Sunday, April 26, 2026
Home Blog Page 335

Tropical storm watch issued for Ocracoke

0
Hurricane Jose’s progress north brings strong surf on Ocracoke Saturday afternoon off Ramp 72 at the airport. Incoming tide was reaching the dunes at around 4:30 p.m. Photo: C. Leinbach

The National Weather Service this afternoon issued a tropical storm watch for the coastal waters from Ocracoke northward due to the winds from Hurricane Jose.

Jose is forecast to expand as it lifts north, passing about 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras later Monday. 

While this track would keep the strongest winds and heaviest rains well offshore, the strongest winds are expected to develop Monday and continue through Monday night. 

The main impact will be very rough surf and dangerous rip currents that will continue through at least Tuesday. The very large waves combine with gusty north winds could lead to beach erosion and possible ocean overwash later Monday through early Tuesday with areas north of Cape Hatteras having the best chance to see this. 
According to NOAA, a Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical-storm conditions are possible within the specified area and a Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical-storm conditions are expected within a specified area.

All ferry boats back in service, full summer schedule resumes today

0

 

Crossing Hatteras Inlet. Photo: C. Leinbach

The MV Frisco is back in  service and  the summer schedule with six ferries  resumes today. 

Here is the current  schedule: 

Departing Hatteras:

May 16 to Oct. 2. Departing Monday through Saturdays: 5 a.m., 6:15, 7:20, 8:35, 9, 9:15, 9:40, 10, 10:30, 10:55, 11:20, 11:35, noon, 12:20 p.m. 12:50, 1:15, 1:40, 1:55, 2:20, 2:40, 3:10, 3:35, 4, 4:15, 5, 5:30, 5:45, 6:20, 6:35, 6:45, 7:20, 7:50, 8:15, 9:15, 10:45, midnight.

Departing Sundays: 5 a.m., 6, 7, 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, noon, 12:30 p.m. 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7:30, 8, 9, 11, midnight.

Departing Ocracoke:

May 16 to Oct. 2. Departing Monday through Saturdays: 5 a.m., 6:10, 7:25, 8:30, 9:45, 10:10, 10:25, 10:50, 11:10, 11:40, 12:05 p.m., 12:30, 12:45, 1:10, 1:30, 2, 2:25, 2:50, 3:05, 3:30, 3:50, 4:20, 4:45, 5:10, 5:25, 6:10, 6:40, 7, 7:30, 7:45, 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10:30, midnight.

Departing Sundays: 4:30 a.m., 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11, 11:30, noon,12:30 p.m., 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 9, 9:30, 10:30, 12:30 a.m.

Local gardening class to be teleconferenced

0
A sample of island flowers in a garden. Photo: C. Leinbach

Local area horticulture agent Gene Fox and the Beaufort County Extension Master Gardener volunteers will host an introductory gardening class, “Learn to Grow in Your Space,” from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Hyde County Extension Center and teleconferenced for Ocracoke in the Community Center.

This class will teach a brief overview of soils, vegetables, fruits, and turf in our area.

The class will serve as an introduction to growing in the home landscape. More in-depth classes will be taught in the fall to advance your knowledge from beginner to intermediate gardener. 

Birders to flock to Outer Banks for Wings Over Water

0
Birders on the dunes of Ocracoke for a Wings Over Water field trip. Gil Randell, a raptor migration expert, is third from right. Photo: P. Vankevich

Editor’s note: The Portsmouth Island field trip is full, Ocracoke has three openings as of yesterday (Sept. 14). 

Since its beginning 20 years ago, the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival has grown so much it now describes itself as the one of the East Coast’s premier wildlife festivals.
Taking place Oct. 17 to 22 and again Dec. 9 and 10, the event will feature 99 trips and programs. It was developed in large part to attract visitors to the Outer Banks during a time when tourism activity is slower and the weather is cooler though still mild.

Semipalmated Plover on Ocracoke. Photo: P. Vankevich

In addition to numerous birding field trips and workshops, there are also sunrise and sunset kayak tours and photography forays. A new activity will be Bear and Bird Photography with Mark Buckler, Oct. 20.
The festival events take place primarily on the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, on Hatteras Island and at the Alligator
River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland.

Two birding trips–on Ocracoke, Oct. 20, and Portsmouth islands, Oct. 21–will be led by Peter Vankevich, the Christmas Bird Count compiler for these two islands.

Wing Over Water leaders are professors, top birders, well-respected botanists and biologist, authors and award-winning photographers and artists.  As in the past, the Ocracoke trip will include Gil Randell, a long-time member of the Hawk Migration Association of North America, meeting with the group on the dunes to give an orientation on raptor migration.

The fees for these trips are usually $20 to $25. Portsmouth Island is $40 to cover the boat fee.
For more information, including the schedule of events
and registration, go to https://www.wingsoverwater.org, or call 252-216-9464

A Peregrine Falcon soars over Ocracoke. Photo: P. Vankevich

OcraCats to hold island spay-neuter clinic next week

0
Dr. Howard Johnson, in red shirt, gets a sedated feral cat ready for surgery in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Dept. Photo: C. Leinbach

OcraCats Inc. will hold a free spay-neuter clinic on Ocracoke Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 19, 20 and 21, Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Dept.

Boone veterinarian Howard Johnson, who has been doing these clinics for the last several years, will return to the island with his family to set up the surgery center inside the fire hall.

Traps will be set to catch the feral cats starting on the Sept. 17. Islanders are cautioned to keep pets inside at night on those dates.

Volunteers are needed to help during the clinics and for clean up on Thursday.

The clinic will offer free pet cat neuters/spays and free rabies vaccinations on Thursday, Sept. 21.

To register your pet or to volunteer, sign up on the flier on the post office bulletin board.

Katie Johnson is a vet assistant at the OcraCats clinic. Photo: C. Leinbach

OcraCats contact information: http://ocracats.org; email ocracats@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.

Hyde County Sheriff to sponsor archery program for county youth

0
Island youth will have the opportunity to learn archery this fall thanks to the Hyde County Sheriff’s Dept. sponsoring a new program. In front of Ocracoke School with some of the new equipment are, from left, Deputy Blackburn Warner, Capt. Jason Daniels, Jonah Daniels, and Charles Temple, high school English teacher. Photo: C. Leinbach

Hyde County Sheriff’s Office is offering Hyde County youth the opportunity to learn another sport this year—archery.

The office recently received 12 archery bows, arrows and targets through the National Archery in the Schools Program to which all sheriffs’ departments can apply for funds for youth archery programs.

The program will be a physical education elective this school year for fourth grade and up, said Capt. Jason Daniels of the Ocracoke sheriff’s office. First, the students have to learn the sport indoors in a school setting.

Then, at some point, he hopes it will grow into an after school club.

“Not all kids want to play basketball or soccer,” said Daniels, an avid hunting archer.

He, Blackburn Warner, one of the four island deputies, and Charles Temple, the high school English teacher, became certified in archery instruction in June.

“Having gone through it myself, the kids are gonna love it,” Temple said.

It’s not a hunting club, Daniels stressed, and after a twoweek instruction period a team can be formed to compete in the winter months.

Daniels said what’s great about these archery competitions is that everyone uses the same equipment statewide.

“Money doesn’t matter,” he said. “The bow you learn with is the bow you can compete with. It’s a fair and even playing field.”

Mattamuskeet School also received the same equipment, and the sheriff’s office is sponsoring both programs.

Body of unidentified male found near Buxton

0

BUXTON–The Cape Hatteras National Seashore staff early this morning found the body of an unidentified male on the beach near Buxton.

The body was found roughly a mile and a half north of the jetties in Buxton where a teenage male swimmer was last seen Saturday evening (Sept. 9).

An autopsy will be performed tomorrow in order to determine identity, the National Park Service said in a press release. No other information was provided.

Fall Arts Festival Sept. 23 in Swan Quarter

0
    MATTIE Arts Center in Swan Quarter. Photo courtesy of MATTIE

MATTIE Arts Center will celebrate fall at the annual fundraising Arts and Crafts Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, in Swan Quarter.

Central to this day of fun, food, live music and outdoor activities will be an invitational art show with such artists of distinction as copper basket sculptor Judith Saunders of Norfolk and Ocracoke (front cover, National Basketry Organization Magazine, Dec. 2016); impressionist oil painter Mark Hierholzer of Richmond (“Best Arts Teacher for Adults,” Richmond Magazine, 2017); Mike Lane of Virginia Beach with his Asia ink and watercolors; and Chip Shakelford of Bath with blown glass.

Local artists attending are Elizabeth Gurganus of Swan Quarter with her original designs from textiles; Carolyn Sleeper and Maureen Davis from Washington, specialists in ceramics and raku pottery respectively; Ron McCall from Hertford with his wood turnings; card-maker Anita Price of Bath; Cathy Windley of Belhaven with her silver jewelry; and from Wake Forest, Nathan Forrest, Richard Cardell, and David Faircloth with paintings and wildlife carvings;

More artwork will be featured inside the MATTIE’s Gallery.

This year also marks Phase I of our downtown arts project, “Paint that Wall,” where the public is invited to paint a mural designed by Cathy Clayton of Ponzer on the solid fencing surrounding Pat’s Exxon. All tools and supplies are furnished. 

A variety of adult and kids activities are on tap in the shaded public park around the gazebo, including kids’ arts, casting contests (rods, reels and targets furnished) and fish-tossing contests.

Live music will be provided throughout the day by Chris Gibbs, the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association, Randy Clayton and the Hyde County Ramblers between the county services center and MATTIE along with cake walks, bake sales, and raffles.

For more information, visit Mattieartscenter on Facebook, mattieartscenter.org, or call 252-926-2787  from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.

MATTIE Fall Arts Festival Swan Quarter, NC
Ocracoke basketry artist Judith Saunders is among the featured artists at the MATTIE Fall Arts Festival. Photo: C. Leinbach

End of summer fiesta/Fin de las fiestas de verano

3

Updated: Sept. 13, 2017, to correct the start time at 6 p.m.

The last of several Fiesta Latina celebrations this summer is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Deepwater Theater.  The event commemorates the Mexican Independence Day and includes a community potluck.  The Queen of the Festival also will be announced.

Later in the fall, Ocracoke Alive will present the Festival Latino de Ocracoke on Saturday, Nov. 11, on the Ocracoke School grounds and in the gym and the Community Center.

More information on that event will be announced later.

La última de varias celebraciones de Fiesta Latina este verano está programada para las 6:30 p.m. el sábado en el Deepwater Theatre. El evento conmemora el Día de la Independencia de México e incluye una comida comunitaria. La Reina del Festival también será anunciada.

Más tarde en el otoño, Ocracoke Alive presentará el Festival Latino de Ocracoke el sábado 11 de noviembre en el recinto de la Escuela Ocracoke y en el gimnasio y el Centro Comunitario.

Más información sobre este evento se anunciará más adelante.

 

Minor effects from Irma forecasted for Ocracoke

0

The Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries are canceled Monday afternoon (Sept. 11) due to high winds. 

For Ocracoke news, click here 

While the Caribbean and Florida are reeling from the devastation over the weekend of Hurricane Irma, Ocracoke has been feeling the winds of the storm’s outer edges.

Irma has been downgraded to a tropical storm with lesser, though still dangerous, wind speeds.

The National Hurricane Center reported this morning that the latest forecasts continue to indicate a northwestward track for Irma toward Georgia and Tennessee.

The potential for isolated tornadoes will also pose a threat on Tuesday with strong wind gusts on the Outer Banks.

NCDOT has continued to post this advisory on the electronic sign at the north end of Ocracoke village. Photo: C. Leinbach

Dangerous surf and rip currents will continue along the coast through the next several days and the southeastern beaches and areas along the Cape Fear River may see some minor flooding.

Yesterday, the state took additional steps to prepare for Irma by opening three N.C. National Guard staging areas and five shelters in preparation. The National Guard is positioning soldiers and equipment in Greensboro, Charlotte and Asheville.

 “People still need to pay careful attention to the forecast and local media and be sure they’re ready,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a press release. “In the meantime, we can help others who need a safe place to stay while fleeing this storm.”

This weekend, emergency management teams and the Red Cross opened five shelters in Gaston, Guilford, Henderson, Johnston and Mecklenburg counties to help those evacuating from other states. These sites are located just off major interstates, and all accept pets. Citizens can visit ReadyNC.Org or download the ReadyNC mobile app to get exact shelter locations. People can also call 2-1-1 for more information.

The U.S. Coast Guard is urging mariners to use extreme caution if they must venture off the North Carolina coast.

The coastal impacts currently predicted include large surf, potential coastal flooding, and tropical storm level winds potentially into Tuesday.

“Mariners should submit a voyage plan with family and/or friends, ensure they have the proper safety equipment, with PFDs for everyone aboard and flares,” said Cmdr. Quincy L. Davis, deputy sector commander for Sector North Carolina.  “We also urge mariners to have proper communication equipment, preferably a radio appropriate for the marine environment.” 

Follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook for the latest on Hurricane Irma. You can also get real-time traffic and weather on the ReadyNC mobile app.

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation today urged urging drone hobbyists not to fly while disaster relief and response efforts are ongoing.

While licensed and well-trained professional drone operators can be a huge help in disaster response efforts, hobbyists get in the way more often than not. In a number of recent natural disasters, including wildfires in the western U.S., recreational drone users flying without authorization have forced emergency responders to cease operations out of concern for the safety of their crews, the NCDOT said in a press release.

During and after a disaster, the Federal Aviation Administration often imposes temporary flight restrictions over affected areas.  Drone users should always check the FAA TFR website before attempting to fly, even under normal conditions.

“The last thing you want is for someone to be left on their roof because a helicopter rescue had to be called off due to your drone,” the NCDOT said. 

 

1...334335336...508Page 335 of 508
© Ocracoke Observer 2026 All rights reserved.