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This is part of a Pamlico Arts mural, the second of four panels that will hang on the storage building across from the Piglet. It was being painted Saturday in the space under Mariposa. Click pic for more views… (Joe Clark photos)

1:45p It may be wet, but no cause for whining at today’s wine tastings @ Nautical Wheelers. They go on, dry and happy under the carport.

10:22a The Charity Dinghy Poker Run is still on – just without the dinghies (adapting to today’s weather).

Head over to the Tiki Bar and get your ‘land hand’; $10 per hand or 3 hands for $25.

Check out the ongoing Silent Auction under the tents, and grab a free lunch (with purchase of poker hand) courtesy of the Rotary Club.

Hands are on sale until about 1230 – 1p. Bid on the live auction at 1:30p.

The Dinghy Poker Run is fundraiser put on by Oriental’s Nautical Collective of Sailing Clubs. Proceeds benefit Pamlico youth sailing, swimming lessons and nautical activities.

4:21p Yes, it’s raining. And yes, it will rain tomorrow. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying the weekend; it will be hot again soon enough.

There’s a new food truck at the Brewery tonight: Thai Street Bites, 4-8p.

Saturday, it’s the 19th Annual Charity Dingy Poker Run. It’s starts at the Tiki Deck. Poker hands go on sale at 9:30a, the Run begins at 11a. You don’t have to have a boat to play. The Run is happening rain, or shine; dress appropriately.

Join Nautical Wheelers at 2 & 3p for a wine tasting with Andy Woolger of Elephant Corner Wines.

Taqueria San Luis is at the Brewery, 4-8 and Ken Belangia plays 6:30-8p.

OUMC holds their Lou Mac Park Riverside service at 8:30a Sunday. At the Brewery, it’s Sunday Funday Field Day, 3-6.

It’s the last week of Broad Strokes’ Gallery’s exhibit The Medicine of Beauty, Saturday 10a-5p, Sunday 11a-4p. Visit Oriental History Museum for their exhibit about the Neuse: Rollin’ on the River.

Mariposa has fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

The Sound Rivers Swim Guide tests local waters for bacteria and lets you know whether or not those waters are safe for swimming. This week, five sites failed. Once of them is Pierce Creek in Oriental.

Click here for the Swim Guide press release.

3:32p If you need a Rotary tent, the normal phone # is out. The Oriental Rotary Club writes in:

7:25a Keith Bruno is the owner of Endurance Seafood, located just over the Oriental Bridge. He lives and works on the Neuse River.

TownDock.net interviewed him back in 2020. Take a look:

Meet Keith tonight at the Oriental History Museum, 802 Broad St. The event is free and starts promptly at 6:30p.

12:35p July’s monthly Town Board meeting saw a budget passed and seven new members appointed to the Tourism Board, heard about plans for road paving, and discussed the Town’s response to a CAMA permit request for a 600 foot dock in Oriental’s harbor.

The full July meeting report is here.

It’s currently 88 degrees with SW winds at 15-20 mph, gusts up to 30 mph. Despite that, a heat advisory is still in effect until 7p tonight: heat index values could be as high as 108.

6:01a Diane Miller has served as Oriental’s Town Manager since 2014.

Tuesday morning, Miller sent Commissioners a letter of intent regarding her retirement.

That evening, she sent one to TownDock.net. Read it here.

4:11p A golf cart was borrowed last night. It actually was sorta returned, but Chief Bill with the Oriental Police Dept is requesting help:

8:51a Heat index is forecast to be up to 102 later today, but as of this writing, it’s a pleasant (and not too humid) 79 degrees.

Rain is likely with us all week with thunderstorms predicted at weeks’ end:

Pamlico County has their second monthly board meeting this evening at 7p.

Earlier this month, PAWS (the Pamlico Animal Welfare Society), held their monthly Pet Food Pantry at Pamlico Library.

The Pantry is a donation-based service for Pamlico pet owners who find themselves in need. It was so successful, they ran out of food halfway through the event.

They’re asking for donations of dog or cat food, and cat litter. Drop-off is at the Pamlico County Library circulation desk, either in person or by mail.

4:30p The heat index is in the 107-113 range today and Saturday, Sunday has a near 90% chance of rain.

All About Churros is at the Brewery, 4:30-8p and NottaDuo plays in the garden, 6-8:30p.

Shawn Aldridge is at the Red Rooster Pavilion behind The Silos at 7p.

Spend Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market on Hodges Street, 8-11a. Shred your documents at the Bayboro Courthouse, 9a-noon. Join a wine tasting at Nautical Wheelers at 2 & 3p.

Stop by the Oriental History Museum for their new exhibition about the Neuse River, 1-4p.

Mariposa has brought back sausage rolls and homemade focaccia bread this weekend. Get your fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p.

Wander through Broad Strokes’ July’s exhibition The Medicine of Beauty, Saturday 10a-5p, Sunday 11a-4p.

Join OUMC by the river at Lou Mac Park for Sunday riverside services at 8:30a. If it rains, everyone heads inside the sanctuary just down the street.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

12:04p Filing for local elections closed today at noon.

Your declared candidates for Oriental are:

• For Mayor: Sally Belangia
• For Commissioner: Don McGuire, Iris Cooper, Lou Ostendorff, Paul Jordan and Charlie Overcash.

That’s five declared candidates for five seats, resulting in an uncontested election for Oriental this November.

12:31p TownDock.net reached out to Commissioner Chris Moffat to see if he will be running again. From Commissioner Moffat:

9:49a A familiar face has signed up to run for Oriental Town Commissioner: Charlie Overcash.

Currently, there are five declared candidates for Oriental’s five Commissioner seats: Paul Jordon, Lou Ostendorff, Iris Cooper, Dan McGuire and now Charlie Overcash.

Sally Belangia is the only candidate for Mayor.

The Oriental History Museum’s Evening Summer Speaker series begin this evening with local photographer Ben Casey.

Tonight’s presentation features photography from Ben’s trip on the Neuse River from Raleigh to Pamlico Sound. Admission is free. Begins at 6:30p at the Oriental History Museum on Broad St.

9:44a At last night’s Oriental Town Board meeting, Commissioners passed a budget, appointed seven new members to the Tourism Board and one to the Planning Board, and detailed their meeting with a street paver and the next steps to make that happen.

A full report is coming.

They also increased the frequency of the town’s mosquito spraying. Spray trucks will be out this Friday, then begin spraying on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Spraying starts at 5:30a and runs until about 7:30a.

Want your property to be excluded from spraying? Contact Town Hall and ask to be added to the list. 252-249-0555

El Taco Loco is serving at Triton Yachts boatyard, starting at 11a.

11:36a Yesterday, 2.73 inches of rain fell on Oriental. There’s a slight chance of more this afternoon.

Temps in the low to mid 80s this afternoon, then back to 90-degree weather for the rest of the week.

Tonight is Oriental’s monthly Town Board Meeting. The Public Hearing on the 2026-27 fiscal year budget continues at tonight’s meeting.

Also on the agenda: CAMA asks for the Town’s response to an application by Fulcher’s Point Pride Seafood to build a dock parallel to the harbor jetty, extending several hundred feet.

Tonight’s agenda is here.

There have been no new applications for Mayor or Commissioner submitted to the Board of Elections since last week. The candidates so far are Sally Belangia, Lou Ostendorff, Iris Cooper, Don McGuire and Paul Jordan. The filing deadline is noon Friday.

7:08a It rained for a good part of the early morning. Nearly an inch and a half of so far. There’s more in the forecast for today and tomorrow.

Good news is the high temperature will be near 80, near 85 Tuesday.

Winds are east at 10-15 mph, gusts up to 25.

Both Mariposa and The Bean are open for rainy weather coffee contemplation.

Later this afternoon, the One-Off BookClub meets at the Perry Griffen house.

Nice thing is, you don’t have to read the book. You’re invited show up and enjoy the conversation.

They’re currently reading The Artist’s Rule by Christine Valtners Painter, supplemented with Seven Thousand Ways to Listen by Mark Nepo.

3:27p Filing is open for local elections. For Oriental, the following incumbents have signed up:

Sally Belangia (mayor)
Paul Jordan (commissioner)
Iris Cooper (commissioner)
Don McGuire (commissioner)
Lou Ostendorff (commissioner)

Last day to sign up is Friday, July 17 at noon.

Looking for last weekend’s Croaker Festival photos? Find them here.

There’s rain in the weekend forecast, with the highest chance (70%) hitting on Sunday. Temps will be near 90 Saturday and mid 80s Sunday.

Ken Belangia plays at the Brewery tonight, 6-8:30p and A Taste of Philly is serving, 5-8p. Down at the Red Rooster, Magazine Street Dave starts playing at 7p.

Catch a drum and win some cash Saturday during the Volunteer Fire Department’s 2026 Hooks & Ladders Drum Fishing Tournament, 6a-3p.

Get fresh produce, flowers and more at the Oriental Farmer’s Market Saturday morning on Hodges street until 11a. Stop by the Oriental History Museum for their new exhibition Rollin’ on the River.

Meet Broad Strokes’ July Artist Susan Cheatham Saturday, 2-p and explore July’s exhibition The Medicine of Beauty.

Stop by the Library to donate or pick up from the Pet Food Pantry, 10a-2p.

Head over to Station 19 to find out the Fishing Tournament winners, take a tour of the fire station, and meet some of your local firefighters. The Open House starts at 5p.

Jasmine Tasty Thai is at the Brewery, 4-8p and Brant Island Strings play in the Beer Garden, 6-8:30p.

Join OUMC for river side services at Lou Mac Park on Sunday at 8:30a. If it rains, everyone heads inside the sanctuary just down the street.

Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium is at the Brewery 2-6p. Dress up and join the Princess Bride trivia and costume contest at 3p.

Mariposa serves fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p. On offer this weekend: a selection of white wines and sangrias.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

6:10a Thursday morning, Mary Yount came across an elusive Oriental resident sunning on the town’s free dock. Take a look:

Need a little help feeding your pet? Or want to donate to a worthy cause?

4PAWS, Friends of the Library and Pamlico Animal Welfare Society have created the Pamlico Pet Food Pantry, for county residents in need of pet food or litter.

They’re open on the second Saturday of the month, at the Pamlico Library, 10a-2p. Find out more, including how to donate, here.

A heat advisory is still in effect today. Highs in the mid 90s, heat index up to 106. Winds are from the west at 5-10mph.

3:55p Pamlico County’s property tax reappraisals will have to wait a fiscal year to go into effect.

SB 474 was signed by Governor Josh Stein this past Tuesday. It adds Pamlico County back onto the original moratorium bill. That bill was passed, and it freezes the current revaluation rate. The County will have to use the last fiscal year’s rates for 2026.

Now that Pamlico County has been added back in, residents have time to get an appraisal and appeal their property revaluation.

The full text of SB 474 is here.

Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium is at the Brewery tonight, 4-8p. The Gathering is 6p at The Bean.

2:07p Federal and state elections are just a few months ahead: November 2026. Joining them on the ballot are Oriental’s races for mayor and commissioner.

A previous board made the controversial vote to move municipal elections to even years, coinciding with partisan state and federal elections.

The result is that current Commissioners are in the seventh month of their shortened, one-year term. If they want to stay in office, they must run again.

Filing is happening now at the Pamlico County courthouse. Interested parties have until Friday, July 17 at noon to submit their application and filing fee to the Pamlico Board of Elections.

All who have filed so far are incumbents. Here are the names:

Sally Belangia (mayor)
Paul Jordan (commissioner)
Iris Cooper (commissioner)
Don McGuire (commissioner)

Sign up to help a good cause – and maybe win $1,000.

Join 2026 Hooks & Ladders Drum Fishing Tournament on July 11, 6a-3p. Win cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Tournament details are here.

Tournament benefits the Southeast Pamlico VFD & EMS.

Awards happen that evening at the Station 19 Open House & Cookout fundraiser. You don’t have to go fishing to attend the Open House.

7:45a After a weekend of brutal heat, the rain may be heading our way. 50% chance of rain this afternoon, and a 70% chance Tuesday and Wednesday.

Despite the possibility of rain, highs are near 90 and heat index up to 107 today. Winds out of the southwest at 5mph, increasing to 10-15 this afternoon.

Visit Broad Strokes Gallery this morning and see the artists at work during their Open Studio hours, 9a-noon.

Typhoon Sailing happens at Bow to Stern this afternoon at 3 & 5p. Tonight at 7p, Pamlico County Commissioners hold the first of their two monthly meetings. Tonight’s agenda is here.

Views from this weekend’s CroakerFest are coming.

9:14a Happy Independence Day.

Today’s parade begins at 10a.

Floats line up along Ragan Rd and will follow a path down Broad Street, along Hodges to the Water front, past Lou Mac Park, and back to Ragan Rd. Your seat is anywhere along the route.

That heat advisory is still in effect – heat index up to 107. Take it easy out there.

The Oriental Bridge closes at 3p to traffic for the fireworks installation.

Fireworks start around 9:15p.

2:21p It’s Croaker Festival Weekend. A parade, fireworks. Even Mini Miss Minnow.

Opening ceremonies today at 4p, by Lou Mac park. The Pamlico Chorale, the Community Band. Norman Rockwell would be pleased.

Then there’s the Mini Miss Minnow Pageant, the Miss Minnow Pageant, the Croaker Queen Pageant. Live music. The detailed Croaker Festival Schedule is here.

Meanwhile Tanja’s German Street Food truck at the brewery, with Gary Lee & The Buttreys playing the beer garden tonight.

Saturday at the Croaker Festival, parade at 10a, fireworks 9:15p, and everything else in between. Two food trucks Saturday at New Village Brewery, and Hoff’n‘Finch play the beer garden.

Broad Strokes Gallery opens a special exhibit celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary: This Land, This Water. Opening reception July 4th, from 2-5p.

Sunday 8:30a at Lou Mac park, Oriental United Methodist Church has a riverside service.

It’s all in What’s Happening – and the Croaker Festival Guide.

6:42a At noon, South Avenue along Lou Mac Park and the river front shuts down to vehicle traffic for the Croaker Festival.

Today, vendor booths open at 9a. Opening ceremonies happen at Lou Mac Park at 4p followed by the Pamlico Chorale and Pamlico Community Band play.

Several contests are also happening today: the baking contest and the Miss Minnow, Mini Miss Minnow and Croaker Queen pageants. Southern Hellcats close out the night on the Main Stage.

The full schedule can be found here.

You may want to take precautions for the heat; the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for today, in effect noon – 8p.

Highs are forecast for the mid 90s, with a heat index up to 107. West winds will be around 5mph, becoming south this afternoon.