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Old Glory by Kevin Fetzer. It’s on display at Broad Strokes Gallery’s special exhibit celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary.

8:27a America has a birthday coming up. And it’s a big one. 250 years.

Every year, Pamlico County celebrates the nation’s birthday with a free event known as the Croaker Festival. That means two days of parades, pageants, baking contests, and fireworks.

Those fireworks are going to be twice as big. To do that, the folks at the Croaker Festival need your help.

The annual fireworks display from Oriental’s Bridge usually costs $10,000. Fireworks worthy of a quarter century celebration cost a little more. You can help make it happen by donating to the Croakerfest Fireworks Fund.

2:53p At this morning’s special meeting, Commissioners voted for an interim budget until the matter of SB 474 is settled by the General Assembly.

SB 474 would add Pamlico County to the list of counties that have been granted a moratorium on this year’s property tax reappraisals. It failed in a roll call vote on 6/23 (Senator Norm Sanderson, Senator for Pamlico County, voted against it).

The bill has been referred to Committee, where it may be advanced, rejected, or left to die if not scheduled for a hearing.

The request from CAMA for comment on the proposed dock in Oriental Harbor has been delayed. The original application was deemed incomplete and a new application – and comment period – will be forthcoming.

We may be in for some rain this weekend along with the heat: rain chance up to 70% and heat index values up to 105 Saturday, 107 Sunday.

Taqueria San Luis is at the Brewery tonight, 4-8p. Brant Island Strings plays 5-7p. George Bailey plays live down the road at the Red Rooster at 7p.

The Oriental Farmer’s Market is open on Hodges Street by the harbor, 8-11a.

Sign up for the USCG Auxiliary Boat America Class, at Riverside UMC in New Bern. Learn the legal requirements of boating, how to navigate the waterways and more. Many insurance companies also offer discounts on boat insurance for having completed this course.

Saturday is also the 9th Anniversary of New Village Brewery. To celebrate, the Brewery is hosting a BBQ potluck – Frank provides the BBQ, you bring the side dishes. Ken Belangia, Mark Tesh, Nottaband and others provide the music. Food served around 3p, music runs all day.

Saturday is the opening of The Oriental History Museum’s Newest Exhibit: Rollin’ on the River. Find out how the Neuse fueled the lives and economy of eastern North Carolina. Join the Opening Day Reception on Saturday, 1-4p.

Sunday, join Oriental UMC in Lou Mac Park for the Riverside Service at 8:30a. While there are usually plenty of chairs, you can bring your own, or listen from your golf cart, bike or car.

This is the last weekend to enjoy the artwork of Broad Strokes’ June artists Charlie and Susan Frye, before the July artists are announced. Broad Strokes Gallery is open all weekend.

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

It’s all in What’s Happening.

6:41a A Special Budget meeting happens this morning at 9a at Town Hall. Commissioners are attempting to pass a budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year, but have been held up by pending state legislation.

They’ll discuss the paths forward at this morning meeting. Also on the morning agenda: a request for the Town’s response to a CAMA permit for a 600’ dock in Oriental’s harbor, new auxiliary board appointees, and a proposed change to the Tourism ordinance.

Find the agenda and documents here.

8:13a The pecan tree in Lupton Park is coming down this morning.

The tree company is on site. If you’d like any of the wood, visit the park this morning to pick it up and haul it off.

Today is Game Day with Prime Time – they meet at the Fellowship Hall at the Oriental United Methodist Church, 2-4p. Taco Loco serves lunch at Triton Boat Yard starting at 11a.

This evening is the Wednesday Night Sail (at 5p) and Open Mic Night at the Silos (7p).

Find a lost pet and trying to find the owner? A new scanner at Town Hall might help.

There’s a chip scanner on the side of Town Hall, near the office door. To use, break the plastic tie holding the door closed, and follow the instructions inside.

If the pet has a chip, the scanner will provide the information. The box also has the information for contacting Pamlico County Animal Control.

4:31p Thursday’s Town Budget Meeting has been moved to Friday, Jun 26, 9a.

Town Manager Miller said Commissioners are expecting either an approval or denial of legislation that would exempt Pamlico County from imposing the 2026 tax valuations until 2027.

If passed, Oriental would use the old rates from 2025 for this year, and give residents time to appeal appraisals and give State legislators time to work through broader property tax reforms.

Once the levy for the budget is approved, it cannot be amended, even in the case of new legislation.

12:46p There’s a Town Budget Meeting scheduled for this Thursday, June 25, at 9a.

At the June 9 regular monthly Town Board Meeting, Commissioners opened, and then continued the budget hearing without a vote until the end of the month, pending open and ongoing budget legislation in the General Assembly. Part of that legislation has passed.

Commissioners meet Thursday to hear the three budget options available to the town. A budget must be passed before the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

There’s other business for Thursday’s meeting, including a request from NC Department of Environmental Quality to respond to a CAMA permit submitted by Point Pride Seafood.

The request is to erect a 600’ × 8’ dock parallel to the jetty protecting Oriental’s harbor, and to dredge 400’ along that dock. Here is the proposed dock and dredging area along the jetty:

Read the full application, along with the other documents for Thursday’s meeting, here.

8:13a Highs today in the low 90s. It’s not just the high temperature – it’s the heat index.

The combined heat (low-90s) & humidity (around 85%) equal heat index values – or how hot it feels. Today’s heat index is up to 102.

South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. A very slight chance of rain in the forecast today – 20%. Tomorrow, that chance increases to 50%, but does not bring a thermal reprieve. Highs are in the low to mid 90s for the rest of the week.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• HarborCam

Looking for a pet companion? Oriental Village Veterinary has three cute kittens ready for adoption. For free. Take a look:

Pick one (or all) of them up at 407 Broad Street in Oriental.

8:43a On your Sunday list: The Jeff Little Trio plays the Old Theater stage, 3p today.

Some Jeff Little Trio:

More Jeff Little show info here.

New Village Brewery is open on Sundays for the summer. Lili Bacon writes in:

8:26a Today is the first day of summer 2026. There are quotes for summer.

Sunny & low 90s today and Monday. Lazy 5-10 knot winds on the Neuse.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

Hurricane season officially began on June 1… just one (brief) storm so far this season.

NOAA has predicted a mild hurricane season for 2026. So far it’s true.

The Croaker Festival is less than two weeks away. May summer fun be ahead…

3:58p This weekend in Oriental, choose your live music experience: Friday at the Brewery & Red Rooster, Saturday’s all-day music event Silospalooza, or Sunday’s piano-playing bluegrass band The Jeff Little Trio.

Or you can do all three days.

Tonight at the Brewery, Jasmine Tasty Thai serves now until 8p, with Songs from the Road Band live in the beer garden, 5-7:30p. A little ways down Broad Street, Ken Belangia performs at the Red Rooster at 7p.

Saturday morning, walk or peddle for Parkinson’s starting at Lou Mac park at 9a. Get your fresh eggs and more at the Oriental Farmer’s Market, 8-1130a. Enjoy wine tastings at Nautical Wheelers at 2 & 3p.

Silospalooza, the free outdoor music event, celebrates 13 years. Bands play from noon to 9:30p. Pizza eating contest at 4:30p. Foods, drinks, or barbecue available for purchase. It’s all behind the Silos on Broad Street.

Sunday morning, OUMC holds riverside services at Lou Mac Park at 8:30a. The Jeff Little Trio take the stage at The Old Theater Sunday at 3p.

Mariposa serves fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p. For Father’s Day, Mariposa serves a special charcuterie board to celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, including beef with caramelized onions, and mashed potato balls.

Broad Strokes gallery is open all weekend, featuring June artists of the month Charlie and Susan Frye.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

11:10a Today marks 39 years since Mariner Realty began selling homes in Oriental. Celebrate with them and get a free lunch, now until 2p at their offices on Broad Street, next to New Village Brewery.

El Taco Loco serves tonight at the Brewery, 4-8p.

The pecan tree in Lupton Park is coming down. The Oriental Tree Board invites you to take some of the wood, for use or posterity.

11:24a This morning’s rain shower dropped a little over half an inch of rain in Oriental. It’s been a total of 1.66 inches of rain for June, and is likely to increase Friday: there’s an 80% chance of thunderstorms moving through the area.

Today, highs are in the mid-80s with humidity around 80%. A more bearable situation than the sweltering heat of last week.

El Taco Loco is serving lunch at Triton Yachts today, and the Wednesday Night Sail takes a turn around the marks this evening at 5p.

It’s also Open Mic Night at the Silos at 7p. You can attend in person.

Six years ago, that wasn’t the case. The world shut down, but Open Mic Night went on – streamed live online. TownDock.net was there.

4:50p Grosvenor Barber passed away yesterday. He was 96. Grosvenor was a father, husband, sailor… and the long time Dockmaster at Pecan Grove Marina. A character, an original.

Grosvenor in the 2008 Croaker Festival parade:

Spirit Of Christmas parade, 2013:

7:56a After weekend thunderstorms and a heat index near 100, the first part of the week offers a slight reprieve: partly to mostly sunny with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Only a 20 – 30% chance of rain.

90 degree weather returns briefly at the end of the week.

On the Neuse, winds are from the west at 10-15 knots, becoming 5-10 knots later this morning and afternoon.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental Weather Station

2:07p Power is back at the Piglet – the breaker is fixed – all is good for a 3p reopening.

A large breaker broke – stopping one leg of power to get to the store. All the power wasn’t out – any food that was effected was thrown out.

The breaker failure also prevented the generator from being able to provide backup power.

8:14a Power went out at The Piggly Wiggly in Oriental at 5p last night. It is still out this morning, the store is closed.

Apparently a large breaker failed, stopping one leg of power. This is preventing the back-up generator from working too.

Owner Billy Flockhart is at the store – he says a replacement part is on the way (coming from Burlington, NC). An electrician will install that when it arrives – Billy hopes to reopen at 3p today.

4:17p Tonight, after a delay due to a burn ban, the Pamlico County Arts Dragon burns.

Doors open at 6:30p at The Silos. The burn starts at sundown.

La Cocina del Coqui serves Cuban fare at the Brewery, 4-8p. Eugene Wheeler (one half of YardSail) performs 6-8p in the beer garden.

Saturday is the Oriental Farmer’s Market, 8-11a. Los Gordos food truck serves 5-8p at the Brewery and NottaBand performs 6-8:30p.

Sunday, visit Lou Mac Park for Oriental United Methodist’s riverside service, 8:30a. Paddle for Parkinson’s Research at 9a, leaving from the Wildlife Ramp on Midyette St. Black Panther plays at The Old Theater at 3p.

Broad Strokes gallery is open all weekend, featuring June artists of the month Charlie and Susan Frye.

Mariposa serves fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p. ‘Second Sunday Soup’ is on offer from 11a-2p, serving chilled soup, gazpacho, with homemade bread and focaccia.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

Oriental’s waters tested clear for bacteria this weekend, according to the Sound Rivers’ Swim Guide. Not all waters passed the test. Read the full Swim Guide results here.

10:45a If you are approached and asked about registering for the upcoming November election, be cautious.

An incident at the Piggly Wiggly and the Grantsboro Walmart has Oriental Police Chief Bill Wichrowski issuing this notice:

If you’re out and about today, please be on the lookout for a Black Jeep Gladiator. Last seen in the Oriental area and had a black male, black female, white female, and Spanish female occupant. They are approaching people trying to get their social security numbers and personal information.

If seen, stop and identify the occupants and get any information from them regarding their employer. We need to verify they are legitimate. Thanks

Contact the Oriental Police Department at (252) 249-0369 or the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 745-3101.

9:57a Fresh wild caught Alaska salmon, available in Oriental? Doug Sligh writes in:

Some of you may remember an opportunity that originated with Melinda Penkava and Jeff Styron (Garland Fulcher Seafood) about ten years ago. Mel announced on TownDock.net that she was going to place an order with Jeff for fresh Chinook salmon and invited others to join in. She warned us it would be more expensive than farmed Atlantic salmon, and she was right. But there is nothing quite as good as grilled or sauteed Chinook salmon.

The Chinook season in Alaska is now open and Jeff is looking to place an order for us – the price will be $28 per pound.

If you are interested in ordering fresh Chinook salmon, send an email message to Doug Sligh at mapdls@gmail.com with Salmon in the subject line and your name, phone number, and the number of pounds in the body of the message. Jeff expects delivery in mid-July.

9:40a The Dragon Burn tonight… is for the year of the horse. Artist Laura Turgeon was inspired:

More about tonight’s Dragon Burn here.

11:00a The County has called another Special Budget Meeting for Friday afternoon, June 12 at 3:30p in the courthouse annex.

Taco Loco Food truck is serving at Triton Boat Yard today for lunch.

This evening, join the Wednesday Night Sail on the water at Oriental Marker #1SC at 5p. It’s Open mic Night upstairs at the Silos, 7p.

9:03a At last night’s monthly Town Board meeting, Commissioners opened, and then continued the budget hearing without a vote until the end of the month, pending ongoing budget legislation in the General Assembly.

Commissioners heard from residents regarding the pecan tree at Lupton Park, and spent time discussing the reports, the expert opinions, and the legalities involved. They voted that the tree be removed.

A full meeting report is coming.

12:55p Tonight is the monthly meeting of the Oriental Town Board, 6p at Town Hall. On the agenda, a public hearing on the town budget, a tree, traffic, parks and the usual discussions of running a small town. The public is invited.

That tree the board will be discussing is a Pecan Tree at Lupton Park. Letters have been written in from the Oriental Tree Board, and citizens. Like life, there are differing views on a tree. Read more here.

Wednesday Neuse Neighbors holds their monthly coffee hour, a get-together for folks to learn more about the organization. Neuse Neighbors defines itself this way:

The coffee hour is 9a, Oriental Town Hall.

11:53a A pecan tree in Lupton Park has a few residents stirred up. Decay has rendered it a liability.

Dr. Bob Miller, former chair of Oriental’s Tree Board, Emeritus Professor of Urban Forestry at the University of Wisconsin, and the man who helped write the actual textbook on trees in urban spaces, Urban Forestry: Planning and Managing Urban Greenspaces, says the tree needs to come down.

Some residents disagree.

They want to maintain the tree as long as possible.

A letter from the Tree Board explains where things currently stand. Read it here.

1:52p Sunny weekend ahead, highs near 90. There’s live music, an artists’ reception, and the Brewery is open for summer Sundays.

Tanja’s German Street Food is at the Brewery tonight, serving Döner sandwiches, 5-8p. Hoff ‘n’ Finch perform live in the beer garden, 6-8:30p. Down the road, Mac McWilliams performs on the Bantam Stage at the Red Rooster, 7p.

Pick up fresh greens Saturday morning at the Oriental Farmer’s Market on Saturday, 8-11a. Meet artists Featured Artists for June, Charlie & Susan Frye, at Broad Strokes Gallery’s Artists’ Reception, 2-5p. At the Brewery, it’s Taqueria San Luis, 4-8p and Packhouse plays live, 5:30-8p.

The Brewery is now open Sundays (now til Labor Day weekend). All About Churros serves on site, 2-6p.

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

It’s all in What’s Happening.

West Marine has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While the nationwide chain is expected to continue with about 200 stores, they are closing 59 West Marine locations as part of restructuring the business.

Among those is the West Marine in Oriental.

Store manager Ann Fetter tells TownDock that the store will be open, normal hours, through the end of August. After that, the store will close.

The West Marine in Oriental first opened in 2004.

Oriental is fortunate to have a locally owned marine store, The Provision Company, which has been a part of town since the mid 1980s: theprovisioncompany.com.

Next door to the West Marine, is locally owned Seacoast Marine Electronics, providing marine electronics including a showroom of Raymarine and Garmin gear.

Village Hardware, also locally owned, carries a significant stock of marine supplies.

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, two sites failed. Once of them is Pierce Creek in Oriental.

From the Swim Guide: “A ‘Swim Guide fail’ means elevated levels of fecal bacteria, which can come with increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections for pets and humans alike.”

Read the full press release here.