The Ocracoke Community Pool Association will hold a Clam Chowder Cookoff from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, in the Ocracoke Community Center.
The fundraising event will follow the group’s successful closing on Sept. 19 of a 1.4-acre property on which to build their long-sought community pool, said Ruth Toth, board president.
The location and details will be announced at the cookoff on Sept. 20.
Tasting for $10 per person will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for two categories: traditional Ocracoke style and innovative.
A people’s choice ballots will decide who is awarded the top prizes.
There also will be a raffle and Pool Association T-shirts for sale.
Toth said there will be 12 chowders to taste that she is still accepting chowder entries if there’s room. Call her at 252-588-2226.
After forming in 2023, through aggressive fundraising the pool association has garnered enough money for a down payment on the selected property.
“We were able to put $75,000 towards it, from the from the money we’d raised and from donations,” she said. “That gave us a nice down payment and closing costs.”
The donations have come from all over, she said, including people who “just thought it was worth supporting, and they took a chance on us, and hopefully they’ll be very pleased that they did.”
It’s been over 10 years since swimming lessons were conducted by the Ocracoke Youth Center, Toth said. They were the last ones to offer it.
Island hotel pools have declined to allow swimming instruction saying insurance liability only covers their guests.
And the Pamlico Sound is not suitable for large-scale swimming instruction.
Toth said that water safety instruction for children from ages of one and four decrease their chances of drowning by 88%.
There is a lot of money that comes in from the tourest tax. Why is that not available for this project?
The Occupancy Tax Fund does indeed garner a lot of money for the island, much of which granted out yearly to numerous island nonprofits who submit requests. The pool association had indeed asked for money but they needed to have a place to build a pool. Since they are due to close on a property Sept. 19, they will no doubt again apply for funding.
The Occupancy Tax Board gave OCPA a grant for $35,200 for pool planning and development this fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. We appreciate their support and confidence in our organization.
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