volunteers led by Tim Balfour construct one ramp every month. Contact Tim at 745-3247 to offer a hand for the next project.
In just a few years, the prayer shawl ministry at Oriental United Methodist Church has knitted or crocheted more than 225 shawls for those in need. The group meets Thursday mornings from 10-11:30am at the church to crochet or knit shawls and pray for the recipients of them. The weekly gatherings have brought together people from all walks of life and religious faiths. (And even non-knitters; if you don’t know how to knit, stop on by and get a lesson and join in.) Contact Leigh Price at 249-1361.
In Haiti the need is still great, and here in Oriental you can still help. Oriental’s United Methodist Church continues to collect bags of dried beans and bags of rice for Haitian earthquake victims. Thanks to generous donations in January, a truckload was sent to MERCI, the Methodist disaster relief center in Goldsboro, which is sending regular shipments to Haiti. Contributions of rice and beans greatly appreciated at the Methodist Church at Freemason and Church Streets. Cash may also be dropped off at the church office. For more info, contact Nancy Huff at 249-0732.
The Pamlico Amateur Radio Society meets at Brantley’s Village Restaurant at 9am on the last Saturday of every month (except June). They invite all HAMS and those interested in amateur radio to attend. For additional information, please call Gail (Wally) Wallace, KK4ASP, at 410-804-1750 or Bill Cresswell (K20NN) at 745-1246.
Avoid the longer lines and drive to New Bern’s DMV office and take care of your driver’s license renewals at the DMV mobile unit that visits Pamlico County once every month. The big DMV RV is set up outside the County Health Department (behind the courthouse in Bayboro) on the second Thursday after the first Monday of the month. Hours are 9a-3p.
Habitat for Humanity of Pamlico County wants to help you with your spring cleaning. If you have items to donate, volunteers from the Habitat Resale Store will pick them up — and save you the trip to the Habitat thrift store in Bayboro. (You can also drop off an array of donations; small and large appliances (in working order), furniture, TV’s, building materials, and other household goods. (They don’t take mattresses or clothing.) The Habitat Resale shop is at 13584 Highway 55 in Bayboro (next to Eastern Propane). Its hours are: Mon & Tues. 9a-1p; Thurs & Fri & Sat. 9a-2p. Call 252-745-1106 .
The Pamlico County Library hosts two book clubs. The Bookworm Club meets on the third Monday of the month at 2pm. The Beach Books Club – which takes on lighter fare – gets together on the second Tuesday, also at 2pm. New members welcome. Call the library at 745-315 for more info.
US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 20-03 meets the first Wednesday each month at Fire Station # 19 on Straight Road, Oriental, at 7:30 PM. The meetings — which focus on boating safety, navigation and GPS, for instance — are open to the public. New members welcomed. For more info, contact the Auxiliary’s Peg Witt at 252-249-3619
Go take a walk! The Oriental Walking Group sets out on a series of organized walks through the village on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Meet up with walk leaders Gary and Pat Leonard at Lou Mac Park for a 9am departure. Oriental’s a great town to walk around and the walking group may help you stay disciplined about getting fit. Pedometers and water bottles provided by the Flexfit program of Heartworks. Call the Leonards for details at 249-0138 or just show up.
Friends of the Pamlico County Library meets the first Thursday of the month at 11am at the library on Highway 55 in Bayboro. This is the group of folks who help sustain the library. For info, call 745-3515.
Oriental Rotary Club meets every Monday at the Oriental Steamer starting at 6:45pm. The club does good things throughout the community….from scholarships to road clean-up. For info about the club and meetings contact Ed Braun at 745-3462.
