It's Monday May 13, 2024 Dock Quote: “Time flies like...
News From The Village Updated Almost Daily
Upcoming Events
- Mother's Day Tribute with Dee Dee King & Friends - May 12
- This Week @ New Village Brewery, May 9-12
- The One-Off Book Club - May 14
- Plein Air Art Festival in Oriental - May 14 & 16
- Community Interfaith Youth Group - May 14
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
Anna Ice, 1938 - 2024:
Loving friend, mother, and helper. The Story
48 Hour Film Project - 2024:
Small Town Filmmakers on the Big Screen. The Story
Alan Herlands, 1949 - 2023:
Family Man, Loving Husband, Commissioner. The Story
Winterization 2.0:
Get Your Boat Ready For Freezing Temps. Captain's Blog
A More Accessible Oriental:
Public input wanted. Letters To The Editor
Gerry Crowley, 1944 - 2023:
Commodore, Sailor, Volunteer, Friend. The Story
Dragons Ring in 2024:
A new dragon joins the run. The Story
Friends Of The Dragon 2024:
It takes a village to house a dragon. The Story
Pauline and SV Elektra:
Powered by wind, sun, and music. The Shipping News
The Nativity, A Few Carols, & Lots of Lights:
The other side of The Spirit of Christmas. The Story
2023 Spirit of Christmas Parade:
Candy, kids, and Santa. The Story
Barbara Gaines, 1937 - 2023:
Mother, educator, adventurous spirit. The Story
2023 December Town Board Meeting:
Two new Commissioners & legal questions about liaison position. The Story
2023 Spirit of Christmas Schedule:
What's happening, where and when. The Story
Village Gallery Is Closing Dec 24:
Gallery Founder Judy Wayland Writes In. The Story
PCC President Retiring:
Dr. Jim Ross retires. The Story
2023 Turkey Pedal:
500 wheels and a flock of turkeys. The Story
Giving Locally 2023:
Area Non-Profits That Could Use Your Donations. The Story
The 2023 Spirit of Christmas is Coming:
How you can help out or join in. The Story
Melinda Penkava-Smith, 1959 - 2023:
Journalist, NPR Reporter, Rock DJ, Gardener, Wife & Friend. The Story
Bradley Scott Pickard, 1973 - 2023:
Adventure seeker & loving father. The Story
Election Results 2023:
Price, Roe, Litzenberger, Overcash, Crosser elected. The Story
Meet the 2023 Oriental Town Board Candidates:
The candidates up for election Nov 7. The Story
The Coati & The Mermaid:
A ring-tailed crew member not seen before. The Shipping News
A Library Building by the Numbers:
$2.159 million raised so far. The Story
4:10p White / Brown Goods pickup in Oriental is Saturday, May 11.
What are white / brown goods?
Appliances and furniture. Couches, chairs, appliances, tables, mattresses, bed headboards & frames, yard furniture and boxes.
They need to be curbside tomorrow before 7a. Curbside tonight might be better. Pickup starts early and there’s only one pass.
2:22p A book sale, a Mother’s Day tribute, and a Gala for charity. It’s all happening this weekend.
At 5p tonight, food truck All About Churros serves up empanadas and churros at The New Village Brewery. Sticks & Strings play in the beer garden with guest Helt Oncale at 6p.
Down the road at The Red Rooster, The Mad Fiddler is on Bantam Stage at 7p.
Hope Clinic’s BBQ fundraiser starts at 6p tonight, with a preview of the silent auction items.
Get fresh eggs, soaps, and greens at the Oriental Farmer’s Market Saturday morning, 8-11a. Friends of The Pamlico County Library have their ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ book sale from 10a – 2p in the library parking lot in Bayboro.
The Mad Fiddler plays in the Brewery beer garden Saturday at 5p, and Roadside Dogs Food Truck serves on site from noon to 7p.
Saturday night’s Hope Regala starts at 5:30p. (Both Hope Clinic weekend events are sold out.)
Mother’s Day is Sunday. Dee Dee King & Friends host a musical Mother’s Day Tribute. There’s a free musical workshop for the kids at 1p. The big show starts at 5p.
New Village Brewery is open Sunday, with food truck Frank’s Franks serving starting at 2p. Dee Dee & Friends are there from 7-9pfor an after-party and meet & greet.
2:15p Live HarborCam video is back.
Some tree trimming to clear the HarborCam view coming in the next few days.
8:23a The Foreign Landers are at The Old Theater tonight. Have a listen:
More about tonight’s performance here.
The Old Theater’s Summer Film Festival, set to begin May 17, is cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.
7:53a Lots going on in and around Oriental today.
At 9a, Commissioners meet at Town Hall for budget meeting #2. At 10a, Prime Time hosts a card making class at OUMC.
The county wide Rabies & Microchip Clinic starts at 3p at Grantsboro Town Hall.
Sailors meet on the water at 5:30p for the Wednesday Night Sail, and musicians gather at the Silos at 7p for Open Mic Night.
The details for Wednesday’s events are all in What’s Happening.
3:46p Commissioners meet this evening at 6p for the monthly Town Board Meeting.
Wednesday morning, Commissioners meet at 9a at Town Hall for the second Budget discussion.
One of the topics they’ll need to discuss: hiring several new employees. Since March, Oriental has lost two employees, with two more on the way out.
Public Works Director and Water Plant ORC Andrew Cox left in March. He’d been with town for 11 years. Tammy Cox, Deputy Finance Director, who has also been with the town 11 years, will leave in June when school ends.Thomas Jones’ last day was April 19. He was with town for 5 years.
Demetrius Green’s last day is this Friday, May 10. He has been with Oriental for 18 years.
There are now two employees left in Public Works: Daniel Early (8 years) and Joshua Gibson (25 years).
Since 2021, Public Works has had a staff of five. Before then, it was six.
11:12a Free plants. Games, old and new. Furniture for your home, and your pet.
It was all at Saturday’s annual Town Wide Yard Sale.
Partly sunny today, with southwest winds at 10-15mph. High in the mid 80s with a 50% chance of rain.
9:23a Summer – it has arrived. Near 90 degree temps coming this week. Take a look:
Two Board Meetings happening this week:
• Pamlico County Board of Commissioners meets tonight at 7p in Bayboro
• Oriental Commissioners meet Tuesday night at 6p at Town Hall
Coming later this week: a rabies / microchip clinics for your pets, live music from The Foreign Landers at The Old Theater, a creative card making class, the Wednesday night sail, and The Hope Regala.
10:55a Helt Oncale is coming to the Old Theater, today @ 3p. Have a listen:
More about the show here.
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar
7:55a The 2024 TownWide Yard Sale is underway. Be brave and plunder. Here’s the yard sale map.
Cloudy this morning, then the sun should appear in the afternoon.
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
Tonight at the Silos/Red Rooster is an Ol’ Front Porch fundraiser. Tonight’s performance is free (as is the October festival).
Here’s a musical reminder why donating to Ol’ Front Porch pays big village dividends. It’s the Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, from their October 2022 performance in Oriental. Lead vocalist Rebekka Nilsson’s voice lures you in…
Yappy dog vocalists in background, names unknown.
2:30p On tap this weekend: Tonight karaoke meets marachi – Pamlico Arts presents Lip Synco de Mayo, starting at 7 @ the Red Rooster (Silos). At New Village Brewery tonight Hoff ‘n’ Finch at 6p, Tanja’s Hella Fat Food Truck from 5-8p.
Saturday is Oriental’s annual Town Wide Yard Sale, starting at 7a. The yard sale map is here. You know you need a 3 in 1 exercise machine with built in PEZ dispenser. On yard sale day, it’s probably out there. The Farmer’s Market runs Saturday 8a-11 on Hodges near the harbor. Also on Hodges St OWC has their annual plant sale 8a-12p.
Saturday night it’s an Ol’ Front Porch Fundraiser starting 5p at the Red Rooster, Southern Hellcats play. Saturday night at the brewery a Grateful Dead Tribute at 6p, teamed with community potluck dinner.
Sunday is the Arlington Place Arts & Crafts Fair, 10a – 3p. Sunday at the Old Theater Helt Oncale @ 3p. Oncale is an award winning singer/songwriter serving up rhythm & blues, bluegrass & Cajun.
9:22a The Town Wide Yard Sale starts at 7a Saturday morning.
Most are in town, but there are yards full of treasure on Kershaw Rd, and out in Dolphin Point.
You’ll need a map to find those sales. The map is here.
Nautical Wheeler’s’ Oriental location is closing early today – at 3p. Staff are heading to the New Bern location for the New Bern Bear Unveiling at 4p.
3:17p Lou Mac Park. It’s a shady spot to rest, read a book, or watch the river.
Lou Mac’s oak trees were planted in 1929; there were six originally. Only two remain: a low, spreading live oak and a tall, leaning water oak.
Oriental’s Tree Board has determined the water oak will have to come down; it “is decayed and has other structural defects that makes it a high-risk tree for a public park.”
Not all shade will be lost with the removal of the water oak. The Tree Board has been planting other trees in the park as insurance against future tree – and shade – loss.
There’s no date yet on when the old oak will be removed. Read the full press release here.
8:52a There’s still a few tickets left for the $10k Golden Ticket Raffle Drawing. Hope Clinic Director Yolanda Cristiani writes in:
Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online here. (Limit 3 tickets per household.) The drawing will occur at the Regala on May 11th. You do not have to be present to win.
The Hope Regala is May 10 & 11.
10:29a This Friday, Nautical Wheelers receives an honor over a year in the making.
But you’ll have to visit their New Bern location to see it – a New Bern bear statue.There are over 50 bear statues throughout New Bern, adopted and cared for by the city’s businesses. Each is painted by a local artist.
This is not the Nautical Wheelers’ bear – theirs will be unveiled in front of the Nautical Wheelers’ New Bern store Friday at 4p.
You’re invited to 202 A Craven Street to help them celebrate and to see the newest New Bern Bear in person.
10:11a The Town Wide Yard Sale. It’s happening this Saturday.
One day every year, the town and surrounding communities bring out their treasures, ready to send them off to new homes.
Sales start at 7a. The Yard Sale map will be posted here later this week.
Happening the same Saturday: the annual shred event.
Unburden yourself of up to 75 pounds of documents for free. All you have to do is drop them off at the Shred-It truck behind the Bayboro Court House between 9 and noon on Saturday.
Tomorrow night – Tuesday, April 30 – you’re invited to 401 Freemason Street for the King Blues Jam. Hear Big Jim Kohler, Bernard Purdie, Helt Oncale and more from 5:30 – 8:30p.
Bring a chair, your own snacks, and a donation for the musicians.
7:05a High near 80 today. Low 80s Monday. And the next day. And the day after that.
It’s all lovely and warm for you warm summer people. Or a too hot summer warning for how come it can’t be perpetual spring & autumn temps people.
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
There’s a lot of music in river city this weekend.
Tonight at The Red Rooster (Silos) Mike Bramble plays starting at 7. Over at New Village Brewery, Island Fyah and Helt Oncale & Friends, 6-8 p in the beer garden.
The Oriental Farmer’s Market has a full slate of vendors, running 8a – 11a on Hodges St near the harbor. Saturday morning in New Bern go for a walk and support the fight against Parkinsons. Steps n’ Sips starts at 9a.
ODC PHRF races continue Saturday, race starts at 1p on the Neuse.
Saturday afternoon Gospel, Blues & BBQ revs up at 3:30p, running til 9p. You’ll hear gospel, blues & rockabilly… it’s a free performance sponsored by the Pamlico Arts Council.
The Old Theater hosts Alex Williams on Saturday, shows at 3p and 7:30p. Williams background includes playing for Kool and the Gang.
Saturday sunny and a high near 70, Sunday highs near 80. You just might have to smile.
On the Neuse east winds 5-15 Saturday, Sunday south 5-10 knots.
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
10:01a The long jump. Track and field. The softball throw. They’re all part of the Special Olympics Spring Games happening Friday morning at Pamlico County High School.
You’re invited to watch and cheer on 50 athletes from 5 area schools. Registration is at 8a, opening ceremonies are at 9a. Free to attend.
Last weekend collegiate sailors descended on Oriental to compete in the SailPack Oriental Intercollegiate Regatta. Over two days, the Neuse River treated them to changing weather conditions: from light winds and a sunny Saturday, to a rainy Sunday with a small-craft-advisory-warning.
See the SailPack Regatta sailors in action here.
8:28a It’s Wednesday, and Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly has new weekly specials.
West Marine RIB
2022 Airstream Interstate 24X
2018 22 ft C-Dory Cruiser with 90HP Honda
FREE Seresto Large Dog Collar
Renovated Move-In Ready Home in Merritt
2013 Nautitech 44 Catamaran, Beautifully Equipped
2020 Ford Escape Titanium
2002 Key West 19
The Essence of Southern Hospitality
Sofa, Wood Desk Chair, Lamps, Bar Stools
Helping friend find boxes
Family Fun Day - May 18
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