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A barge, a fishing trawler, and those bright orange fenders. It’s a common weekend scene in Oriental’s harbor. The barge has been digging out the channel for the Oriental Yacht Club. The fenders belong to fishing trawler Lillie Jane unloading at the Garland Fulcher docks.

9:45a You may have noticed a lot of shrimp trawlers out on the river lately. TownDock visited fisherman Keith Bruno to find out more:

The disturbance off Africa, Invest 97, is looking less likely to become a tropical storm system. From NHC:

• Atlantic Tropical Storm Outlook
• Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

Plumes of smoke over the water are a usual thing around Oriental, especially when looking out from Lou Mac Park to the bombing range in the Neuse.

But the smoke seen this morning was not in its usual place: it rose above Buccaneer Bay. Check out the scene, and the response from fire fighters here.

8:36a That tropical wave just off Africa has continued to develop… it is now being tracked as Invest 97. Here are two early views of the potential forecast track:

This disturbance has a medium chance of becoming tropical depression later this week. The next name on tap for the 2022 season is Danielle, followed by Earl, Fiona and Gaston.

• Atlantic Tropical Storm Outlook
• Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

The final performance of Who Killed Mr. O’Blatherskite is today at 3p, on the Oriental Old Theater stage.

More 90+ degree heat today. It gets a bit worse mid-week, reaching the mid nineties. Then next weekend a break may be in store… cooler mid 80s highs are forecast for Saturday & Sunday.

It’s been quiet on the Atlantic, but that could be about to change. From NHC:

This disturbance isn’t even an Invest yet, but there is an initial indication of a probable track:

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Hurricane Center
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
• TownDock streams NOAA Weather Radio Online

Near 90 and heat index values above 100 today. Light and variable winds becoming SE winds at 10 mph this afternoon. Very slight chance of rain later today.

Anita’s Authentic Taqueria Food Truck at the Village Brewery, a new artist at the Village Gallery, and a play at The Old Theater.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out What’s Happening.

5:07p Teresa Badger was an educator for Pamlico County Schools for 30 years and a driving force in the restoration of Holt’s Chapel Community Center. She passed away August 1. Her services with be Saturday & Sunday in New Bern. More about the life of Teresa Jones Badger is here.

10:42a A warm August weekend ahead. Mostly sunny, temps near 90, and winds out of the south / southeast up to 10 mph.

A dead railroad baron, a motley crew of suspects, and a murder in need of solving. Who Killed Mr. O’Blatherskite is an interactive comedy where the suspects and the audience try to figure out whodunnit.

Performances are at the Old Theater Friday and Saturday at 7p, and Sunday at 3p. Get your tickets online here or pick them up in Oriental at Nautical Wheelers on Broad Street.

Visit with The Village Gallery’s August Artist of the Month, Judy Crane, Saturday from 2 – 5p. Crane is known for her soothing landscapes and calming palette.

Want to know what’s going on int Oriental? It’s all in What’s Happening.

12:10p An excavator sold out from under the town and a contractor to take on restoration of the Net House on Oriental’s harbor.

It’s all in the August Town Meeting Report.

4:10p There was a Covid exposure at New Village Brewery last weekend. Lili writes in:

The Brewery will remain open during regular hours, and still have music and food trucks.

Find out about the new changes and the upcoming beers and food trucks here.

11:01a Judy Crane is the August artist of the month at The Village Gallery. View a preview of her work here and then visit her in person this Saturday from 2-5p at The Village Gallery.

11:06a South Avenue and the pier at Lou Mac Park often host a handful of fishermen and women on any given day. They’re seen casting lines from the end of the pier or from the curve in the road where South Avenue becomes Vandemere Street.

On Monday, one such lucky person reeled in a Red Drum from the Lou Mac Park Pier. It’s estimated to be around 40lbs. Congratulations to fisherman Hunter Wooten:

After 6 years of waiting, the Net House restoration project may finally move forward: after 10 rejections, Town Manager Diane Miller reported at the Town Board Meeting that a bid has finally come through. More coming in the meeting report.

Hot and hotter again today: high near 90, heat index in the mid 100s. It is forecast to remain mostly sunny and near 90 for the rest of the week.

5:21p Tomorrow morning at 8a, Commissioners gather at Town Hall for the monthly Town Board Meeting.

Check out the August agenda here.

8:41a Just under an inch of rain fell in the Village yesterday. Today, not so much – there’s only a 20% chance of it showing up.

It’ll be near 90 and mostly sunny, with a heat index around 100. Winds out of the Southwest at 10-15 mph.

Friday and Saturday, the Old Theater hosts the interactive comedic western Who Killed Mr. O’Blatherskite? You can buy your tickets online or at Nautical Wheelers.

The New Bern Historical Society is also looking for a few ghosts to help out with the annual New Bern Ghostwalk in October. Auditions are August 6. Find out more here.

8:01a The heat of summer. It has TownDock crew hiding from the mid day sun.

At Sailcraft Service they are closing early Fridays for the remainder of summer. From Jennifer Pawlikowski:

The heat is on again today. HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11A THIS MORNING TO 8P THIS EVENING
Today sunny, highs mid 90s, with heat index values up to 111.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse Water Levels
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

While we’re overheated, lets look forward to a cooler month. October has some of Oriental’s most revered events.

Sept 30-Oct 1 is the Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival. The following weekend, Sat Oct 8, is the Oriental Classic Car Show. The Chili Cook-Off is Oct 22. And here is a tentative date – the Classic Car Poker Run is likely to run Sat Oct 29.