This Afternoon
Se Winds 5 - 10 Knots

Upcoming Events

• Mariposa Wine Bar & Bakery, July 12-14
• Open Sailing @ Bow to Stern - Mondays @ 3p & 5p
• The One-Off Book Club - July 14
• Town Bd Meeting - July 15
• Open Mic Night @ The Silos - Wednesday

Silospalooza 2025:

Five bands, 95 degrees. The Story

Croaker Festival 2025:

45 years of Croakerfest. The Story

Letters: Time To File To Become A Commissioner:

How to file to become a candidate. Letters To The Editor

Traveling Scenic Route 70:

Driving - and reviving - a classic highway. The Story

The Library Gets Its Own Space:

Pamlico County Library is open for business. The Story

Miss June 2025: Rosie:

Eight pounds of pure survival. Pet Of The Month

SV Mysto:

An inspired boat restoration. The Shipping News

Tom Lathrop, 1931 - 2025:

Master woodworker, engineer, loving family man. The Story

2025 Ol' Front Proch Music Festival Lineup:

Folk & Americana, Jazz & Bluegrass. The Story

Ralf Heit, 1951 - 2025:

Husband, sailor, traveler & friend. The Story

Letters: Remembering David Cox:

Memories of a fellow Oriental citizen. Letters To The Editor

David R. Cox, 1937-2023:

Navy Captain, sailor, husband, father, town commissioner. The Story

The 2025 Oriental Boat Show:

Saturday was cold, Sunday's sunshine made it all feel better. The Story

PAWS Pet Parade 2025:

Banana Bandit Top Dog. The Story

Seeking STEM Speakers:

Just speak for 5 minutes about your career. Guest Columnist

Whittaker Creek Channel: Dredging and a Reroute:

Grants and community funding combine, just a little more needed. The Story

2025 SailPack Regatta:

Schools from 3 coasts and a Great Lake compete. The Story

Taking the Tension out of a Canvas Install:

A guide to installing canvas. Canvas Corner

1926 Motor Yacht Mariner III:

Almost a century on the water. The Shipping News

Navigating a Valentine's Day Gift:

Finding love's way. Captain's Blog

January 2025 Town Board Meeting:

Ordinance revision tabled, Water projects move ahead. The Story

SV Skookum Takes On The World:

Mini Globe Competitor With Pamlico Connections. The Shipping News

48 Hour Film Project - 2025:

Small Town Filmmakers on the Big Screen. The Story

Jimmy, Millard and Sam built some houses:

President Carter and Habitat For Humanity. Guest Columnist

Friends Of The Dragon 2025:

It takes a village to house a dragon. The Story

December 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Auditor gives updates, SUP burden shifted. The Story

2024 Spirit of Christmas Schedule:

What's happening, where and when. The Story

Giving Locally 2024:

Area Non-Profits That Could Use Your Donations. The Story

Zac Schnell New Acting President At PCC:

Neil Callahan is Acting VP of instruction . The Story

SV Naia:

RV world travelers become sailors. The Shipping News

Letters: Keep Oriental's Elections Non-Partisan:

A two year term for this board is enough. Letters To The Editor

The 2024 Chili Cook-off:

Ten teams spice it up. The Story

Oriental Cup 2024:

Twenty-five Boats Compete. The Story

Skip Bailey, 1947 - 2024:

Friend, home builder, lobsterman. The Story

Ol' Front Porch Transportation:

Parking, Golf Carts, Getting Around. The Story

Letters: The Latest From A Dysfunctional Town Board:

A volunteer Oriental board remains in need of a member. Letters To The Editor

Rolf Anselm, 1930 - 2024:

Artist, Gadgeteer, Inquisitive Mind. The Story

August 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Elections not changed, Board of Adjustment up in the air. The Story

Letters: Not Without a Public Vote:

Changing the year will change the terms. Letters To The Editor

Letters: The Dock Cats of Hodges Street:

A few too many felines. Letters To The Editor

July 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Short Term Dock Usage & a Dumpster Dialogue. The Story

A Long, Hot Hit Parade:

The 2024 Croaker Festival & Parade. The Story

Early Morning Lights:

Not a comet. The Story

Letters: Thank you to the Minnesott Ferry crew:

Looking out for a dog in need. Letters To The Editor

Sylvia Jane (Williams) Wright, 1942 - 2024:

Wife, mother, friend. The Story

Letters: Thanks for Saving A Life:

'An example of the best humankind''. The Story

Virginia Jenks Goodwin, 1934 - 2024:

Wife, mother, and a founding member of St. Thomas Episcopal. The Story

Basketball Sailing:

Handle Hard Better. Captain's Blog

2024 Dragon's Breath Regatta:

Thirteen Races for Thirteen Vessels. The Story

June 2024 Town Board Meeting:

New Business Application, New Deputy Finance Director. The Story

SailPack Coach Dana Magliola Named To The ICSA Hall Of Fame:

Dana receives the Outstanding Service by a Volunteer Award. The Story

Letters: Defunding Pamlico Schools?:

Two views on what's happening with schools. Letters To The Editor

May 2024 Town Board Meeting:

Statements called rumors, and how about an outdoor movie?. The Story

DANGER SHOAL: A New Sign in Whittaker Creek Channel:

Change to Whittaker Creek Channel Mark #3. The Story

Janice Frazier Coakley, 1960 - 2024:

Animal advocate, twin sister, loving wife & mother. The Story

2024 Town Wide Yard Sale:

Trinkets & Treasures. The Story

2024 Sailpack Regatta:

Collegiate sailors compete on the Neuse. The Story

Rezonings Denied, SUP Review Coming:

April Town Board Meeting 2024. The Story

Rumors Addressed, Questions Answered:

March Town Board Meeting 2024. The Story

Sailpack 2024 This Weekend:

Everything you need to know about this weekend. Guest Columnist

The 2024 Oriental In-Water Boat Show:

Motorboats, Sailboats, and a Masthead Float. The Story

Thanks to Neuse Neighbors Volunteers:

April is Volunteer Month. Letters To The Editor

2024 Pet Parade:

A pirate ship, a pun, and an impersonation. The Story

Douglas 'Doug' Wayne Gaither, 1945-2024:

Repairman, Husband, Helper. The Story

RV Park Proposed Near Whittaker Creek:

Residential to Multi-Use Rezoning Requested. The Story

Josephus "Jos" J. H. P. Muffels, 1953 - 2024:

Adventurer, Craftsman, Loving Husband. The Story

The Spring Break 'Trophy' Regatta:

Collegiate sailors train in Oriental. The Story

The 2024 Dragon Burn:

Smoke, fire, and ash. The Story

1:36p Silospalooza was June 21. It was a hot day in June (most are). Five bands and hundreds of humans came to The Silos/Red Rooster to palozza.

11:01a. For your calendar: Harborfest for Heartworks 2025 is Saturday Sept 27. This year the event moves back to HeartWorks? all at the Safe Harbor Youth Center. More here.

10:20a The shrimp are running. Sunday night shrimpers were on the Neuse in numbers. Big trawlers and little ones.

Neuse River brown shrimp will begin to show up for sale. Keith Bruno (actually Zac) caught a bunch, but says he is almost out this morning.

It?s hot. Highs near 90, heat index (feels like) about 100. Later this week, even hotter.

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast

The folks at Tidewater Grain are looking for both full time summer help and after school part time help. A high school student could fit. Tidewater is growing and selling rice (and other grains) right here in Pamlico County. It?s an impressive home grown operation. More info here.

1:34p Tonight at New Village Brewery, Big Jim Kohler starts up @ 6p, with Capone?s A Taste of Philly food truck serving dinner. Down the road, Ken Belangia plays the Red Rooster, 7p.

Saturday is the first day of the weekend for Mariposa, the wine bar & bakery. Saturday has become the main day that Mariposa sells bread: many kinds including sourdough, French, ciabatta rolls, etc. Mariposa is open Sat ? Mon, 6a-11a (bakery) and 3p-9p (wine bar).

Saturday at the brewery Uncle Fred?s Food Truck. He?s everywhere: Ken Belangia plays the beer garden. Sunday at the brewery, work on your best New England accent: Cousin?s Maine Lobster Food Truck serves noon-5p.

A couple events for your calendar: The Parrothead Regatta (from New Bern to Oriental) is Saturday July 19. The Dinghy Poker run is July 26.

It?s all in What?s Happening.

No tacos this weekend? or for a few weeks. A note from Pete & Martha Newman:

2:32p It almost rained on the fireworks. But it didn?t. There was rain before, rain after. But sometimes things shine your way? the fireworks show Saturday night got a perfect dry spell.

The parade, the Croaker Queen and Miss Minnow? here?s the 2025 Croaker Festival.

10:14a Five Commissioner seats and one for Mayor ? the sign up period for Oriental?s elected officials is open.

So far there are three names in the hat for Commissioner: Bonnie Crosser, Greg Bohmert, and Iris Cooper. Crosser is an incumbent, having served one term. This will be the third run for Bohmert; he ran in 2017 & 2023. Cooper is the newcomer.

Jean White writes in with more details on the process. The last day to sign up is next Friday, July 18 at noon.

5:55a Hold onto your hat: gusts up to 25 knots / 30 mph this afternoon & tonight.

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast
? Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

Those winds will be from the south & southwest. Water levels will be staying lower.

? Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

11:02a Tropical Storm Chantal is inland? and downgraded to Tropical Depression Chantal.

That?s it for Chantal being tracked by the National Hurricane Center? the remains of the storm are now primarily a rain event, west and inland of our lil? town.

? Tropical Depression Chantal Tracking Chart
? Hurricane Center

5:53p The threat of rain has pushed Sunday?s morning riverside Community Worship Service inside.

The service will now be at the United Methodist Church at 9:30a, at the corner of Freemason Street and 3rd Ave.

12:20p Dark clouds over Oriental Harbor Marina:

8:11a Rain is likely this afternoon, but the parade looks like it will just sneak in while the world is dry(ish).

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast

Tropical Depression Three has been upgraded ? now Tropical Storm Chantal, with max 40 mph winds The forecast track has the system going inland at the South Carolina coast, and should stay west of us. We may get a bit wet from the edge of Chantal.

? Tropical Storm Chantal Tracking Chart
? Hurricane Center

5:32a That low pressure off Florida is now Invest 92, on the Atlanta near the Florida/Georgia border. Invest 92 isn?t expected to become much of a storm, with initial tracks taking it inland and west of us. It does look like it might rain on Charlotte.

? Hurricane Center

7:23a Commissioner. It could be your new title.

This November are the Oriental town board elections. There are 5 Commissioner seats, and the Mayor is also up for election. Jean White writes in that it is soon time to file to get your name on the ballot.

6:02a That low pressure system off Florida is still being watched by NOAA/NHC. Now a 50% chance of development, but models are not suggesting a significant storm would emerge:

See more in the Hurricane Center

As is typical for summer forecasts, there is a chance of rain most every day in the next few days. July 4 (Friday) upper 80s, and Saturday should be mostly sunny. There is a 50% chance of afternoon showers, but that should allow the parade (starts at 10a) to sneak by before any wet visits.

? Oriental NC Forecast

Light 5-10 knot stuff on the Neuse today and Friday, then a bit more spirited winds 10-15 Saturday.

? Neuse River Marine Forecast

There?s a parade coming this Saturday. Paul Fairbank has been the village Parade Master for a long time. He says he is going to retire:

The new Parade Masters are Bobbi & Phil McKenney. You can learn more about the parade & the Croaker Festival at croakerfestival.com

Marvin Bullock used to live in Oriental. He visited for a bit a few weeks back, as he started a journey to cross the USA east to west, all via US 70.

2:10p The tropical depression in the gulf has been upgraded & gets a name. It?s Tropical Storm Barry, a modest system that will stay at the Mexican coast.

Meanwhile, a low pressure system stretching from Florida to the NC coast has some storm development potential:

The words from NOAA/NHC:

More info in the Hurricane Center

10:02a Today is a special day in Oriental: it?s a key day for New Village Brewery.

The brewery celebrates it?s 8th year anniversary.

There?s a BBQ potluck this afternoon. Food served around 2:30-3ish. Local musicians will be jamming 2:30-4:30p.

You?re invited.

3:17p House Bill 442, which would have banned shrimp trawling in the Neuse & Pamlico Sound, will not pass. It was killed in caucus today? it never came up for a vote.

The measure had passed the NC Senate last week by a wide margin, but it was a last minute addition to another bill. There may be reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue, but adding a substantial law change to another bill at the last minute didn?t sit well with many.

Yesterday about a thousand fishermen converged in Raleigh, voicing their opposition to the proposed shrimp trawling ban.

Fighting the bill were representatives that don?t usually work together, but on HB 442 they found common ground.

Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort (who also represents Pamlico County) stated earlier ?This [bill] is going to die a quick, painful death or we?re going to die trying.? Working also to fight the bill was Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford. Harrison supports environmental causes, but argued in this case that the shrimping ban is not an environmental policy.

Local shrimping will continue.

9:01a It used to be a Hardees.

It took years of planning and fundraising? now it?s the Pamlico County Library.

7:50a Storm Andrea is no more? she was just officially a storm for half a day. Now, a ?remnant low.?

Andrea was the first official storm of the 2025 season. Here are the storm names on tap for 2025:

? Hurricane Center

5:01p HB 442 will not be voted on today. Some think the crowd in Raleigh may have convinced enough house members to oppose the bill, others fear that they are just waiting a day for the vote. Fisherman Keith Bruno was there:

The scene outside the legislature:

3:34p We?re waiting on word from Raleigh re the NC House voting on HB 442, which would ban inshore shrimp trawling (this includes the Neuse River & Pamlico Sound). At one point today over 1,000 people were at the legislature, protesting the proposed bill.

No vote yet.

It reached 97 degrees in downtown Oriental today. We?ve now ?cooled off? to 95. More of the same is forecast for Wednesday.

1:38p Invest 90 has been declared as Tropical Storm Andrea, the first Atlantic storm this season. Andrea is mid Atlantic, heading away from us, and will have a short life.

? Tropical Storm Andrea Tracking Chart
? Hurricane Center

10:12a Sent in a few minutes ago from the legislature building in Raleigh? a seafood truck with a message parked on Jones Street:

8:01a As word of a proposed ban on inshore shrimping spread, some local governments are expressing concern.

Among them, the town board of Oriental, who Monday passed a resolution opposing the proposed bill.

Monday afternoon?s high reached 98 degrees. The Oriental Weather Station shows the rising thermometer:

Today and Wednesday, hot highs in the mid 90s, with heat index numbers above 110.

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast

7:52a Back in May, NOAA/NHC predicated an ?above average? hurricane season. The headlines last week (on breathless sites) were ?slowest hurricane season start in 20 years?.

The hurricane season officially began June 1, but today is just the fourth day of summer 2025.

Storm season has barely started.

Out in the Atlantic this morning is the first sniff of a 2025 tropical storm system. Invest 90 might become a storm, but it?s not coming our way:

? Atlantic Tropical Storm Outlook

Here in river city, a brutal day ahead. We are forecast to see upper 90s today, heat index near 110. Tuesday & Wednesday mid 90s, more high humid heat index #s.

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast

9:05a Julie Williams is a rising star in Nashville. Today, she?s coming to Oriental. Have a listen:

Showtime 4:30p at the Old Theater. They?ve got the air conditioners humming. More info here.

7:17a The forecast is slightly less worser. But still hot. Those from a different latitude might say too hot:

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast

Mariposa bakery is open this morning. Mariposa hours are a little different: Open 3 days a week as follows: Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Bakery hours: 6a ? 11a, Wine bar hours: 3p-9p.

1:58p It?s the first weekend of summer. It?s Silospalooza.

Sample the brews of Birdsong and Wicked Weed breweries today at the Provision Company, 2-4p.

Friday night, get a cheesesteak sandwich at the Brewery from Capone?s: A Taste of Philly from 3-8 and head to the beer garden to hear Back Pocket Buddha, from 6-8:30p.

Catch local favorites Harbor Sounds at Stonewall Methodist Church at 6:30p ? rumor has it this may be one of their last performances.

Sailors participating in the Ocracoke Regatta anchor or raft up at Indian Island Friday night. Start is Saturday morning.

Watercolorist Karen Noll Schaff, is exhibiting at Broad Strokes Gallery as their June artist of the month.

Start Saturday at the Oriental Farmer?s Market on Hodges Street by the harbor. Sample French wines at Nautical Wheelers at 2 & 3p.

Silospalooza starts at 2:30p, featuring five bands, BBQ plates, and a pizza eating contest. Entry is free.

Jasmine Tasty Thai serves at the Brewery Saturday night from 4-8p, the Mad Fiddler plays from 6-8:30p.

Sunday morning the Oriental United Methodist Church holds service at the riverside, 8:30a at Lou Mac Park.

Grab a bite from Captain Jim?s Fresh Seafood at the Brewery, 1:30p-4:30p.

Award-winning singer & songwriter Julie Williams plays at The Old Theater at 4:30p.

It?s all in What?s Happening.

7:50a This is it. The first official day of summer 2025.

Today is the summer solstice, the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In proper scientific terms, today the North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day (most sunlight) and shortest night of the year.

You look confused. Maybe y?all need a pretty diagram:

It all sounds OK, until you look at the forecast. It?s about to get hot. Stinkin? hot. Monday and Tuesday forecast to get close to 100.

? Oriental NC Forecast
? Oriental Weather Station
? Neuse River Marine Forecast
? Weather Radar

2:12p Oriental?s History Museum closes its current exhibit, ?Oriental?s Remarkable Women?, at the end of June.

Tonight the Museum holds a reception from 7 ? 9p to say ?goodbye? to the exhibit and to the legacy of those women who changed the face of this town and the county. You?re invited. Light refreshments served.

Oriental?s History Museum is at 802 Broad Street, open: Friday 11-3 and Saturday 1-4. Admission free with donations gratefully accepted.

10:14a If you?re trying to reach Dr. Hicks at Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital, you?ll need to use their alternate number: 252-515-6044.

There are problems with their main phone line. They expect phone service to be restored Thursday afternoon.

6:22a It?s Wednesday, and Oriental?s Piggly Wiggly has new weekly specials.

Here are the Piglet deals for June 18 ? 24.

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