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It's Tuesday April 22, 2025 Dock Quote: “The hardest thing...

News From The Village Updated Almost Daily

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Letters: Remembering David Cox:

Memories of a fellow Oriental citizen. Letters To The Editor

David R. Cox, 1937-2023:

Navy Captain, sailor, husband, father, town commissioner. The Story

The 2025 Oriental Boat Show:

Saturday was cold, Sunday's sunshine made it all feel better. The Story

PAWS Pet Parade 2025:

Banana Bandit Top Dog. The Story

Seeking STEM Speakers:

Just speak for 5 minutes about your career. Guest Columnist

Whittaker Creek Channel: Dredging and a Reroute:

Grants and community funding combine, just a little more needed. The Story

2025 SailPack Regatta:

Schools from 3 coasts and a Great Lake compete. The Story

Taking the Tension out of a Canvas Install:

A guide to installing canvas. Canvas Corner

1926 Motor Yacht Mariner III:

Almost a century on the water. The Shipping News

Navigating a Valentine's Day Gift:

Finding love's way. Captain's Blog

January 2025 Town Board Meeting:

Ordinance revision tabled, Water projects move ahead. The Story

SV Skookum Takes On The World:

Mini Globe Competitor With Pamlico Connections. The Shipping News

48 Hour Film Project - 2025:

Small Town Filmmakers on the Big Screen. The Story

Jimmy, Millard and Sam built some houses:

President Carter and Habitat For Humanity. Guest Columnist

Friends Of The Dragon 2025:

It takes a village to house a dragon. The Story

December 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Auditor gives updates, SUP burden shifted. The Story

2024 Spirit of Christmas Schedule:

What's happening, where and when. The Story

Giving Locally 2024:

Area Non-Profits That Could Use Your Donations. The Story

Zac Schnell New Acting President At PCC:

Neil Callahan is Acting VP of instruction . The Story

SV Naia:

RV world travelers become sailors. The Shipping News

Letters: Keep Oriental's Elections Non-Partisan:

A two year term for this board is enough. Letters To The Editor

The 2024 Chili Cook-off:

Ten teams spice it up. The Story

Oriental Cup 2024:

Twenty-five Boats Compete. The Story

Skip Bailey, 1947 - 2024:

Friend, home builder, lobsterman. The Story

Ol' Front Porch Transportation:

Parking, Golf Carts, Getting Around. The Story

Letters: The Latest From A Dysfunctional Town Board:

A volunteer Oriental board remains in need of a member. Letters To The Editor

Rolf Anselm, 1930 - 2024:

Artist, Gadgeteer, Inquisitive Mind. The Story

August 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Elections not changed, Board of Adjustment up in the air. The Story

Letters: Not Without a Public Vote:

Changing the year will change the terms. Letters To The Editor

Letters: The Dock Cats of Hodges Street:

A few too many felines. Letters To The Editor

July 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Short Term Dock Usage & a Dumpster Dialogue. The Story

A Long, Hot Hit Parade:

The 2024 Croaker Festival & Parade. The Story

Early Morning Lights:

Not a comet. The Story

Letters: Thank you to the Minnesott Ferry crew:

Looking out for a dog in need. Letters To The Editor

Sylvia Jane (Williams) Wright, 1942 - 2024:

Wife, mother, friend. The Story

Letters: Thanks for Saving A Life:

'An example of the best humankind''. The Story

Virginia Jenks Goodwin, 1934 - 2024:

Wife, mother, and a founding member of St. Thomas Episcopal. The Story

Basketball Sailing:

Handle Hard Better. Captain's Blog

2024 Dragon's Breath Regatta:

Thirteen Races for Thirteen Vessels. The Story

June 2024 Town Board Meeting:

New Business Application, New Deputy Finance Director. The Story

SailPack Coach Dana Magliola Named To The ICSA Hall Of Fame:

Dana receives the Outstanding Service by a Volunteer Award. The Story

Letters: Defunding Pamlico Schools?:

Two views on what's happening with schools. Letters To The Editor

May 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Statements called rumors, and how about an outdoor movie?. The Story

DANGER SHOAL: A New Sign in Whittaker Creek Channel:

Change to Whittaker Creek Channel Mark #3. The Story

Janice Frazier Coakley, 1960 - 2024:

Animal advocate, twin sister, loving wife & mother. The Story

2024 Town Wide Yard Sale:

Trinkets & Treasures. The Story

2024 Sailpack Regatta:

Collegiate sailors compete on the Neuse. The Story

Rezonings Denied, SUP Review Coming:

April Town Board Meeting 2024. The Story

Rumors Addressed, Questions Answered:

March Town Board Meeting 2024. The Story

Sailpack 2024 This Weekend:

Everything you need to know about this weekend. Guest Columnist

The 2024 Oriental In-Water Boat Show:

Motorboats, Sailboats, and a Masthead Float. The Story

Thanks to Neuse Neighbors Volunteers:

April is Volunteer Month. Letters To The Editor

2024 Pet Parade:

A pirate ship, a pun, and an impersonation. The Story

Douglas 'Doug' Wayne Gaither, 1945-2024:

Repairman, Husband, Helper. The Story

RV Park Proposed Near Whittaker Creek:

Residential to Multi-Use Rezoning Requested. The Story

Josephus "Jos" J. H. P. Muffels, 1953 - 2024:

Adventurer, Craftsman, Loving Husband. The Story

The Spring Break 'Trophy' Regatta:

Collegiate sailors train in Oriental. The Story

The 2024 Dragon Burn:

Smoke, fire, and ash. The Story

Chowder Chow-Down:

The 2024 Oriental Woman's Club Chowder CookOff. The Story

Letters: Thanks from the Friends of the Library:

Appreciation for the helping hands. Letters To The Editor

Wes Barbour and SV Summer Wind:

A boy and his sloop. The Shipping News

"You Are Wrong.":

February Town Special Meeting. The Story

Phillip Ira Sax, 1948 - 2024:

Solo sailor, celestial navigator, dear friend. The Story

Oriental's 125th Birthday Celebration Guide:

What's happening, where and when. The Story

Resignation, with Regrets:

"This was supposed to be my forever house". The Story

An Irritated Public & A Question Left Unanswered:

Febraury 2024 Town Board Meeting. The Story

Ground Breaking: A New Library Is Coming:

Work on a dedicated space begins. The Story

Worms Damage Dock, Cause Closure:

Waiting on bids, no time frame for a fix. The Story



Seagulls lined up, on the Styrontown Beach Pier. The photographer was walking slowwwwly up the pier to get the photo. (click the pic for the larger view, and to see what happened after the next step)

Tuesday April 22, 2025

9:49a A note from former Tree Board Chairman Bob Miller:

John Deaton and I were looking at street trees that have branches dying back. It appears grass and other plants around the base of the trees had been treated with a herbicide.
Tree roots at the surface and trees with thin bark will absorb herbicides, and will be damaged. Small young trees can be killed. If you use herbicides, do so with care.

Re the Tree Board, Arbor Day is coming up. Saturday April 26 is Arbor Day in Oriental.

The Oriental Tree Board will have an Arbor Day tree planting celebration and pruning demonstration at the corner of Broad & Silverbrook, at 10:00a.

The NC Forest Service and the National Arbor Day Foundation have granted Oriental the designation of TreeCityUSA for the 30th year, and will present a flag and certificate to the Oriental Tree Board at the tree planting. The NC Forest Service is bringing tree saplings to the event, free to folks like you to take home and plant.

8:22a Today hints of summer ahead: high in the mid 80s.

We recently learned that former resident David Cox passed away in 2023. Frank Roe writes in, with fond memories of David.

Friday April 18, 2025

12:45p Two community events are key parts of the Easter weekend: Saturday is an Easter Egg Hunt, 10a at Oriental United Methodist Church. Sunday morning at 6a is the Easter sunrise service at Lou Mac park. This service is a combined effort of many area churches.

Tonight at the Red Rooster/ Silos, Brant Island Strings at 7p. At the brewery beer garden tonight: the Big Jim Kohler Band, 6-8:30p, then Saturday Noah Jackson Cobb.

Warmer weather has more & more farmers/artisans at Oriental’s Farmer’s Market on Hodges St Saturday morning.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

On your calendar for next weekend, live theater returns to the Old Theater stage: Love, Loss and What I Wore plays April 25-27.

9:22a Dave and Liz Cox lived in Oriental for two decades. They arrived by sailboat, and departed to the Washington DC area a few years ago.

Their son Bowman Cox tells TownDock that Dave passed in 2023, and will have services at Arlington National Cemetery on April 24. The family submitted Dave’s story, here.

Thursday April 17, 2025

10:45a The community garden is looking for a few more gardeners. Pete Flood writes in:

The Oriental Community Garden volunteer work gathering is Friday morning at 10a. Volunteer gardeners contribute 5-10 hours a month, watering and picking vegetables. Vegetables in the raised gardens are then shared with the volunteers.

The community garden is on property across from Oriental Methodist Church, here:

9:14a The 2025 Town Wide Yard Sale is just a couple weeks off – set for Saturday May 3.

You might not think of a yard sale as an epic event, but some village residents drag out some odd & fascinating stuff. At the yard sale a couple years ago, formal wear with its final look:

You can register to sell by calling Tourism Board Chair Marsha Paplham at 252-675-5142‬. Last day to sign up is Tuesday, April 29.

Signing up gets you on the Yard Sale map – that map will be available on TownDock.

Wednesday April 16, 2025

The Oriental In-Water Boat Show is a three day event. Saturday this year was cloudy and cold. It didn’t help.

The sun came out and warmed up downtown Sunday, letting the show finish on a high note. TownDock was there.

Tuesday April 15, 2025

5:06p Cowboy puppets sitting on dogs, a canine in a tutu, and a man wearing a banana.

The 2025 PAWS Pet Parade was just another normal day in Oriental.

3:18p For your upcoming calendar: a play is soon coming to the Old Theater stage.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore is set for April 25-27.

2:50p The 2025 Hope Regala is set fro May 9 & 10. Yolanda Cristiani writes in:

Hope Regala tickets are now on sale, including the Friday BBQ event and the Saturday evening event, Boaters’ Dream Packages, sponsorship opportunities (which usually include tickets to the events), and there are a few of the $10K Golden Raffle tickets still left for sale. All are online at www.hoperegala.com or they can call the office at (252) 745-5760 extension 507. Ticket sales are open until April 21st.

Proceeds from the Regala support the mission of Hope Clinic, to bring healthcare to the medically underserved in Pamlico County.

If you go for one of the 10k Golden Raffle tix, your odds are better than in most drawings. You have a 1 in 200 chance of winning $10,000 when you get a $10k Golden Raffle ticket for the Hope Regala.

This may not be the best moment to go boating. A Small Craft Advisory in effect now through Wednesday morning.

On the Neuse, west winds 15 To 20 knots, gusts to 25 this afternoon. Tonight winds shift to northwest 10 To 15, but gusts still up To 25 knots after midnight.

Neuse River Marine Forecast
Oriental NC Forecast

Monday April 14, 2025

8:28a More warm is coming today.

The boat show weekend was a weather mixed bag. Saturday was cloudy & cool. The high was 57, but it was one of those days where it seemed even cooler. Sunday served up a reprieve: sunny & a high reaching 66. After Saturday, that sunshine delivered a lot more smiling faces at the boat show.

Today hints of summer: sunny and low 80s ahead.

Oriental NC Forecast
Oriental Weather Station
Neuse River Marine Forecast

Sunday April 13, 2025

9:08a Starting at 10a today, Captain Ross Pease will be demonstrating rope splicing. Ross does this on behalf of the Coast Guard Auxilary… he’ll be splicing in fron of the Provision Company.

Pete Newman has been growing spinach. A LOT of spinach.

There will be bags of fresh organic spinach for sale by the Casa Que Pasa taco truck on Hodges Street: $5 for a 2 lb bag.

Saturday April 12, 2025

Today is the big day for the boat show, come on downtown to see the boats (and boat stuff). Pet Parade at 11a.

Nautical Wheelers is workin’ hard too. Bill Wheeler writes in:

This afternoon in the Nautical Wheelers front yard: Honey, rice and books (plus all the usual NW things).
Allen the Bee Keeper with At Ease Bees, Local, Raw Honey. Stop by 1-3p, Taste Honey and Talk Bees. Writer and Dog Lover Jo Anna will talk with you about her book , “Lily Unleashed”. 1-4p.
Meet rice farmers and taste what they have cooked up with Carolina Gold Rice from Tidewater Grain. Share the love: Buy a 2 pound sack and get a one cup bag to give away for free.
Thursday April 10, 2025

2:17p One small town has one busy weekend ahead. The forecast is mixed: Friday cloudy and some rain likely, but then Saturday comes through with a partly sunny day, Sunday mostly sunny. Highs both days low 60s.

Today 5-8p at the brewery, La Cocina del Coqui food truck.

The Oriental Boat Show is Fri-Sat-Sun. Fri noon to 6p, Sat 10a to 6p, Sun 10a to 3p. Boats in the water and on land, and tents and tents of marine related vendors. It takes over “downtown” for the weekend.

There’s food at the boat show, plus a few steps away M&M’s Cafe hosts a Boat Show Buffet all weekend.

Friday a beer tasting noon-2p at the Provision Company, Shortway Brewing brings their craft beers in to sample. Mariposa Wine Bar will be open an extra day for the boat show weekend, Friday 3-9p (normal hours 3-9p Sat-Sun-Mon).

Friday night Ken Belangia plays the Red Rooster. At New Village Brewery, Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium truck, with Mac McWilliams playing the beer garden.

PAWS Pet Parade will have hundreds of legs, Saturday 11a, centered at Lou Mac Park. Saturday at the brewery Reno’s Food Truck, with (he’s everywhere) Ken Belangia in the beer garden.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

Wednesday April 9, 2025

8:23a This week’s cold front delivered some cool.

Overnight, down to 46. High today just near 60, then up to 70 Thursday. Highs near 70 for the weekend.

The Oriental Weather Station shows the recent temperature extremes:

Oriental NC Forecast
Oriental Weather Station
Neuse River Marine Forecast

It’s Wednesday, and Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly has new weekly specials.

Here are the Piglet deals for April 9 – 15.

Tuesday April 8, 2025

3:35p The Oriental Boat Show is this weekend. It runs Fri noon to 6p, Sat 10a to 6p and Sun 10a to 3p. The show is run by Oriental Rotary volunteers (it’s a fundraiser for Rotary’s charitable missions).

Rotary folk write in that they could do with a few more hands:

We’re requesting volunteers to help with set-up Wed at 9a, meet at The Bean, and then Sunday at 3p to help coordinate vendor load-out.

Volunteers will assemble in front of The Bean at 9a Wednesday. If you can help for a bit, it’s a good cause, and an important part of our town.

9:52a You can be a community gardener. It’s easier than plowing up and planting your own. Here’s how:

Community Gardeners meet at 4:30p today at OUMC . Contribute $20 (it goes towards the garden) and fill out a form. Volunteers are asked to contribute 5-10 hours a month, mostly watering and picking vegetables.

All of the vegetables in the raised gardens are shared with the volunteers. The harvest from the in-ground garden is contributed to PCFLO.

If you can’t make the meeting, just call Frieda at 252-249-0213.

9:01a A couple months ago, the Whittaker Creek dredging fund needed about $28,000 more. That number is getting close. Since February, over $22,500 has been raised.

Here are the numbers from the nonprofit Friends Of Whittaker Creek:

The $ thermometer:

The total cost for dredging will be $344,800. The state is proving a $258,600 grant. The remaining 25% is the part being raised by Friends Of Whittaker Creek.

The updated list of donors is here.

Just $5,529,13 to go. You can help make this happen through donating via the GoFundMe.

Monday April 7, 2025

9:45a. A new high wind for the day, 33mph recorded at the Oriental Weather Station just a few minutes ago.

9:34a There’s a lot going on this weekend. The Oriental Boat Show is Fri-Sat-Sun. The PAWS Pet Parade is Saturday.

Into that mix add the Oriental History Museum, hosting folks speaking about their careers on Saturday. Fear not, they are limited to 5 minutes each.

Museum President Lou Ostendorff writes in to explain.

7:00a Oriental gets a new restaurant this week: Gretchen’s Bistro at 807 Broad St (across from the post office).

Grand opening Wed April 9. Gretchen’s will be open Wed-Sat, 5-9p. Reservations required, 252-249-6098.

5:55a No ferry this morning. High southwest winds have created low low water levels:

We are currently suspending ferry operations due to the tide.

Water levels at Oriental down a foot, and trending lower.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING

On the Neuse: Southwest winds 15 To 20 knots, frequent gusts up to 25 knots, increasing To 20 To 25 knots, gusts to 30 this afternoon. Waves rough.

Neuse River Marine Forecast
Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

From the Oriental Weather Station, a diving barometer and rising winds:


click image for larger view

High wind so far today, 29 mph at 2:57a.

Oriental NC Forecast
Oriental Weather Station
Weather Radar

Sunday April 6, 2025

9:23a Dredging Whittaker Creek channel. The state has provided a grant of $258,600 (thanks to the efforts of Friends Of Whittaker Creek).

But to get that grant, Friends Of Whittaker Creek has to raise $86,200 in donations. It’s almost been raised… just 8 grand more and all is set. Here is the update.

Folks have traveled thousands of miles to attend Grateful Dead concerts. Today, a close facsimile performs: the Grateful Bonafides.

You just have to travel to the Old Theater.

7:32a It’s a bit breezy out there. The official word:

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON

On the Neuse today & tonight, southwest winds 15 To 20 knots, gusts to 25. Waves choppy.

The high wind so far today in Oriental, 28 mph at 2:25a.

The southwest winds do bring in warm air, high today low 80s.

Oriental NC Forecast
Oriental Weather Station
Neuse River Marine Forecast
Weather Radar

Brisk southwest winds also push water levels down.

Friday April 4, 2025

10:50a Warmer temps mean the Red Rooster is back. The Friday night season kicks off tonight with Brant Island Strings. Songs & Sweets 7p tonight at OUMC. Described as “an evening of music and fun”. If you’re well behaved, you get pie and ice cream. Tanja’s German Street Food truck at the brewery 5-8p today, and the Mad Fiddler tunes it up in the beer garden starting at 5p.

The Farmers are out in force at the Saturday morning market on Hodges St. The Oriental Dinghy Club (ODC) has their first race weekend of 2025. PHRF races start at 1, Dinghy races at 1:30p.

The Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop and other specialists from Sound Rivers are at Oriental Town Hall Saturday at 3p, sharing with residents how to become part of the Water Watch Team.

It’s Trivia Night Saturday 6p at Oriental Womans Club. Capone’s A Taste of Philly truck at New Village Brewery Saturday 3-8p. In the beer garden, Hoff n Finch start up at 5p.

The Grateful Bonafides channel the Grateful Dead sound with two shows this weekend at the Old Theater: Saturday 7p and again Sunday 3p.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

Tuesday April 1, 2025

6:34p For the first time, the Sailpack Regatta drew in a team from the west coast. There were teams from the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Gulf, even Lake Michigan.

Add a few from inland, and twenty teams competed in the 2025 Sailpack Regatta off Oriental.

8:33a Fifteen years ago today a new store opened in Oriental. It was in the Old Hotel building at the corner of Hodges & Broad streets. It had a an odd name… Nautical Wheelers. Carrying outdoor clothing and gifts, the store found an audience and grew.

A year later they moved across the street to what would become their permanent location: 411 Broad St.

Owners Bill & Camilla Wheeler have since been through two major hurricanes (Irene and Florence) and a pandemic. They’ve added wines and outdoor furniture to the mix, and a second location in New Bern. Through it all, the store has bloomed.

Today is Nautical Wheelers’ 15th anniversary. You’re invited to stop by the store and be part of the celebration.

Bill & Camilla Wheeler, by their Broad Street store:

After a cloudy start, partly sunny today and near 70. Sunnier & 70 Wednesday, Thursday 80, and Friday hints of summer with a high near 90.

Oriental NC Forecast
Neuse River Marine Forecast

Monday March 31, 2025

6:54a Saturday night’s rain dance is delivering quick results: rain already this morning, then cloudy and a 70% chance of rain tonight. On Tuesday, back to sunny & dry, and then it looks like sunny/dry will be with us through the week.

Oriental NC Forecast
Weather Radar
Oriental Weather Station
Neuse River Marine Forecast