It's Saturday September 20, 2025 Dock Quote: “Sometimes serendipity is...
News From The Village Updated Almost Daily
Sailor, man of faith. The Story
Sandy Winfrey fills vacancy. The Story
The role of a commissioner in a healthy town government. Letters To The Editor
Mother, wife, respected realtor. The Story
A calm weekly 'race' on the waters off Oriental. The Story
An attempt to change the rules on how it's done. The Story
Husband, father & fisherman. The Story
Father, husband, sailor, pilot, entrepreneur. The Story
Commissioner Roe writes in. Letters To The Editor
A Commissioner asks voters to dig deeper. Letters To The Editor
Resident makes plea for all new Board. Letters To The Editor
Voting for November town elections will be in person only. The Story
Oriental's key art gallery is now on Broad Street. The Story
Cruising, with a flock and a mission. The Shipping News
Born to be a pirate. The Shipping News
Five bands, 95 degrees. The Story
45 years of Croakerfest. The Story
How to file to become a candidate. Letters To The Editor
Driving - and reviving - a classic highway. The Story
Pamlico County Library is open for business. The Story
Eight pounds of pure survival. Pet Of The Month
An inspired boat restoration. The Shipping News
Master woodworker, engineer, loving family man. The Story
Folk & Americana, Jazz & Bluegrass. The Story
Husband, sailor, traveler & friend. The Story
Memories of a fellow Oriental citizen. Letters To The Editor
Navy Captain, sailor, husband, father, town commissioner. The Story
Saturday was cold, Sunday's sunshine made it all feel better. The Story
Banana Bandit Top Dog. The Story
Just speak for 5 minutes about your career. Guest Columnist
Grants and community funding combine, just a little more needed. The Story
Schools from 3 coasts and a Great Lake compete. The Story
A guide to installing canvas. Canvas Corner
Almost a century on the water. The Shipping News
Finding love's way. Captain's Blog
Ordinance revision tabled, Water projects move ahead. The Story
Mini Globe Competitor With Pamlico Connections. The Shipping News
Small Town Filmmakers on the Big Screen. The Story
President Carter and Habitat For Humanity. Guest Columnist
It takes a village to house a dragon. The Story
Auditor gives updates, SUP burden shifted. The Story
What's happening, where and when. The Story
Area Non-Profits That Could Use Your Donations. The Story
Neil Callahan is Acting VP of instruction . The Story
RV world travelers become sailors. The Shipping News
A two year term for this board is enough. Letters To The Editor
Ten teams spice it up. The Story
Twenty-five Boats Compete. The Story
Friend, home builder, lobsterman. The Story
Parking, Golf Carts, Getting Around. The Story
A volunteer Oriental board remains in need of a member. Letters To The Editor
Artist, Gadgeteer, Inquisitive Mind. The Story
Elections not changed, Board of Adjustment up in the air. The Story
Changing the year will change the terms. Letters To The Editor
A few too many felines. Letters To The Editor
Short Term Dock Usage & a Dumpster Dialogue. The Story
The 2024 Croaker Festival & Parade. The Story
Not a comet. The Story
Looking out for a dog in need. Letters To The Editor
Wife, mother, friend. The Story
'An example of the best humankind''. The Story
Wife, mother, and a founding member of St. Thomas Episcopal. The Story
Handle Hard Better. Captain's Blog
Thirteen Races for Thirteen Vessels. The Story
New Business Application, New Deputy Finance Director. The Story
Dana receives the Outstanding Service by a Volunteer Award. The Story
Two views on what's happening with schools. Letters To The Editor
Statements called rumors, and how about an outdoor movie?. The Story
It’s the Saturday morning HarborCam video view.
1:44p On the Old Theater stage, two stand up comics. Sid Davis kicks off the night, then Paul Snyder. 7p, tonight.
At the brewery, Jasmin Tasty Thai is serving, with Shawn Aldridge playing the beer garden.
Saturday morning the Farmer’s Market is on Hodges. The oddly epic Greens Creek Challenge Regatta is on the creeks of Oriental most of the day, all based out of Bow To Stern. Nautical Wheelers has wine tastings Saturday at 2 & 3p. At New Village Brewery… kittens. Purring Angels Cat Rescue has a kitten adoption event, 3-7p. Taylor & Sons BBQ food truck at the brewery, while the Mad Fiddler fiddles in the beer garden.
Sunny & near 80 both weekend days. Light winds 5-10 Saturday on the Neuse, freshening to 10-15 Sunday.
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
On the Atlantic, no real concerns (for the moment). Tropical Storm Garbrielle will reach Hurricane strength over the weekend, but Gabes is staying way away, mid Atlantic. There is a tropical wave being watched, but if development occurs it appears at least a week away.
9:21a Known by fellow sailors as Bill or Will, William Schmitt lived simply… aboard a Cape Dory 27. A bike ride in August left him with injuries from which he did not recover.
More about William’s life is here.
3:14p Tonight’s Evening at the Museum talk: Communications, HAM Radio and the Hunt for Amelia Earhart.
Bill Michne presents… come out for the presentation & discussion tonight at 6:30p.
Maybe there will be an update on the Amelia Earhart case.
9:40a On Saturday, folks will go out on small sailboats, for an annual Oriental tradition. It’s called the Greens Creek Challenge, a regatta for sailboats 20 ft and under. You can steer to more info here.
Friday night comedy comes to the Old Theater stage. Sid Davis opens, then Paul Snyder (one ticket, two separate comedy acts).
Here’s Sid Davis:
The show is 7p Friday, Old Theater.
Storm Gabrielle has 50 mph winds, still forecast to steer way way east of us. There is now only one tropical wave to follow on the Atlantic, just emerging off Africa.
For the first half of September, all quiet on the Atlantic.
Today it is looking a bit different. Invest 92 has become Tropical Storm Gabrielle. Gabrielle is expected to reach hurricane strength, but the forecast track should keep the storm out at sea, even passing east of Bermuda.
There is a a tropical wave located near the Cabo Verde Islands, plus a tropical wave forecast to move off the coast of Africa by Friday. Both have potential to develop into tropical storm systems.
• Hurricane Center
• Tropical Storm Gabrielle Tracking Chart
• Tropical Storm Gabrielle Forecaster’s Discussion & Computer Models
• Tropical Storm Gabrielle Public Advisory
10:10a The Oriental Cup Regatta is Oct 10-12 – race day Saturday Oct 11.
The info and how to participate at orientalcupregatta.com
8:37a It is said about circus rides and elections.
It’s true about high water too. When will it end?
Thanks to west winds, high waters finally end today:
8:11a Invest 92 is about to hatch. From NHC:
Right behind Invest 92, another tropical wave is just off the coast of Africa:
4:02p The tropical disturbance is now Invest 92, with a 50% chance of being declared a tropical depression (or storm) in the next 48 hours. It’s too early for confidence, but initial models suggest it may stay out at sea:
More info in the Hurricane Center
9:05a A vacant board seat was filled at the September town board meeting. Here’s the meeting report.
8:14a We’ve had 2.35 inches of rain far in September. Almost all of it was overnight: 1.92 inches since midnight.
More rain today likely, maybe Tuesday too:
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
7:37a That potential storm system, now has a lil’ more potential. From NOAA/NHC:
Here we are… September 15, and not a single named storm on the Atlantic this month. It doesn’t happen often.
The last time there were no named storms by the 15th was 1992. That year, the first named storm, Bonnie, didn’t form until September 18. It was the farthest into September the Atlantic had gone without a named storm since naming began… in 1950.
That record may be broken (or equaled) this week.
3:58p Live tunes, summer movies, and BBQ. You can get it in Oriental this weekend.
Catch Hoff n’ Finch 5:30-8p and grab nachos or enchiladas from Taqueria San Luis from 4-8p, tonight at the Brewery. Down the road, the Mad Fiddler plays the Red Rooster bar starting at 7p.
On Saturday morning, find local creations at the Oriental Farmer’s Market (8-11a).
Saturday evening, pick up BBQ at the Brewery to support PCFLO – Pamlico County Fishes & Loaves Outreach. Noah Jackson Cobb provides live tunes in the beer garden, 6-8:30p. Mariposa is open for wine, charcuterie and desserts 3-8p.
Sunday morning, OUMC holds services riverside in Lou Mac Park at 8:30a. The Old Theater is showing Captain Ron at 3p – admission by donation. Drop by the Oriental Deli from 5-7p to pick up a burger or hot dogs and support the South Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department.
The weekend details, and more, are in What’s Happening.
11:50a Mariposa has new hours starting this weekend: Saturday, Sunday & Monday mornings 7-10a (bakery) and evenings 3-8p (wine bar).
The folks at Casa Que Pasa on Hodges St (aka the taco Tower) are open Fri-Sun, 8a-2p.
Sunny and 80 today… still windy, 10-15 mph from the northeast, with gusts to 25. Winds should get a bit calmer Sunday (10-15 without the brisk gusts), and then finally easy 5-10 stuff next week. Water levels will stay high until winds calm a bit.
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
That tropical wave off Africa is looking a bit more stormish:
11:41a It’s coming to the Old Theater screen this Sunday:
Showtime 3p Sunday Sept 14, at Oriental’s Old Theater.
6:33a Hodges Street will briefly be closed to traffic this morning.
Members of SPVFD Station 19 will raise the flag – flown over the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA – and observe a moment of silence at 8:46a.
They commemorate those who died on 9/11.
5:17p September 10 is the historical peak of hurricane season. But not this hurricane season.
There have been no named storms in the Atlantic during the first ten days of September. This hasn’t happened this century… the last time it occurred was in 1992.
The slow September could be about to change:
3:51p David White was a town Commissioner for ten years, from 2013 – 2023.
In Letters to the Editor, White writes about the roles of staff and Commissioners.
10:26a The Pamlico News and TownDock.net are putting together a Candidates Forum for late October.
Both publications co-sponsored the last Candidate Forum, when there were also 11 candidates: 9 for Commissioner and 2 for mayor. That was in 2013.
The forum is October 23, 6-7:30p at The Old Theater. Pamlico Community College President Zac Schnell is the moderator. Later this month, residents will be asked to submit questions for the candidates. It is free to attend.
Invitations were emailed to candidates from TownDock and The Pamlico News. An RSVP is requested by 5p Thursday, September 11.
Thursday evening’s The Gathering has been cancelled. The next one is schedule for Tuesday Sept 22.
6:31p At Town Hall tonight, Sandy Winfrey has been voted to serve as commissioner, filling the vacancy created by Frank Roe’s resignation. The vote was 3 to 1. Voting for Winfrey, commissioners Breena Litzenberger, Charlie Overcash and Allen Price. Voting against, commissioner Bonnie Crosser.
Winfrey is a former town commissioner.
12:45p Tonight is the September Town Board meeting, 6p at Town Hall. On the agenda, the vacancy created by board member Frank Roe’s resignation, effective at the end of August.
There are events coming up this week & weekend in our fair village. Thursday night the Evening At The Museum series continues at Oriental History Museum…. Fred Read presents “How to Use a Sextant”. It starts at 6:30p.
Saturday Jim Kelleberger gets out his big grill to cook a pig… it is a fundraiser for PCFLO. It’s at New Village Brewery, $15 plate, serving starts at 5p. Noah Cobb adds tunes.
Sunday is the beginning of “2nd Sunday Cinema” at the Old Theater. The Old Theater folks are making a cinema statement… on the big screen will be Captain Ron. Showtime 3p.
Sunday evening is a fundraiser for Fire Station 19, 5 to 7p at Oriental Deli on Broad St. Sit down and take out dinner at Deli available. Proceeds to help purchase protective equipment for our volunteer firefighters.
8:45a Brisk northeast & north winds are with us a few days:
With 20 To 25 knots (gusts to 30) on the Neuse… these northeast winds are pushing up water levels:
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
7:17a We’re fortunate kids this morning. Invest 91 is gonzo… ‘tis all quiet on the Atlantic.
This is the entire text of the current tropical storm outlook:
8:22a Invest 91 now decreased to just a 30% chance of developing.
6:42a A couple days back, Invest 91 appeared to be an imminent tropical storm system. The National Hurricane Center had it at a 90% chance of development.
This morning, it’s more of a maybe:
The next storm name on tap is Gabrielle.
5:25p Good news from New Village Brewery. All fixed, they are back open Saturday 2-9p.
3:31p Highs near 90 Saturday, dropping to near 80 on Sunday with a 50% chance of rain.
The Brewery is closed Friday, but there’s still live music to be found tonight.
Tonight, the Will & Tony Show start playing at 7p at the Red Rooster bar (behind the Silos).
Saturday morning, the bakery at Mariposa is open from 6-11a. Saturday is now the main day that Mariposa sells all kinds of bread, sourdough, French, ciabatta rolls, and more. The Farmer’s Market on Hodges Street gets started at 8a and runs until 11.
Casa Que Pasa (aka the taco Tower) is open Fri-Sun, 8a-2p.
The Brewery reopens Saturday, open 2 -9p, with Roadside Dogs serving from 5-8p.
Stop in at the Oriental History Museum to see their latest exhibition on the History of Sailing in Oriental from 1-4p. Mariposa reopens from 3-9p with wines, charcuterie and dessert.
Sunday is OUMC’s riverside service at Lou Mac Park at 8:30a.
It’s all in What’s Happening.
3:02p Spandex Alert: You may notice colorful arrows on street signs around town. They are directional guides to bicyclists who are participating in Bike MS, a 2-day cycling event based in New Bern.
Bike MS raises funds to support people living with multiple sclerosis. Some of the bicyclists are on shorter routes that keep them near New Bern, but others choose longer rides (up to 100 miles). The “bikers” on the 75 & 100 mile routes will be coming through our town over the weekend.
One of those tough riders is Oriental’s Julia Tingle, who will be pedaling miles for the cause. You can donate to show your support (it all goes to fight MS).
1:14p Tonight’s Evening at the Museum talk: how Oriental became the Sailing Capital of North Carolina.
Museum president Lou Ostendorff invites you to learn more about how Oriental came to be a destination for sailing.
Members of the local sailing clubs are encouraged to come out and join the discussion tonight at 6:30p.
Lili Bacon with New Village Brewery writes in:
11:17a ‘Tis the 4th of September. Often in the first week in September, the Atlantic has multiple tropical systems underway. Today, the Atlantic is comparably almost quiet.
There is a disturbance, just now declared as Invest 91. It’s likely to become a tropical depression in the next few days.
From NOAA/NHC:NOAA puts out a long-range tropical hazards outlook every week, showing predicted activity over the next 14 days. The latest shows just a couple areas of concern.
Perhaps not this year, but September 10 is the statistical peak of hurricane season.
3:18p In one month, the porches of Oriental host The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival. Twenty-eight musical acts take over for two days: October 3 & 4.
Craft vendors set up in Lou Mac Park. Local restaurants and non-profits provide the food. It takes volunteers to make it happen.
Prime Time – who serve up Cuban Black Beans and Rice every year – is need of a few willing souls to help their cause.
Specifically they need kitchen and food booth help. There’s also room for those that can help set up and tear down. And if you have some baked goods you’d like to donate, they’d be happy to take those, too.
Click here to find out what’s needed when and where. Contact PrimeTime’s director Debora Steenson at director@primetimepamlico.org if you can help.
9:22a There is a potential malted beverage crisis brewing in our fair village.
Lili Bacon with New Village Brewery writes in:
Here’s what’s up at the brewery… if they can open this weekend.
2:17p Just off the coast of Africa is a tropical wave. It’s looking like it has stormy potential:
A storm system that forms in this part of the Atlantic typically takes 10 to 14 days to reach the US east coast (that’s IF the system even makes it to the US east coast).
There are long long term models that show this trending north (staying offshore), others showing it staying south of us. But long long term models have more value as a parlor game than actual useful info. If a tropical depression (or even an Invest) forms, that’s when there will be useful tracking information.