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Have you seen a horse in a tree? No, you say? If you drive or bike or walk around Oriental, you have seen a horse in a tree.

Tuesday June 18, 2013

5:25p If you live in or near Oriental you’ve probably seen it hundreds of times. A visitor? You’ve seen it too.

But somehow, not too many people actually knew they saw it. A horse in a tree…

6:05a Lots of birding going on lately. Liz Lathrop and the Pamlico Birders are off to Fort Macon (on the still free Neuse River ferry) tomorrow morning. They welcome you to join them.

If you’re wondering what to do this weekend… check out What’s Happening. Pamlico Musical Society is offering a free concert in Lou Mac Park Saturday with The Gravy Boys. Acoustic Americana music. Saturday’s also the Summer Solstice Regatta off of Broad Creek, on the Neuse. Still time to register….

Testing, testing… On Saturday, the ham radio operators in the area will be seeing how well their communications systems work. Nationwide, one weekend every year, they do this, so that they can be up to snuff if there were an emergency. You can see them at their encampment here in town.

Monday June 17, 2013

She walks the docks, and lives on the water. Occasionally, wears pink. Meet Sadie, who is Miss June, Pet of the Month.

Could get rain today. As well as the next few days. Looks like temps are hanging in the mid-80’s, too. More granularity can be found in The Oriental NC Weather Forecast.

Later this afternoon, Oriental’s Town Board holds a public hearing about the budget it’s put together for the fiscal year starting on July 1. If you’ve got an issue or a question about the budget, this is the time to speak up.

The $1,170,5000 budget comes in two parts: There’s the General Fund – $894,300 – which goes to pay for police, public works, administration among other things (Click here to download that.) and separately there’s the Water Fund – budgeted at $276,200 – which goes to run the water plant.(Click here to see that budget.) The General Fund is financed largely through property taxes, while the Water Fund, is finance largely through what we pay for water. Those water rates will be going up as of July 1, according to the plan put together by the Board.

There will not be an increase in property taxes, even though, this spring, Commissioners had bounced that idea around for a week or two. Town Manager Bob Maxbauer claimed a tax hike was necessary to pay the town’s attorneys to fight lawsuits over the South Avenue and Avenue A rights of way. (Resident Dave Cox has sued the Town, saying towns can’t exchange or sell rights of way, as Oriental did in the Chris Fulcher land swap.)

Maxbauer wanted the Board to raise taxes 3 cents for every $100 valuation which would have brought in $63,000 – even though the Town’s attorney has estimated the cost of the lawsuit and appeal could run between $20,000 and $50,000. Commissioner Sherrill Styron said at one budget meeting that he wanted at least a penny tax to “make David Cox look bad” but in the end, the Board declined, in this election year, to raise the property tax at all.

The budget public hearing is, of course, open to all. It starts at 5:30p.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Ooops. The Pet Of The Month appeared early this morning… and it wasn’t quite ready. Damned computers (they accept blame well). The new Pet is coming Monday, in all its completed splendor. Stand by, fellow TownDocker.

Nice cool air this morning, but temps will creep to the upper 80s / near 90 today. Relatively dry air will help keep it comfortable.

Some wind on the water today, SW 15 – 20, and later this afternoon (and tonight) winds up to 25 mph.

Saturday June 15, 2013

Those cool temps overnight made for great sleeping weather. Now this morning, some busier times. The Nautical flea market will be on South Water street side of the Provision Company… while on Hodges, the weekly farmers’ market features a workshop on how to grow vegetables. More details here.)

In the afternoon, a wine tasting at Nautical Wheelers. Tonight Mac McWilliams is playing at the Paradise Cove’s potluck dinner. Check out all the details at What’s Happening.

We see boats both large and small travel the ICW. Two women, Kacie Wallace and Kimberley Sutton, are taking the very small boat approach. Paddleboards. And they would like some local knowledge. More info here…

Friday June 14, 2013

2:27p What’s Cookin’, is cookin’. Another restaurant on board. Chris is the not-so shy guy at The Silos adding his dulcet tones to The Daily Specials. Down the road on Broad St it’s smooth Marcel at The Sea Shanty talkin’ up what’s fresh.

6:25a High of 92 yesterday, and now, we get a break from it. Weekend highs in the low-ish 80’s, says the Oriental Weather Forecast. 80 will seem cool….

Much going on tomorrow — nautical flea market, farmers’ market, gardening workshop, potluck at Paradise Cove, wine tasting at Nautical Wheelers. All the details are in What’s Happening.

You’ll also find more info there about Croakerfest, Oriental’s summer fest honoring the humble American Grumbler fish, which is coming up in just 3 weeks. This is the 33rd Annual — it’s been a long-playing fest thanks to the heavy lifting of a group of volunteers. A few more would help. Candy Bohmert’s who’s organizing the Croakerfest says she needs someone to run the baking contest on of the fest’s opening day, July 5… Can you do it? You don’t have to bake a thing.

Two other ways you can participate, too.. There’s the Croakerfest Parade (The World’s Only) on that Saturday morning the 6th. C’mon, get in the parade. Make us laugh. It’s free. Just let Paul Fairbank know you’ll be in it. 249-1211 or 249-0023 are the numbers to call. That’s open to everyone.

It’s also that time to sign up for the Croaker Queen pageant. (Sorry, Elmer – if your name is Elmer, it’s probably not for you.) But if you’re a 14-18 year old young woman and want to compete, call Chrissy Fulcher-Cahoon at 670-7223.

There are a lotttt of Croaker Festival pics in the TownDock archives. Here are some for your eyes:

• Croaker Festival 2012

• Croaker Parade 2012

• Croaker Parade 2011

• Croaker Fest Parade 2009

Thursday June 13, 2013

4:01p New feature on TownDock.net – What’s Cookin’. What’s Cookin’ lets local restaurants put their specials online – both a photo and audio. The Silos is the first restaurant to join… enjoy.

(What’s Cookin’ is a feature of TownDock’s shameless commerce division)

3:50p Good news. The House budget has passed (listen to the audio below for details). That House budget included a provision to remove ALL Ferry Tolls. They will now have to work out a compromise with the NC Senate.

Over in the State Senate, our State Senator, Norman Sanderson, has voted repeatedly for Senate budgets that include adding a toll to our local ferries. Sanderson has stated he is against the “Ferry Tax”, however has then gone ahead and voted for it multiple times.

10:56a TownDock.net talked with Greg Piner this morning, who has been following the Ferry Toll issue. Greg reports that good things are happening in the NC House – listen:

Meanwhile, Greg Piner continues his efforts to persuade the legislature that Ferry Tolls are not just a bad idea for local commuter ferries, but a bad idea, period. He makes his case in this guest column.

5:50a Warm today (high near 90), but relief is on the way. That Oriental NC Weather Forecast has winds clocking around and temps dropping Friday. Friday’s high just about 80, Saturday & Sunday mid 80s.

A comfortable weekend – and lots going on. Provision Company is bringing back the Nautical Flea Market on Saturday morning. Around the corner on Hodges, the Farmers’ Market is going on and there’ll be a workshop on growing vegetables. It’s free. Details are here… Also that afternoon, a wine tasting.. And potluck at Paradise Cove Marina for the very good reason that it’s a Saturday night

Looking a bit further ahead to Monday, the Oriental Town Board holds a public hearing on the budget it’s put together for the fiscal year starting in July. Okay, so it may not be your usual summer reading material, but you can take a look at that budget here, and bring any questions or concerns to the meeting. That threatened property tax didn’t materialize, but we’ll see our water bills go up.

For your perusing, you’ll find loads of photos of boats and racers from the Leukemia Cup Regatta.

A word to the wise. Police Captain Dwaine Moore says someone tried to break into Bama’s Village Emporium restaurant earlier this week (after hours). The attempted break-in didn’t succeed – stopped by a deadbolt.

Dwaine’s asking folks to lock up, and be sure to use their deadbolts.

And today’s Dock Quotes also touches on that idea of being aware.. but from a different perspective.

Wednesday June 12, 2013

Today will be a warm one – high lower 90s. Then cooling off nicely for the weekend, daytime temperatures in the low to mid 80s expected.

Photos from the Leukemia Cup are coming. Senior Management pledges that flogging will continue until photos magically appear.

The 2013 Oriental Dragon Boat Festival is coming – it is Friday & Saturday August 9 & 10. Dragon Boat racing is a team sport, 20 paddlers plus a drummer to keep the crew in sync. It looks like this:

Past teams have included groups formed by businesses, non profit groups, causes… even a political candidate has had a team. There are teams from Dragon Boat Clubs (Oriental now has one), and there are teams of just friends. If you can pull on a paddle, you possess the required professional background.

There is still time to form a team for the 2013 Festival – click here to learn more.

Take an Oriental Dragon Boat memory tour – here are links to stories on previous festivals:

• 2012 Dragon Boat Festival

• 2011 Dragon Boat Festival

• 2010 Dragon Boat Festival