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Dinghy and passenger leave the town free dock at sunset. (Joe Carl photo)

The Spirit of Christmas is coming.

First up: the Light up Oriental decorating contest. Judging begins tomorrow and winners are announced Thursday evening at the Tree of Names & Lights ceremony in Lou Mac Park.

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.

9:46a The Oriental Board of Commissioners have called a special meeting for this evening at 5p.

It’s a pre-organizational meeting for the newly elected and incoming Board of Commissioners, who will be sworn in a the December 5 Town Meeting. Tonight’s meeting is at Town Hall and open to the public.

In the county, Pamlico County Commissioners meet tonight at 7p for their second monthly meeting. It’s also open to the public, at the County Courthouse Annex.

High in the mid-60s today, with rain in the forecast Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

6:37a If you’re in the area of Alligator Creek Rd or Gibbtown Rd, you’re on the Pamlico County water lines. Last evening a line was cut and water pressure was low or non-existent there and in nearby areas.

The County advises boiling your water for 24-48 hours after water pressure is restored, to kill any bacteria that might have entered the system.

Read the full notice from Pamlico County here.

4:57p Jasmine Tasty Thai is serving tonight at the Brewery, until 8p. Patrick Bliss plays from 5-7p.

Saturday, the Farmer’s Market open on Hodges Street from 8-11a.

In the afternoon, La Cocina del Coqui serves from 3-8p at the Brewery. It’s also Princess Bride Day at the Brewery, from 3-7p. Come dressed as your favorite character from the movie, play movie trivia, and watch (or join) the movie reenactments.

Sunday, The Bonafides of New Bern perform a matinee of their Fleetwood Mac Tribute at the The Old Theater at 3p. (Their Saturday evening show is sold out).

To find out what else is going, check out What’s Happening.

10:16a High today and tomorrow near 70.

This coming Sunday, daytime temps are forecast to drop 10 degrees. Low tonight in the mid 50s.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

Sad news to share: Carlton Maxwell Muse passed away last weekend. Carlton was a veteran of the Coast Guard and a commercial fisherman. He lived with his family in Little Pamlico.

Services are at 11a today at Pamlico Methodist Church.

11:17a Thursday nights at the Brewery are usually quiet affairs. Tonight is a little different.

2021 MerleFest Band Competition winners, and frequent performers at The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival, Into the Fog play the Brewery beer garden stage tonight from 5-7p.

Roadside Dogs serves out front from 3:30 – 8p.

Bring your chairs, and your jackets: tonight’s low is in the mid 50s.

This is Into the Fog:

9:32a Oriental’s next big event is also a long-standing tradition: the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Pedal.

There’s no registration, no trophies, and no spandex.

Bring yourself and your bicycle to The Bean on Hodges Street in the morning.

At 9a, you, your neighbors, some holiday visitors, a few sailors, and the occasional dog set off on a leisurely ride around town.

Visit the different marinas and boat yards, take in the fall scenery, and end up back at The Bean before 10a.

2:52p Last Thursday evening, 18 year old Abigail Bretz was in a head-on collision on Highway 55 near Walmart.

Surprising everyone, including first responders on scene, Abigail survived, although with severe injuries. After being cut from her car, she was airlifted from the scene to the ECU Medical Center.

Abigail is supposed to graduate from Pamlico County High this year. Her mother, Kalie Styron, is focused on getting her there. A GoFundMe has been setup to help Kalie and Abigail during the long recovery.

If you’d like to help the family directly, checks can be made out to ‘Abigail’s Angel’ and delivered to First Citizens Bank.

10:30a November’s meeting was a long one.

The Comprehensive Plan was sent back to the Planning Board, a public hearing for a special use permit for an artist’s studio was deferred until next month.

The full story is coming.

8:22a Oriental’s monthly Town Board Meeting is happening now at Town Hall.

Gregory Redman, the town’s auditor, is giving a report on the town’s budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Coming up is a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan, an ordinance to sell the Police Charger, and a request from the Pamlico Chapter of the Special Olympics.