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The biggest event of the year in Oriental is The Croaker Festival This year’s Croakerfest theme is Jamboree. The festivities officially get going on Friday afternoon, July 3 while the parade and fireworks and Croaker Relay happen on Saturday the 4th. Fireworks happen at 9:30pm on July 4. This year Croakerfest could use some more financial help than usual with the fireworks.

The Pamlico Community Band kicks off Croakerfest 2009 at 4pm July 3rd with its “Croaker Concert” at the Lou Mac Park waterfront. Conductor Becky Ackiss and the band continue to pull together a diverse playlist… Duke Ellington in Concert, Stars and Stripes Forever, Music for a Darkened Theater, Disney tunes, Simon and Garfunkel, St. Louis Blues, Great Waldo Pepper March. Worth a listen. They’ll play for an hour and then the Pamlico Chorale will perform. After the music, the Miss Croaker competition will get underway. It’s all free.

The Croaker Festival Parade rolls down Broad Street starting at 10a, Saturday July 4. You can still be part of it. Just let Paul Fairbank know in advance. Call him at 249-0023 or pop in and see him at Village Hardware. LIne-up for the parade, on Ragan Road, starts at 9am.

The Croakerfest Sailing Regatta is set for July 4. It’s a fun sailing event for kids and adults on Optimist and Sunfish sailboats. Registration is at 11:30, with a Competitors’ meeting at 12:30 near the Wildlife Ramp and races starting at 2pm. Registration fee is $5. Get out on the water after the parade and festivities! Or watch from the bridge. For more info, contact Paul Welles at 252-249-2001 or paul@tritonyachts.com.

Get rid of those boat bits you don’t need anymore at the Croakerfest Nautical Flea Market. It happens Saturday, July 4 in that shaded area where Neuse Street meets South Avenue. It starts at 8am. Cindy at Marine Consignment of Oriental and Charles Boone who are organizing the flea market, say that If you don’t want to sell your lazarette’s hidden treasures, but still want to get rid of it, you can donate them — just as Grosvenor Barber offered an anchor recently to Charles — and the proceeds will to to the festival’s fireworks fund. There’s no charge for the booth space this year- but a donation to the fireworks fund would be great..) To reserve your spot or to donate items, give CIndy a call at the store 252-249-3222 or email: marineconsignment @ embarqmail.com

Potluck in Paradise. The season’s started up again at Paradise Cove Marina. The next one is Saturday, July 4. Visit the islands without leaving the Pamlico peninsula. Join in the Saturday night potluck dinners — they happen round about 6p. Visit Paul and Rose Del Rio at the best little bar in Paradise Shores. No need to RSVP, just show up with a covered dish. For more info call 249-2025.

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Circle 10’s guest gallery in July will feature the works of 8 artists with ties to the gallery over the years. On Sunday July 5, from 2-4 there’s an opening reception for “The Friday Girls.” The artists — Janet Adkins, Marlene Sykes, Marguerite Garrett, Jean Dexter, Maggie Arndt, Nancy Miller Carolyn Rush and Renee Dumont — take that name because they gather on Fridays to critique works of art in progress. It’s their finished works — watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel and mixed media — that will be on display, along with a collage each contributed to, which is being raffled off for the Janet Adkins Scholarship Fund, CIrcle 10’s new project. Refreshments will be served at the opening reception on Sunday the 5th. Circle 10 is located at 1103 Broad Street, Oriental. Regular hours are Wednesday-Saturday 10a-5p and Sunday 1-4p. For more info, call249-0298.

Oriental’s History Museum continues its series of the Families of Oriental. The history museum is highlighting the Smith Family History with an exhibition through August. The display traces 8 generations of the family, which came to Oriental in the late 1890’s and founded the WJ Smith store where the Steamer Restaurant now stands. The family also ran what is now the Old Theater. Come on by and soak up more of Oriental’s History, a few strands at a time. On Sunday, July 5, the Museum will host a reception for the Smith Family and the public from 1-3p. The Oriental History Museum is at 802 Broad Street and open Fridays 11a-3p, Saturdays Noon-4p, and Sundays 1-4p.

The museum is also the starting place for the Geo-cache treasure hunts around town. Pick up maps at the museum.

The Village Gallery’s featured guest artist for July is Anne Burkholder and the Nebraska native’s landscapes and Seaman’s Valentines will be on display at the VIllage Gallery. Seaman’s Valentines are said to have started in the 1800’s in Barbados — intricate mosaics and messages of love made from shell shards decorating the interior of small boxes. Come by and see them, along with the work of Village Gallery’s twenty regional artists. The gallery is located across from the harbor in the white building with the red roof at 300 Hodges Street. Regular Village Gallery hours are 8:30a-4:30p Wednesday-Sunday.

Oriental Town Board meets Tuesday July 7 at 7pm at Town Hall. Meetings are open to the public.

Chris Daniels and Keri DeLisle — CK Full Circle — play Wednesday nights at The Silos. The acoustic duo works some familiar songs in with tunes they’ve been writing over the past year. (A CD of their original songs has just been released.) The music starts at 6p and runs to 8p. The Silos are at 1111 Broad Street.

Join the Wednesday Night Sail Race – boats rendezvous at Oriental Marker “1” on each Wednesday (weather permitting), for an impromptu race around the government marks. No need to register, just show up. The start is 1730 GPS time. The course is which ever is more upwind, Garbacon or Adam’s Creek as a weather mark and round the other as a leeward mark and finish at Oriental Marker “1”. Social will be at the Tiki Bar afterwards. Questions? Email Joe Valinoti at joesail1@gmail.com.

Oriental’s Drummin’ Dragons bring their weekly drum circle to Lou-Mac Park again, on Wednesday night, July 8. Usually they play at Town Hall on Wednesday nights but for the past few weeks, they’ve been playing at the park and drawing spectators and dancers. It’s a laid-back session of African, Afro-Cuban, Latin, among other rhythms. Bring your drums and join in — or dance. There’ll be spare drums there for you to try your hand at it, and choreographer Wendy Osserman will be leading the way with dance. It starts at 7 and runs to about 8:30p. Call 249-1551 for more information.

The loft where for years you could get dodgers and biminis made has expanded to include a different kind of canvas…. and Oriental has gained still another new art gallery. Down East Canvas and Gallery is at the foot of the bridge on Broad Street. Elizabeth Harris has her watercolors on display along with the works of five other artists who work in oils, inks, photography. Settle in to the comfort of the blue bench and take a look around. Down East is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. It’s the last building on the right before the bridge.

The Children’s Theater Workshop is underway — celebrating its 14th year this summer — and students in the summer’s first session will be performing on THursday evening July 9 at 7p at the Old Theater. The 1st and 2nd graders present “Fabled Stories”, while the 5-6-7th graders offer “A Kid’s Summers’ NIght. The public is cordially invited to see the progress the kids made untder the tutelage of drama teacher Aaron Williams. In a few weeks, 3rd and 4th graders and the high school students will n

Pamlico County Senior Serivces is holding a Mardi Gras on Saturday July 11 at the Delamar Center at Pamlico Community College. Cajun food and local homegrown entertainment with Barbara Jarvis and the Glitzie Chicks are part of the fundraising evening which starts with a social at 6:30p and goes on til 10p. Advance tickets are available thru July 4 at Croakertown, Buckhorn Books, and at the PCSS in Alliance. Tix are $25 a person or $40 a couple, which we’re told, is any two people wanting to share the fun. Profits from the evening will go to the Pamlico County Foundation for the Aged and Pamlico County Senior Services to support among other things, Home Delivered Meals and the Caring Carpenters ramp material fund. For more info, contact Rhonda Breed at PCSS at 745-7196

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. Next Master Gardener Clinic is Thursday July 13. For more info, contact Daniel Simpson in the Extension office at 745-4121

For 12 years, art teacher Terry McManus has held Minnesott Beach Art Camp at Minnesott Beach. This year, it comes to Oriental. There are two one-week sessions — one for 12-16 year olds starting July 19 and another session for 8-12 year olds starting July 26. Cost, including accommodations and art supplies, is $700. For more details, call 919-833-1249.

The Oriental Rotary Club holds its 17th Annual Tarpon Tournament July 24-26 at Whittaker Pointe Marina in Oriental. The tourney benefits the Oriental Rotary Scholarship Fund with over $22,000 in cash and prizes for fisherman. Click here to download the 2009 Tarpon Tournament Brochure.

Along with the fishing, the tournament also features a barbecue dinner starting at 6p on Saturday, July 25. You can buy the $10 tickets from any Rotarians and at the Rotary Club booth at Croakerfest. There’s a free concert as well; Ken Belangia and TIm Stewart are performing from 4-6p, with Dave Collins playing from 6-8p.

While the fishermen are searching for tarpon, those on shore at Whittaker Pointe Marina can watch radio-controlled boat regattas on Saturday and Sunday from noon-2pm. Rotary will be selling hamburgers and hotdogs all afternoon and Harbor Sounds will be performing.

As well as seeking competitive fishermen, the Rotary Club also needs volunteer observers for the tournament, plus advertisers for the magazine-style program they produce each year. Fishermen may contact Paul Miller at 252-249-1443 or email nette33@earthlink.net; Observers may contact Larry Walker at 252-249-2135 or 866-249-2135 or email captainlw@fromthehelm.com; Advertisers may contact Bob Webster at 252-249-2426 or email almajon7@pinelink.org. For a look at the 2008 tournament (and lots of photos) click here. For the Rotary Club’s web site click here.

The Oriental Rotary Club holds its 17th Annual Tarpon Tournament July 24-26 at Whittaker Pointe Marina in Oriental. The tourney benefits the Oriental Rotary Scholarship Fund with over $22,000 in cash and prizes for fisherman. Click here to download the 2009 Tarpon Tournament Brochure.

Along with the fishing, the tournament also features a barbecue dinner starting at 6p on Saturday, July 25. $10 tickets are for sale from any Rotarian and at the Rotary Club booth at Croakerfest. There’s a free concert, too. Ken Belangia and Tim Stewart from 4-6p, and Dave Collins from 6-8p.

While the competitors are out stalking the tarpon, the public’s invited to watch radio-controlled boat regattas on Saturday and Sunday from noon-2p at Whittaker Pointe Marina. Rotary will be selling hamburgers and hotdogs all afternoon and Harbor Sounds will be performing.

In addition to seeking competitors for the tournament, he Rotary Club also needs volunteer observers. Fishermen may contact Paul Miller at 252-249-1443 or email nette33@earthlink.net; Observers may contact Larry Walker at 252-249-2135 or 866-249-2135 or email captainlw@fromthehelm.com; For a look at the 2008 tournament (and lots of photos) click here. For the Rotary Club’s web site click here.

Oriental’s Tourism Board holds its monthly meeting on Wednesday July 29 at 7pm at Town Hall. Drawing about $9,000 from the town occupancy tax, the Tourism Board has the biggest budget of all the advisory boards in town. The Tourism Board’s meetings are open to the public. If you’d like to serve on the board, contact Town Hall at 249-0555.

Has it been a while since you were carded? Were you born in 1959? Did you turn – or are you turning – 50 this year? If so, there’s a 50th Birthday party coming up on August 1st to honor your milestone. Turtle Midyette and George Midyette (both turned 50 in June) are planning a celebration from 3p-9p on August 1 with music and food. To find out more, give Turtle a call at 249-2956 or 670-1593.

The 2009 Pamlico Paddle is happening on Saturday August 8. The paddle returns to Oriental for 2009, exploring the nearby creeks and advanced paddlers will head out on the Neuse. The event is open to all levels — beginner, intermediate and advanced courses are available. It starts at 9am from the Wildlife Ramp off of Midyette Street in Oriental. For more details see pamlicopaddle.com .

Riverside Retreats will sponsor a second Poetry Workshop on Saturday, August 8 from 9a-4p. Leading the workshop will be author and poet Sheila Turnage and Claire Pittman, who’s won awards for her poetry, among them a Summer Literary fellowship to St. Petersburg, Russia a few years ago. The Poetry Workshop will begin at Old Town Hall, migrate with a “walk about” town to pick up images, and after a lunch at the Pittman’s home on the river, will focus on writing and critiquing. Cost is $75 and the group will be kept small. The first workshop in June filled up fast. To sign up or for more info, contact Sheila at sneilaturnage@msn.com or Claire at clairepittman@msn.com or call 249-4958 or 341-2316.

Mark your calendar for September 19, 2009. The Oriental Cup Regatta is moving back to its traditional season. (It had been happening in June the past few years.) Organizer Larry Summers is hoping to draw more participants and sponsors for event that awards a college scholarship to a Pamlico County student athlete. The race is Saturday Sept 19, but there will be events through the weekend of the 18-20th.

The Pamlico Musical Society kicks off its 2009-2010 season on Saturday September 26 when the Vega String Quartet performs at the Old Theater. The concert begins at 7:30p.

The new season also features the Folk Festival Weekend, October 16-17. with Jeffrey Foucault performing on Friday night, the 16th, Donna Hughes on Saturday the 17th at 3p, followed by Red Molly that night at 7:30.

On the weekend of November 7-8, spirituals are in the line-up, with We Be Brethren. They be at the Old Theater on Saturday night, and at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Mesic on Sunday. On December 5, the Pamlico Musical Society brings back classical pianist Valentina Lisitsa. More info on tickets and more shows coming soon…

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.

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.

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.

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.

Those drummers you heard during the Running of the Dragon don’t limit themselves to New Years Eve. The Oriental Drum Circle meets most Wednesdays for a session of West African style hand drumming. This is at Town Hall from 7-8:30pm every Wednesday except the last Wednesday of the month. Anyone who wants to play or learn about this style is welcome. Bring your own drum or percussion instrument. If you don’t have one, come anyway, cos they have a few extra drums on hand to try out. For more info, contact Doug Carmichael at 249-2363.

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.

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 10am to 1pm on Monday, Friday and Saturday and 10am– 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 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. As the thrift shop looks toward expanding its facilities, it could use a double pedestal desk and heavy duty executive table with folding legs. For more info, contact the store manager, Bette Baldwin at 745-5033