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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

Letters: An Update, Extension, and Shift:

The Whittaker Creek Channel. Letters To The Editor

Letters: Thanks, from England:

A salute from across the pond. Letters To The Editor

Hundreds Turn Up for a Chili Meltdown:

The 2023 Chili Cookoff. The Story

Letters: Thanks from The Old Theater:

Chili Cookoff Success. Letters To The Editor

Rain and Roadsters:

The 2023 Oriental Classic Car Show. The Story

Town Elections Are Nov 7:

Why I am running for Oriental Town Commissioner. Letters To The Editor

A Storm, A Ripped Sail, and A Trophy Cup:

The 2023 Oriental Cup Regatta. The Story

Francis "Frank" J. Murphy, 1936 - 2023:

Sailor, Singer, Community Volunteer. The Story

Photo IDs Now Required to Vote:

How to vote in the November municipal elections. The Story

Fingerpickin' Champions & Bluegrass New Yorkers:

Ol' Front Porch Music Festival 2023. The Story

Letters: Thank You:

From the Ol' Front Porch Music Festival Board. Letters To The Editor

$5.5 Million for Water Infrastructure:

October 2023 Town Board Meeting. The Story

Of Captains and Cats in Oriental:

Getting that License. Captain's Blog




Attacking chowder from both directions. Saturday’s Chowder CookOff had nine chowders, and three first place winners: Gary’s DownEast Seafood (Best Restaurant Chowder), The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office (Best Home Chef Chowder), and the Pamlico Christian Academy Mariners (Best Aspiring Student Chefs).

Monday March 18, 2024

5:18p A chowder chow-down happened last weekend, raising around $2,500 for the Oriental Woman’s Club, and feeding about 250 chowder enthusiasts.

Check out the Saturday scene here.

1:06p Spectrum Internet has returned to Oriental (and Pamlico County).

9:56a Spectrum Internet is down in Oriental.

Their estimated repair time: 2p.

The Friends of the Library broke ground on the new building in February. Want to know what’s next?

Join them and Prime Time for Lunch & Learn, Wednesday, March 21 from noon to 1:15p.

Call Prime Time director Debora Steenson by the end of the day to reserve your spot for lunch: 252-675-0909.

8:29a Remember those near 60 daytime highs? They’re back.

High today near 60, northwest winds at 5-10 mph and mostly sunny. Overnight low near 40 and mid 50s tomorrow.

The Shrimperoo is coming, Saturday, March 23.

It’s the Neuse Sailing Association’s annual membership event and you’re invited.

For $10 a head, come out and talk sailing, enjoy live music and a shrimp fest on the lawn of the Oriental Marina & Inn.

Or you can just show up (with your ten bucks), and eat shrimp.

Sunday March 17, 2024

11:38a Tonight at the Old Theater, the Galvin Cello Quartet.

The show is at 7:30p. More info here.

7:57a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, lads & lasses.

Patrick really doesn’t look like a fellow that would inspire reckless adult beverage consumption. Regardless of whats in your glass, it is a day that seems to put an extra smile in many of us.

The results from yesterday’s collegiate regatta in Oriental – State swept it:

Word is State won a basketball tournament too. The ACC something. Maybe you’ve heard of it.

Carolina sailors, at the downwind mark:

More regatta photos coming Monday.

Saturday March 16, 2024

1:47p Cajun, Venison, and classic New England. All were available for tasting at the Oriental Woman’s Club Chowder Cookoff.


Chowder trophies waiting for a home.

Here are the winners, in three categories:

The Restaurants:
• 1st Gary’s DownEast Seafood
• 2nd Barcos
• 3rd Yawl’s Café

The Home Chefs:
• 1st  Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office
• 2nd Zan’s Taekwondo & the South Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department
• 3rd Marine Corps Dragon Detachment

Aspiring Student Chefs:
• 1st Pamlico Christian Academy Mariner’s Culinary Team
• 2nd Pamlico High School Canes Cuisines

12:08p Standing by at The Red Rooster (behind The Silos) – a very green Dragon. Ready to burn, tonight.


(Chris Daniels photo)

8:15a The Oriental Farmers’ Market is back for 2024, with farmers & artisans on Hodges St by the harbor this morning. Open til 11a.

7:12a Sail racing, chowder, corned beef, wine, magic & dragon ignition are among today’s village missions. Click here for the lineup.

There are six college sailing teams in Oriental for today’s regatta, including NC State, Georgia Tech, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Chapel Hill, University of South Carolina, University of Georgia, and Embry-Riddle (Daytona FL).

Note: Today’s is not the big regatta. The Sailpack Regatta comes April 20, with crowds of college sailors in town, 18-20 teams participating.

After a cloudy morning, partly sunny and just mid 60s today. On the Neuse north 10-15 knot winds, calming to just 5-10 this afternoon.

Oriental NC Forecast
Neuse River Marine Forecast

Friday March 15, 2024

2:41p Commissioners met at Town Hall for their annual budget retreat this morning and afternoon.

The different boards and departments made presentations outlining their achievements and goals for this year.

Commissioners met a potential new auditor, discussed hiring a Finance Officer and Public Works employee (replacements for resigning staff), looking into the costs and savings of moving to an electrical water meter reading system, and using money from the town’s general fund to bolster any funds put towards road repair.

Most of those items will be discussed in further detail at the next Town Board Budget Workshop in April. A date has not been set.

Oriental resident and business owner Camilla Wheeler, who was present for the entire meeting (8a – 1:30p), thanked Commissioners for working together, “this was a great meeting. Thank you for that.”

The next monthly meeting is Tuesday, April 2 at 6p at Town Hall.

8:18a Get your Hawaiian shirt ready. You’ll want one of those lil’ umbrellas to put in your drink.

It’s going to be 80 today.

Oriental NC Forecast
Neuse River Marine Forecast

Those drinks with umbrellas may be useful fortification this morning for those attending the town board budget retreat.

Thursday March 14, 2024

2:40p This afternoon & tonight: Bupkis. Nada. You’ll just have to entertain yourself with normal village goings on.

Friday, BokaNina Fusion Pacific Island food truck is at New Village Brewery, 3-8p. Packhouse plays in the beer garden 5:30p until. At Oriental United Methodist Church Friday night its Songs & Sweets. You get to listen to music, and eat pie.

Saturday. The Bow to Stern Collegiate Trophy Regatta (six college sailing teams) starts 11a on the Neuse, ends mid/late afternoon. You can see the races from Lou Mac Park.

The Chowder Cook-Off is 11a-1p at Oriental Marina Inn. Tickets just 10 bucks, and it goes to Oriental Woman’s Club. Taste the wine of rare grapes at Nautical Wheelers at 2 & 3p. Kiyomi Aupri Fine Art Gallery celebrates their grand opening from 2-5p. There is magic at the Old Theater Saturday afternoon @ 3p. The show is entitled Magic is BS.

Saturday night, Pamlico Arts’ big shindig: The Dragon Burn @ The Silos. Gates open 5p, it burns after sunset. Tickets support the arts. Food & adult beverages available.

Also Saturday, St Peter the Fisherman corned beef & cabbage dinner, 6-9p. No tickets at the door; Nautical Wheelers has tix, or call Pat ODonnell 252-571-5883.

Corned beef & cabbage is good for you. So eat more Sunday (it is St Patrick’s Day) at M&Ms Cafe. Buffet starts @ 11a and runs all day. Sunday evening 7:30p, Pamlico Musical Society presents Galvin Cello at the Old Theater.

It’s all (it’s a lot) in What’s Happening.

9:39a Mister sun is showing off today. High near 80. Same again Friday, too.

Oriental NC Forecast
Neuse River Marine Forecast

Every year Oriental’s town board has a “retreat”. They don’t retreat per se – it’s at Town Hall. But they do meet Friday 8a -2p (ish) discussing the town’s prior year projects, and plans for the new year. The public is welcome.

Wednesday March 13, 2024

11:33a The Friends of the Pamlico Library write in to say thanks for all the help.

6:35a It’s 40 degrees this morning, but a big temperature swing is ahead.

Sunny with a high today in the mid 70s, then near 80 for Thursday & Friday.

Oriental NC Forecast
Neuse River Marine Forecast
Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

The first official day of spring 2024 is March 19.

New weekly specials at The Pig: Here’s the Piglet deals for March 13-19.

Tuesday March 12, 2024

You may notice collegiate sailors in town this week (and see them out sailing on the Neuse). Sailing teams from NC State and Embry-Riddle (Daytona Beach FL) are in Oriental this week for spring break. These students are on a “working” spring break – they are taking sail training @ Bow To Stern Boating.

We talk with Sailpack sailor Robert Chase and Bow To Stern’s Jim Edwards:

More schools arrive later this week. Teams that will participate in this weekend’s regatta include Embry-Riddle, Georgia Tech, NC State, Georgia (UGA), North Carolina (UNC), UNC Wilmington and U South Carolina.

This morning sailors rigged their boats before heading out on the water.


The big regatta is coming April 20 – the Sailpack Regatta. Expect well over 100 sailors in town, 18-20 teams participating.

Monday March 11, 2024

9:10a Spring is on the way, despite what the temperatures say.

Sunny today and through the week. High today near 60, but warming up to the mid to upper 70s by Friday.

A new season means a new batch of birds visiting the area. The Spring Birding Class at Pamlico Community College can assist in figuring out which ones are living in your trees. And which are waking you up in the morning.

Birds not your thing? PCC has other classes beginning this month like sewing and self-defense.

On PCC’s To Be Announced list: Observational Astronomy and Plant-Based Cooking. These classes don’t have dates yet, but you can call to be put on the list for notification: call Denise McDermott at 252-249-1851 Ext. 3113.

Sunday March 10, 2024

1:05p Wes Barbour can clearly describe the reasons he picked his boat, and even how it will have resell potential.

That might not be so unusual… except Wes is 12 years old.

You may hear NOAA annoucements about coastal flooding. That won’t be here, in fact our water levels will be receding.

West winds will be pushing water levels down today & tonight in and near Oriental. Our water has to go somewhere:

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

Saturday March 9, 2024

8:45a We’re going to get wet later today, but the heavy winds from the storm passing through are more a threat to locations west of us.

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

Friday March 8, 2024

1:40p South of the border cuisine @ the brewery today: the All About Churros food truck, 3 til 8p. Saturday’s food truck is Jasmine Tasty Thai.

With Oriental’s 125th birthday just past, a visit to the Oriental History Museum’s Gone, But not Forgotten exhibit may be in order. Open today til 3, Saturday 1-4p.

We spring forward into the bi-annual clock change Saturday night/Sunday morning. We will be springing into Daylight Saving Time.

On the subject of Spring, the first official day is March 19, 2024.

11:58a While Sunday & onward are forecast to be sunny & dry, Saturday is a different story. Up to 1.5” of rain, and 30-40 mph winds may visit.

NOAA is referring to coastal flooding, but that isn’t likely here. The high winds will come from the southeast Saturday, a direction that causes water levels to drop in and near Oriental.

Sunday will still see high winds, but from the west. Brisk west winds really push water levels down.

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

8:40a Light/moderate northeast to east winds are pushing water levels up a bit:

Winds become south Saturday – those levels will come right back down.

Finally, dry. Sun too today. Rain returns Saturday, then nothin’ but clear days in the forecast for the coming week.

Thursday March 7, 2024

4:42p Know the difference between a swift, a warbler, and a martin? Which birds visit in Spring or Autumn? Or which noisy songbird keeps waking you up in the morning?

Spring Bird Watching begins March 12 at Pamlico Community College.

Join Diane Midness and Sheryl McNair for this four class course meeting on Tuesdays. First class is March 12 at 9a followed by a field trip. The rest of the classes happen in the field.

9:17a Have a few hours a week to help out The Old Theater?

They’re in need of a treasurer. You only need to know how to pay bills and write checks – the bookkeeper takes care of the rest.

Let The Old Theater VP know by emailing vp@oldtheater.org.

There are other ways to help. Mary Taylor writes in:

We are in a volunteer crisis because of open positions on the Board. With every position that is not filled, somebody else on the Board has to do the work so the theater can stay open and functioning. Because of this, we are suffering volunteer burnout.

Volunteer your time to help the Old Theater, or make a nomination for The Old Theater’s Board of Directors.

Read the full nomination press release here.

Wednesday March 6, 2024

3:28p Once a year, some of Oriental’s residents fill their yards with decorations, furniture, trinkets, and treasure.

It takes time to get all that together.

Consider this your advanced notice: the Town Wide Yard Sale happens Saturday May 4, 2024.

Sell your gently used bits and bobs, then go on the hunt for a few more treasures.

7:38a It’s Wednesday, and Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly has new weekly specials.

Here are the Piglet deals for March 6-12.

Almost 2 inches of rain overnight. There is a flood watch in effect today – then sunshine returns Thursday afternoon & Friday.

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

With the great flood today, we pause for this update:

Tuesday March 5, 2024

8:32p Pamlico County primary election results are in. Congratulations to winning candidates Ken Heath and Thomas Andrew Mills.

Pamlico County Commissioner, District 5
✓ Ken Heath 409 votes, 59%
Sarah Davis 283 votes, 41%

Pamlico County Commissioner, District 1
✓ Thomas Andrew Mills 262 votes, 74%
Ed Hege 93 votes, 26%



2:08p What’s more fun than a town meeting? Ok, maybe a root canal.

How about winning $10,000?

The $10k Golden Raffle ticket sale for the Hope Regala is live.

Happening May 10 & 11, 2024, The Hope Regala is Hope Clinic’s largest annual fundraiser, a free, non-profit clinic providing medical care to those in need in Pamlico County.

That means BBQ dinner & live music Friday night, May 10. On Saturday night, May 11, it’s a catered dinner under the big tent with more live music, dancing, and live and silent auctions. (Those tickets are coming.)

And the live drawing of the $10k Golden Raffle winner.

Only 200 tickets are available. Purchasing 3 tickets (the household limit) gives a 1 in 67 chance of going home with the prize.

Tickets are $100 each. You can get yours here. You don’t have to be present to win.

1:52p At this morning’s Town Board Meeting, some residents spoke out asking what was rumor and what was fact about a key town employee’s resignation.

To shed light on the issue, Commissioner Overcash read out notes he’d taken during a one-on-one meeting with Commissioner Roe. The content of those notes validated what the employee said – questions had been raised by Commissioners Roe & Crosser about him taking his child to school.

Commissioners also explained to the audience how they discuss issues outside public meetings. There was much more to the meeting, including a deferred public hearing and a meeting time change (future meetings will be at 6p). A full report is coming.

10:20a The Board meeting continues with the police report and commissioner comments.

10:10a The Town Meeting has gone into a ten minute recess to give Commissioners and the audience a quick break.

8:47a A new twist at this morning’s Town Board Meeting – at the end of the Public Comments where many asked for questions to be answered – Commissioner Breena Litzenberger began to speak. Commissioner Bonnie Crosser said she had to wait until commissioner comments at the end of the meeting.

This is in a departure from prior boards who could choose to answer questions or not.

Mayor Belangia, attempting to get control of the meeting, stood up with a laminated paper saying Jennifer Roe had handed out a list and book telling her how they were to be run and she’d had enough – that she was in charge of the meetings.

To keep control, Mayor Belangia has held all Commissioner comments to the end of the meeting.

The book Mayor Belangia held up is on today’s agenda – item #6 to discuss adopting the book Suggested Rules of Procedure for a City Council as the way to run all meetings going forward.

Past Town Meetings have been conversational in tone, with residents speaking from the audience and Commissioners answering questions. That could change if the book is adopted in part or full. At 9:19a Commissioners delayed the discussion on the book until a later date, as yet undetermined.

8:08a The regular town board meeting is going on now. The room is again full.

There a few public hearings on the agenda – for rezoning, for a short term rental, and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Monday March 4, 2024

4:12p Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, you can vote in the primary elections.

If you’re in Oriental, you’ll vote at Station 19 Fire House on Straight Road.

If you’re in the county and usually vote at Alliance Town Hall, Stonewall Town Hall, Mesic Town Hall, or Hobucken Community Center? You have a new polling location. Click here to find out where to cast your vote.

Polls are open 6:30a – 7:30p.

Not sure who’s in the primary? Check out the sample ballots:

Registered Democrats
• Registered Republicans
• Registered Libertarians

If you’re in the county – in Township 1 or 5 – you have an additional race.

In Township 1, Republicans Ed Hege and Thomas Andrew Mills are competing for the nomination and will face Dem Gary Cooper. In Township 5, Republicans Ken Heath and Sarah Davis compete.

Ken Heath is the current Mayor of Arapahoe and Sarah Davis is the wife of Pamlico Sheriff Chris Davis.

1:05p The public turned out for February’s Special Meeting (Tues, Feb 27). Attending were about 100 people, around 10% of Oriental’s population.

They spoke their minds, but were they heard? Read the report here.

9:20a Rain this morning, and likely into the afternoon.

Highs in the the lower 60s, northwest winds at 10-15 mph.

Forecast says tomorrow will be mostly sunny… followed by thunderstorms on Wednesday.

Sad news to share. Phillip Sax of SV Ness passed away in February. He logged more than 70,000 nautical miles aboard Ness. Like others, he sailed into Oriental, and decided to stay. His story is here.