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The Oriental Farmers Market is happening Saturday March 20 at the Wits End on Hodges Street. The market’s winter hours are 8:30-11:30a.

For an idea of what will be for sale, visit OrientalFarmersMarket.com and check the ever-updated list. Meanwhile, if you have something locally made or locally grown, you’re welcome to sell it at the Oriental Farmers’ Market. (Fresh produce sellers are especially wanted as customers are looking for fresh greens.) To join the market, call Melinda at 675-0180.

Oriental’s Tree Board celebrates Arbor Day on Saturday March 20 with a 9:30a Pruning Workshop and an 11a Tree Planting Ceremony at Lupton Park. The tree will be set in the ground near the tennis courts and where the magnolia blew down in a storm this winter. The Tree Board welcomes the public to take part in both the workshop and the tree planting.

Oriental’s United Methodist Church serves up plates of rice and beans on Wednesday, March 24 between 5p and 7p. Also being served will be fruit and drink. Healthy eats and a good cause. The church is not selling tickets to this dinner but is gladly accepting donations for its efforts in Haiti. (OUMC continues to collect one pound bags of beans and rice to send to Haiti.) For more info, contact Leigh at 249-1361.

The Oriental Repertory Company presents “The Amorous Ambassador” on March 26 and 27 at 7:30p at the Old Theater. It’s being described as “another hormonal comedy.”
So what is the show about?

Severe Storm Spotter Training Class comes to Oriental Saturday March 27 10am, held in the back meeting room of Brantley’s Village Restaurant. The 90 minute class, presented by John Cole from the National Weather Service in Newport, NC, teaches you how to identify severe weather conditions and participate in SKYWARN. What is SKYWARN? From The National Weather Service:
SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters nationwide. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.
At the end of the class participants are awarded a Certificate of Training. For additional information please contact Bill Cresswell at 745-1246.

It’s become a rite of spring, Oriental’s Pet Parade, and this year dogs and their humans will be parading on Saturday March 27th. Parade will be starting at 11a from Lou-Mac Park. Organizers with PAWS, the Pamlico Animal Welfare Society, say they are increasing the number of awards given for costumes because so many dogs show up dressed to the nines last year. Click here to see for yourself. Meteorologist Skip Waters will be on hand again for the festivities. Registration is that morning at Lou-Mac from 10-11a. Pre-registration is at The Bean Sat March 20 from 10:30a-1p and Wednesday March 24 12:30-3p. Call 745-PAWS for more info.

The Pamlico Community Band, under the direction of Becky Ackiss, presents an early spring concert on Saturday, March 27, at 7p at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church. Nine pieces are in the band’s lineup, including selections from Les Miserables, Rachmaninoff’s Italian Polka and New Orleans jazz. Baked goods will be on sale to raise funds for the band. The church is at 1149 White Farm Road, Oriental.

The Neuse Yacht Racing Association Invitational Regatta will be held March 27 and 28. Bridgeton Harbor Marina will serve as host for the 2 day event which will feature races down the river and back. The Marina is offering free slips for all racers. To encourage new sailors to particpate, NYRA is once again letting the cruising class and Junior sailors race free if the skipper joins, or is a NYRA member. Socials will be held Friday night at the Marina, and Saturday and Sunday after racing.
More info at www.nyra.org

Get a rainbarrel for a bargain. The Pamlico Cooperative Extension Service holds Rainbarrel Workshops on Wednesday April 7 – the first is at 10a, the second at 1p – at the Extension office in Alliance. There’ll be a session about the benefits of rainbarrels and how to make your own. Rainbarrels that have already been assembled will be sold for $40 per barrel. There’s a limit of 2 barrels per person. Demand for the rainbarrels is expected to be high, so pre-registration is highly recommended for this workshop. You may do so by calling the Extension office at (252) 745-4121. The Extension office is at 13451 Hiway 55 in Alliance, next to the NAPA store. This is a fundraiser, with proceeds going to the Pamlico 4-H program. A few years ago, there was a similar opportunity to learn about and buy rainbarrels. You can read about it, here.

Circle 10 Art Gallery hosts the works of guest artist and oil painter Art Tyndall during the month of March. You can find Circle 10 at 1103 Broad Street, Oriental. Regular hours are Wednesday-Saturday 10a-5p and Sunday 1-4p. For more info, call 249-0298.

Oriental’s History Museum features a new production: Theater in Oriental Through The Years.

The exhibit highlights the village’s history of theatrical performances, from visits of showboats, Chautauqua Institution;s tent productions thru the Old Theater’s renovation and current offerings. It runs through mid-April. Oriental’s History Museum is located at 801 Broad Street and is open on Fridays 11-3, Saturdays 12-4, Sundays 1-4.

 

Oriental’s Planning Board holds its monthly meeting on Tuesday March 30. As with all town meetings, it’s open to the public and takes place at Town Hall starting at 7pm.

The Pamlico Library concludes its “Let’s Talk About It” series of book discussions, ‘Divergent Cultures: The Middle East in Literature’ on Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30p. The final book in the lineup will be “Nine Parts of Desire” by Geraldine Brooks. Leading that discussion will be Karen Zipf of East Carolina University The library has many extra copies of the book and you can reserve yours by calling 745-3515 or stopping by the library at 603 Main Street in Bayboro. The “Let’s Talk About It” sessions, which have been happening on alternating Tuesday nights in the library auditorium, are free and open to the public.

Oriental’s Tourism Board holds its monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 31 at 7pm at Town Hall. Learn about some of the efforts afoot to draw more tourists to our village. The Tourism Board receives between $9,000 and $11,000 a year from the occupancy tax changed in hotel and B&B’s, and aims to use the money to promote tourism in town. The Tourism Board meetings are open to the public. (They’re also looking for one more member. Contact Town Hall if you’re interested.)

In Haiti the need is still great, and here in Oriental you can still help. Oriental’s United Methodist Church continues to collect bags of dried beans and bags of rice for Haitian earthquake victims. Thanks to generous donations in January, a truckload was sent to MERCI, the Methodist disaster relief center in Goldsboro, which is sending regular shipments to Haiti. Contributions of rice and beans greatly appreciated at the Methodist Church at Freemason and Church Streets. Cash may also be dropped off at the church office. For more info, contact Nancy Huff at 249-0732.

Oriental’s Town Board meets Tuesday April 6 at 7pm at Town Hall. As with all town meetings, this one is open to the public.

Pamlico Chorale presents their annual show, twice, on Saturday April 10 at 7:30p and again on Sunday, April 11 at 3p. You can get tickets for these Old Theater shows at Croakertown, the box office or from any member of the Chorale. It’s a fundraiser for a local scholarship program.

Vienna Teng combines classical piano, folk, pop and a cappella to create her own musical style. You can hear for yourself on Friday April 16 when Pamlico Musical Society brings Vienna Teng to the Old Theater. The performance begins at 7:30p.

Tickets are $15 and will be available thru Croakertown. You may also buy them on-line, by clicking here.

Mark the calendar… The Oriental Boat Show returns on April 16-18 at Pecan Grove Marina. The show, co-sponsored by Oriental Rotary and Pamlico’s Committee of 100, will feature sail, power and paddling boats both on the water and on shore. It starts on Friday April 16th and runs thru Sunday the 18th. For more info on how to take part, contact Sam Myers at 249-0228 (For a glimpse of last year’s show, click here.)

The Oriental History Museum and Women of St. Thomas Episcopal Church are teaming up again for their Second Annual Tour of Homes. It’ll be happening on April 17 and this year will include a tour of several gardens in town along with a half dozen homes. Advance tickets are on sale for $20 at Croakertown, Oriental’s History Museum and the Bank of Arts in New Bern. Tickets are also available on the day of the tour at Oriental’s History Museum, 802 Broad St. For more information on the homes, gardens and other events happening that day, click here or email museum@dockline.net

The Oriental Woman’s Club hosts an Antiques and Collectibles Show on Saturday, April 24 from 9a to 4p. Both shoppers and sellers are welcome. (Make a profit on this spring’s cleaning; there are still spaces for vendors available for up to $25. Sharing a booth is another option.) The show takes place at the Woman’s Club at 1007 Gilgo Drive. For more info, Elaine Wolfinger’s the person to contact, at 249-6579.

Imagine all of Oriental is one big yard.. with lots of stuff and bargains to be found in it. That’s the scene on Saturday May 1 when Oriental holds its 5th Annual Town-Wide Yard Sale from 8am – 1p. There’ll be a map to help folks find the yard sales all over town. If you want to take part and get your yard on the map, contact Jennifer Pare at 249-7281. (Leave a message with your name, number and address.)

After an absence of a few years, the Michelob Cup Regatta returns on Labor Day weekend. The NYRA-sponsored Michelob Cup Regatta will take place on Sunday September 5, with the boats racing up the Neuse River from Oriental to New Bern. It’s the second leg in a two race weekend. On Saturday, September 4th, The Fairfield Harbor Yacht Club sponsors the Oar Regatta which has boats racing from Fairfield Harbor to Oriental.

Hodges Street Studio features drawings by Laura Turgeon(whose work you see here on TownDock) and sculpture and paintings and newly turned heirloom furniture by Gil Fontes. Hodges Street Studio is open on Saturday from 10am-4pm and is located on Hodges between Broad and Midyette. (Look for the Quonset hut in the driveway. When you can see that, you’re close.) In addition to the Saturday schedule, the gallery is also open by appointment.

Pamlico County Fishes And Loaves is collecting canned goods and they have a drop-off point inside First Citizens Bank in Oriental. Fishes and Loaves is a cooperative effort of a number of churches and organizations in Pamlico County working to provide food to the hungry.

Find a bargain in your clothes shopping and help Hospice of Pamlico County at the same time. The Hospice Thrift Shop on Highway 55 in Bayboro is open from 10a to 4p Monday-Thursday and 10a-1p on Friday and Saturday. The shop’s proceeds help support Hospice which supports those who need help and support with terminal illnesses. Donations of clothing, costume jewelry and housewares can be dropped off at the shop during open hours when it is open. Thru the end of February most Fall and Winter clothing will be 1/2 off the already low regular prices.. For more info, contact the store manager, Bette Baldwin at 745-5033

Alcoholics Anonymous meets in several locations in the area throughout the week.
At Oriental Free Will Baptist Church on Ragan Road, Tuesdays at 8pm and Thursday at noon. At St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Freemason Street, Sundays at 8pm.
And at Rock of Zion Church on Hwy 306 in Grantsboro, on Fridays at 8pm.

There is also an Al-Anon group meeting Tuesdays from 8-9pm at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Oriental.

In the winter months, it’s not practical to hold the sailboat races at night, what with the earlier sunsets and all. But there was enough interest in the Wednesday Night Races this year that they will be moving to Saturday afternoons for the next few months. Same course (starting Oriental “1”, and some configuration of Garbacon and Adam’s Creek) but in the middle of the day. If you want to take part, just show up for a 1p (1300) start at Oriental “1”. Five minute warning’s at 12:55. All races are weather permitting. Use channel 72 for communications. If you have questions before you get out there, contact Joe Valinoti at joesail1@gmail.com

Oriental’s Drummin’ Dragons hold their weekly drum circle at Oriental’s Town Hall on Wednesdays. Bring your drums and join in — or pick up one of the spare drums there for you to try your hand at it. It starts at 7p and runs to about 8:30p. Call 249-1551 for more information.

Avoid the longer lines and drive to New Bern’s DMV office and take care of your driver’s license renewals at the DMV mobile unit that visits Pamlico County once every month. The time and place has changed. Starting on June 11, the big DMV RV will be set up outside the County Health Department (behind the courthouse in Bayboro) on the second Thursday of the month. Hours are 9a-3p.

Bugs eating your tomato plants? Your flowers not growing? Have a question about your garden or yard? Pamlico County’s Master Gardeners can help you find answers. On the second Monday and last Thursday of every month, from 10-noon, several Master Gardeners will be on hand to help you out at the Cooperative Extension Office, 13451 Hiway 55 in Alliance. For more info, contact Daniel Simpson in the Extension office at 745-4121

Habitat for Humanity of Pamlico County wants to help you with your spring cleaning. If you have items to donate, volunteers from the Habitat Resale Store will pick them up — and save you the trip to the Habitat thrift store in Bayboro. (You can also drop off an array of donations; small and large appliances (in working order), furniture, TV’s, building materials, and other household goods. (They don’t take mattresses or clothing.) The Habitat Resale shop is at 13584 Highway 55 in Bayboro (next to Eastern Propane). Its hours are: Mon & Tues. 9a-1p; Thurs & Fri & Sat. 9a-2p. Call 252-745-1106 .

The Pamlico Amateur Radio Society meets at Brantley’s Village Restaurant at 9am on the last Saturday of every month (except June). They invite all HAMS and those interested in amateur radio to attend. For additional information, please call Charlie (WA4GSI) at 249-1257.

The prayer shawl ministry at Oriental United Methodist Church is now in its second year. The group meets Thursday mornings from 10-11:30am to crochet or knit shawls and pray for the recipients of them. The group has made almost 100 shawls in the past year and gives them to anyone in need. Even if you don’t know how to knit, stop on by and get a lesson and join in. Contact Mary Duffie to learn more, 249-2990.

The Pamlico County Library hosts two book clubs. The Bookworm Club meets on the third Monday of the month at 2pm. The Beach Books Club – which takes on lighter fare – gets together on the second Tuesday, also at 2pm. New members welcome. Call the library at 745-315 for more info.

The Oriental Express Bicycle Club invites anyone with a bike to join them for their Recreational Ride on Saturday mornings. It winds its way through th Old Village and on to the Dolphin Point area. It’s about 8 miles and the pace is very undemanding. Conversational you might say. Just show up with bike and helmet and you’re off!

In addition to their Saturday morning recreational ride in Oriental, the Oriental Express Bicycle Club also goes on longer and faster rides on Sundays and Wednesdays. These are ‘no-drop’ rides focused on fitness and fun. For more info, including the days, locations and times, check out the Bicycle Club’s web site. or call Kathryn Garcia 249-0119 or John Hanley 249-1188.

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 20-03 meets the first Wednesday each month at Fire Station # 19 on Straight Road, Oriental, at 7:30 PM. The meetings — which focus on boating safety, navigation and GPS, for instance — are open to the public. New members welcomed. For more info, contact the Auxiliary’s Peg Witt at 252-249-3619

Handy with a hammer and nails? Pamlico County Senior Services needs more volunteers to help build handicap access ramps at the homes of some of Pamlico’s older residents. Senior Services provides the materials while volunteers led by Tim Balfour construct one ramp every month. Contact Tim at 745-3247 to offer a hand for the next project.

Buy a rainbarrel to collect rainwater from your roof and keep more storm water from running off in to creeks. And while you’re at it, you can also help the fish in another way. Ron Zielinski’s heading up the rainbarrel project to raise funds for the artificial fishing reef off of Dolphin Point. Made from Mt. Olive Pickle barrels, and fitted with a faucet and screen top, the rain barrels will be $70 apiece. If you want to make your own and just buy the barrel and retrofit it yourself, the cost will be $40 for the plain barrel. To order a rain barrel, contact Ron at 249-2128 or look for him at the Farmers’ Market Holiday Market.

Go take a walk! The Oriental Walking Group sets out on a series of organized walks through the village on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Meet up with walk leaders Gary and Pat Leonard at Lou Mac Park for a 9am departure. Oriental’s a great town to walk around and the walking group may help you stay disciplined about getting fit. Pedometers and water bottles provided by the Flexfit program of Heartworks. Call the Leonards for details at 249-0138 or just show up.

Friends of the Pamlico County Library meets the first Thursday of the month at 11am at the library on Highway 55 in Bayboro. This is the group of folks who help sustain the library. For info, call 745-3515.

Oriental Rotary Club meets every Monday at the Oriental Steamer starting at 6:45pm. The club does good things throughout the community….from scholarships to road clean-up. For info about the club and meetings contact Ed Braun at 745-3462.

The Oriental Woman’s Club holds its meetings on the first Tuesday of the month at 1pm at the clubhouse at 1007 Gilgo Road. Guests are welcome. For further information contact Christa Becker at 249-6558.