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A deep fog covered Oriental’s harbor mid-January.

4:57p Dave Sargent at M&M’s writes in, expressing relief:

M&M’s is open 7 days a weeks, 11a until 8 to 9p ish (depends on how busy the night is).

Salty Sistas Food Truck at the brewery now til 8p. More info here.

A couple cold nights ahead… 31 tonight, sunny & 50 Saturday… Saturday night drops to 25 degrees.

4:11p The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival. It’s the biggest annual music event in Oriental, bringing in a couple thousand folks. Attendees walk about Oriental, taking in bands & performers playing on porches.

In 2020 it didn’t happen, a COVID-19 victim. But organizers feel by October 2021, things will be close enough to ‘normal’ that the festival can happen. Here’s the story…

8:47a The morning’s gray skies hint at rain, but the chance is low: only 20%. Radar suggests the rain will stay to the north of Oriental.

click radar image for animated view

High today in the mid 50s, low near 40 with SW winds at 10-15 mph.

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

3:28p The number of COVID cases in a county (or zip code) can be deceiving. Particularly when you don’t know the size of the population. Is 50 cases a high infection rate? A low rate? Depends on the size of the population.

Pamlico County has a total of 673 cases for the entire county – a county of some 13,000 people. That translates to a rate of infection of 529 per 10,000 people.

To put the numbers in perspective, zip code 28529 has a total of 196 cases – less than 28515 at 205. But 28529 has a significantly lower population than 28515. The rate of infection (per 10,000 people) in 28529 is 748. By comparison, 28515 (with a smaller population that also includes the prison) has an infection rate per 10,000 of 592.

In 28571, the COVID case rate is much lower. There are 71 cases, with an infection rate of 226 per 10,000.

TownDock.net now includes the case rate per 10,000 for each zip code. You can find it below the zip code map, along with more state data on COVID in North Carolina.

8:42a Another restaurant is closed due to COVID-19. Dave Sargent writes in:

Test results are now taking two to three days. If all goes well, M&M’s could return this weekend.

Dave Sargent tells TownDock.net that upon re-opening, it will be mandatory for all M&M’s employees to wear masks.

8:18a After a sub freezing morning, today is absolutely warm. ish. It’s 50 at this writing… mid 50s ahead.

Don’t put that warm hat away… tonight is back to a low of 31.

5:50p A few minutes ago church bells rang. Joe Geraghty did the ringing, as Oriental United Methodist Church took part in a nationwide ringing of the bells commemorating 400,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19.

3:28p There is a special memorial to COVID-19 victims today – church bells will ring out across the country this afternoon.
Churches will ring their bells at 5:30p to represent the 400,000 Americans who have died from the virus.

This will be happening in Oriental too – Oriental United Methodist Church will ring their bells 40 times today at 5:30p.

8:57a Dan Giro passed away January 9. He was a Rotary President, and simply put forth a positive spirit.

More about Dan’s life is here.

8:20a The Silos restaurant is back. From Chris Daniels:

The Silos had closed late Thursday through Saturday. Chris confirmed it was just one employee that had COVID. FYI, Chris says the “2-3” day test taken at CVS came back in 48 hours. It looks like this if you are fortunate:

4:42p It is expected to sneak below freezing tonight… low 30.

3:01p What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?

That was the question Martin Luther King asked in a speech he gave to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967. This was six months before he was assassinated.

From the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today is Martin Luther King Day.

2:02p Dogs. They’re good at persuading people. Usually it’s “give me a treat” or “take me for a walk.”

But this dog can persuade someone to sleep on the floor. Read about Tillman, the January Pet of the Month.

5:50a It’s warmer at this hour than it has been for over a week. It’s 42. OK, maybe not flip-flop weather, but it’s not below freezing. Sunny and low 50s ahead today… then back to a low near 30 tonight.

Today is Martin Luther King Day. It is a federal holiday, meaning the post office and banks are closed. The county commission meeting normally scheduled for tonight will be on Tuesday.

6:15p The high reached 53 early this afternoon – and then temperatures dived:

click image for the big view

Low tonight just below freezing – 31. Sunday through Tuesday sunny and low 50s… Wednesday forecast to warm up to the mid 50s.

11:10a If you’ve been trying to register to get the COVID vaccine, you may have found it frustrating. Phone lines at the Pamlico County Health Dept have often been busy (more phone lines are coming). When you do get through, answers have not been consistent.

TownDock has combined the latest information from the Pamlico County and North Carolina Health Departments into one article – The COVID Vaccine – What’s Up In Pamlico County.

While this article provides more information about the vaccine process, candidly… this process can still be confusing. TownDock will be seeking more answers in coming days.

FYI, so far Pamlico County has administered 540 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (that’s the first shot – a second shot follows about a month later). TownDock has added vaccine information to the COVID-19 cases tracking page – Coronavirus In North Carolina.

8:42a The Silos closed Friday afternoon. From Chris Daniels:

Chris isn’t sure when the re-opening date will be, stating “I’m waiting on test results from my staff and will reopen when it’s safe.”

When the Silos has a re-opening date, it will be on TownDock.net.

7:20a A Dense Fog Advisory In Effect Until 9am This Morning.

After that, a sunny 50 degree day is ahead.

9:41a Almost a 30 degree temperature swing expected today. Overnight the low dipped to 34… this afternoon temps expected to reach the low 60s.

Today will be a calm day to be on the water – gentle 5 knot winds from the southwest. Saturday waves return, 10-15 knot winds early, freshening to 15-20 knot west winds Saturday afternoon.

You’ll see water levels drop Saturday & Sunday from those west winds.

Not one, but two interesting food trucks at the brewery this week. Today it’s Jasmine Tasty Thai, Saturday Krab Kingz Seafood. The brews & dinner details are here.

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

3:19p Fire Chief Mike Guzzo spoke to TownDock.net about donations the department received from the Tree of Names and Lights:

Donations to the 2020 Tree of Names and Lights raised $1,605 for the fire department.

11:33a From Pamlico County Emergency Management:

The full press release is here.

10:29a If you see Keith Bruno out on the water today and tomorrow, let the man work – he’s busy pulling old crab pots out of the Neuse.

High today mid 50s, low mid 30s. Tomorrow will be the warmest day in a while – high near 60 and a low near 40.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• TownDock Weather Radar
• TownDock streams NOAA Weather Radio Online

12:31p Pamlico County Emergency Management announces the sixth death in the county from COVID-19.

There are 627 cases of coronavirus in Pamlico County, 66 of those cases were reported in the last 7 days.

There are nine more cases than yesterday. They’re in zip codes 28571, 28515, 28583, 28510, 28529, and 28560.

NC COVID Dashboard information and the zip code map are here.

12:18p The fog has finally lifted – and hour ago it was still thick “downtown” near the harbor – but clear once you got more than about 100 yards from the water’s edge.

9:35p This morning’s fog is still hanging around. Here’s the view from PecanCam at 9:40a:

Currently 38, warming up to the mid 50s later today. Light and variable winds. Small chance of rain tonight.

It’s one of those winter days. Cold(ish), rain, clouds, drizzle. This stuff can make humans grumpy.

Fortunately a high pressure system is moving in from the west, bringing clear skies this evening. That clearing will bring along some cold… low tonight 31. Then welcome sunshine Wednesday, mid 50s. Thursday and Friday even nice, highs near 60.

The Neuse will be almost flat Wednesday, with gentle 5 knot west winds.

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

2:53p Knots, hitches, and fenders. Capt. John Rahm shares his boater resolutions – and a demonstration – in the latest Captain’s Blog.

2:15p Pamlico County Health Department (PCHD) has delivered all of their current supply of the COVID-19 vaccine to county residents. But more is on the way. From Pamlico County Medical Director Dr. Stephanie Carperos:

10:13a It’s a 50s kind of week, meteorologically speaking. High temps are forecast to range from to low to high 50s through Sunday. The only rain in the forecast is likely to happen tonight (60% chance) and tomorrow (50% chance). After that, it’s sunny or mostly sunny for the rest of the week.

On the Neuse, light N winds at 5 kts. Winds are NE at 5 kts on the Pamlico Sound.

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

7:41a The overnight low reached 29. It will “warm up” to near 50 this afternoon. If you’re looking for a warm day break, this coming Friday is forecast to reach 60 degrees.

The 9a outdoor church service at Lou Mac park is cancelled this morning – freezing temperatures the reason. OUMC will have services inside the (heated) sanctuary today at 11a.

On the Neuse light winds today and for the next few days.

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