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Sturdy souls braved Friday evening’s cool weather to join the Kayak Flotilla. TownDock was there. (Click for the gallery view.)

10:18a It’s warm. 64 degrees at this writing, with a high near 70 forecast.

It’s a bit warmer than Santa is used to, but he’s still coming. Today.

Santa and a bunch of Christmas(eee) entrants will all flow down Broad and Hodgses Streets… the Spirit Of Christmas parade starts at 1p.

The Spirit Of Christmas Saturday schedule is here.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar

3:45p Spirit Of Christmas is underway. Luminaria will light the way alongside key roads tonight.

The New Bern Yacht Club is visiting – lighting up the harbor with decorated yachts. At 5p the Lighted Kayak parade and lighting of the Christmas Star at the harbor.

7p tonight Pamlico Chorale Performs at the Oriental United Methodist Church. 7:30p is Holiday Lip Sync at The Silos.

Saturday 1p is the Spirit Of Christmas parade. It’s all in What’s Happening.

1:20p Newly elected Commissioners were sworn in at Tuesday’s monthly Board meeting. Here’s the report.

4:37p The Spirit of Christmas begins tonight.

Meta Jones lights the Tree of Names and Lights at Lou Mac Park, and the Pamlico Chorale sings carols in the park.

It’s happening at 5:30p by the waterfront.

Find out what else is going on this weekend in The Spirit of Christmas Schedule.

9:49a There’s a public notice included with your Town of Oriental water bill this month. It might seem a bit alarming at first glance.

Is something wrong with your drinking water? Well, no. It’s a bureaucracy thing.

On the notice is a hand-written note from Public Works Director Andrew Cox explaining what happened. It’s good information for the state department that monitors Oriental’s water quality, but for residents it may not mean much.

Town Manager Diane Miller explained what happened at the Tuesday Town Board Meeting:

That’s all. A broken bottle during testing.

No contaminants were found in the drinking water.

A new sample has been sent to the lab.

11:14a The Spirit of Christmas Schedule is here.

Two notable changes:

• The winners of the Light Up Oriental contest will be announced Friday night at the star lighting on Hodges Street, instead of Thursday night at the Tree of Names & Lights ceremony.

• There is no Christmas Cantata at The First Baptist Church on Hodges Street this year. Instead, stop by Saturday for snacks, home-baked goods, and a Community Blessing on Saturday. Details for both are in the Spirit of Christmas Schedule.

The Live Nativity on Saturday afternoon is still in need of a few youngsters to fill out the ranks. From Children’s Theater director Yolanda Cristiani:

Contact Yolanda Cristiani at 1996ctw@gmail.com or just show up at the last few rehearsals. There’s still time to join the Spirit of Christmas parade and help out with the town luminaria.

1:57p Looking for that Spirit of Christmas Schedule? The full details are coming.

Until then, here’s the executive summary:

Wednesday, December 6:
• Last day of judging for the Light Up Oriental decorating contest.

Thursday, December 7:
• Lighting of the Tree of Names and Lights in Lou Mac Park around 5p, including carols with the Pamlico Chorale.

Friday, December 8:
• Luminaries deployed around town
• Oriental Business Open Houses
• Lighted Engineless Flotilla in the Harbor ~ 5p
• Lighting of Christmas Star at the Harbor ~ 5:15p
• Light Up Oriental decorating contest winners announced
• Holiday Lip Sync at 8p at The Silos

Saturday, December 9:
• Breakfast with Santa at Brantley’s
• Kid’s free gingerbread house decorating at Brantley’s
• Jingle Bell Fun Run at 10a
• Business Open Houses
• Christmas Parade at 1p
• Holt’s Chapel Community Center Celebration at 2p
• Hot Chocolate at the Sargent Boat House at 3p
• Live Nativity at 3:30p

There’s still time to sign up, help out, or get involved.

10:43a This morning’s Town Board meeting saw a change in the Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners Sandy Winfrey and David White did not run in the last election, ending their time on the Board. Mayor Belangia presented both with plaques for their service.

Sworn in were returning Commissioners Charlie Overcash, Allen Price, and Frank Roe, along with newly elected Commissioners Breena Litzenberger and Bonnie Crosser.

The new Board discussed Auxiliary Board liaison assignments, a potential future change in meeting times, and moved several agenda items to their next regular board meeting in February.

A full report is coming.

10:59a There’s a parade this coming weekend. The Spirit of Christmas parade, Saturday Dec 9 at 1p.

Parade Master Paul Fairbanks is here with a message for creative readers like you:

Visit or call Village Hardware, or sign up online at this link to enter yourself, your friends, your trailer or golf cart in the Spirit of Christmas Parade. Parade Master Paul will be in touch.

The Spirit of Christmas is coming.

First up: the Light up Oriental decorating contest. Judging begins tomorrow and winners are announced Friday evening at the kayak flotilla and star lighting on Hodges Street.

All things Spirit of Christmas can be found here.

2:50p The end of an era – as a phrase it may seem cliché. But in this instance, it fits.

Since 2009 Village Gallery has provided a beautiful and active location for artists to show their work. It’s been a key part of Oriental.

Later this month, that will come to an end. Gallery founder and owner Judy Wayland writes in with more.

10:34a Today is the last day of the 2023 hurricane season – it officially runs from June 1 through Nov 31. This year was kind re hurricanes – most storms stayed out mid-Atlantic.

Only one hurricane made a US landfall this year – Hurricane Idalia – arriving as a category 3 storm Aug. 30 at the Florida panhandle. (After an overland route, it rained on us.)

Locally, Tropical Storm Ophelia visited Sept 23, making landfall near Emerald Isle. We got wind & rain, but nothing too memorable.

Here are all the storms of 2023 on one graphic (note all the Atlantic only tracks):

12:16p Dr. Jim Ross has served Pamlico Community College as president since 2016. During his tenure, the college has won national awards and added key new programs.

Dr. Ross is retiring.

9:56a It’s nearly December. Need to get a jumpstart on your holiday spirit? Friday evening may provide.

The Pamlico Community Band performs an hour-long program of holiday favorites Friday, Dec 1. There’s no fee to get in – just bring your holiday cheer to St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church at 7:30p.

Last night, temps dipped down to 26. Today high is forecast to get to the mid 40s, then drop back down to near 30 tonight. Warmer weather is predicted tomorrow: a high in the mid 50s, rising to the mid 60s by the weekend.

4:40p Turkey costumes. Turkey feathers.

It was the 2023 Turkey Pedal – right here.

10:17a It’s the holiday season of getting – and giving.

While making out your lists this year, consider the nearby non-profits that help out locally. Those that have a direct impact on the community.

If you’re giving this year, give locally.

High today near 50. If you have sensitive plants – or boats – we’re going well below freezing tonight.

It’s forecast to be in the mid-twenties overnight. Northwest winds at 10-15 mph (with gusts up to 25mph) will add to the chill.

Overnight lows are expected to rise later this week – up to the mid 50s.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar

4:41p Over 500 wheels. Crisp air. Sunshine. It’s become an Oriental tradition: The Annual Thanksgiving morning Turkey Pedal.

Thanksgiving 2023 was the highest attended ever, some 250 riders. TownDock’s Video crew was there:

9:59a Spirit of Christmas is right around the corner. What is the Spirit of Christmas?

During the second weekend in December, Oriental goes all out for the holidays with a parade, seasonal lights, decorating contests, flotillas, a tree & a star lighting, and business open houses.

It’s driven by volunteers and those who want to make the season special.

Find out what’s coming – and how you can join in or help out with the 2023 Spirit of Christmas.

8:17a Happy Thanksgiving Day dear reader.

Sunny. Dry. Today’s high might reach 60.

See ya out there for a bike ride.

Word is, you forgot to get apple cider and sweet potatoes. The Piglet is open today til 1p to save your reputation.

2:10p TownDock.net co-founder Melinda Penkava-Smith passed away Thursday, Nov 9. You can read about her life here.

Services will be held in spring, 2024.

9:56a Two-tenths of an inch. That’s how much rain we’ve seen this morning.

Skies were briefly clear this morning, but the rain will continue into the afternoon.

What does that mean for tomorrow? Clear and cool weather for the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Pedal.

The Bean will open in the morning as scheduled, and close “noon-ish.”

In consideration of last minute holiday grocery needs, the Piggly Wiggly is staying open until 9p tonight.

And for those super last minute needs, the Piglet is open Thanksgiving Day 7a – 1p tomorrow.

7:34a Today at nine, St. Peter Catholic Church opens the doors on their annual Gourmet Bake Sale.

Pick up cookies, cakes, breads and other desserts for your Thanksgiving meal. St. Peter is on White Farm Rd. The sale runs from 9a – 1p.

Monday evening, the Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting. The purpose: discuss the various town boards & their functions, and the duties of Commissioners within town government and as board liaisons.

One topic that came up: moving monthly meeting times back to the evenings. Two years before, they were at 7p.

Though no decisions will be made until the December 5 Town Board meeting, Commissioners have tentatively agreed to begin a six month trial of evening meetings.

Meaning that in January 2024, Town Board meetings will likely be held at 6p (not 7p like before) on Tuesday evenings – at least for the first half of the year.