So, what’s it like on Ocracoke in the winter?

July 16, 2017

Winter on Ocracoke, NC — A couple finds solitude on Ocracoke’s winter beach. Photo: C. Leinbach

For Ocracoke news, click here.

N.C. Press Association award-winner, 2017.

By Connie Leinbach and Peter Vankevich

Many visitors want to know what the island is like in the winter

No, the island doesn’t roll up and disappear, as related in the “Dingbatter’s Guide to Ocracoke,” a comedy now playing Wednesday nights in the Deepwater Theater.

The short answer is: It’s a lot quieter and many islanders welcome this time after a frantic tourist season that has many working two or more jobs in the six- to seven-month season.

The long answer explains why people live here year-round.

There are, of course, way fewer visitors here from November until Easter.

During the winter, islanders, who’ve worked every day in the high season, may take their own vacations, either traveling to near and far corners of the world or getting ready for the next season.

Only a few restaurants and shops are open, and a few hardy surf fishermen (mostly locals) brave the windy beaches in hopes of catching a drum.

One can walk “The Winter Beach,” a phrase memorialized by Charlton Ogburn, Jr. about his journey in 1964 from Maine to Florida which included spending time on Ocracoke.

Beach walkers find solitude with scurrying sanderlings at their feet and dolphins playing beyond the breakers.

Birding is an attractive reason for visiting–to see species hard to find elsewhere. Spectacular Northern Gannets can be

Snowy owl on the frozen dunes during the winter of 2014. Photo: P. Vankevich

seen in great numbers often dive-bombing just offshore, and in 2014, two rare Snowy Owls spent months on the dunes attracting hundreds of visitors that helped the local economy. To read about them, click here.

The island decks itself out for Christmas as houses and yards are adorned with lights and figures. The OCBA gives awards to the homes and businesses with the best lights.

The Ocracoke Preservation Society has a Christmas tree lighting/caroling reception and a historical house tour, the library has a cookie swap and, the church groups go caroling and the United Methodist Church has a Live Nativity.

While temperatures rarely sink below 40 degrees (with the occasional freezing), the constant winter wind makes the air feel colder.

Nor’easter storms are more frequent. As one O’Cocker says, “Nor’easters can be worse than hurricanes.”

Someone once remarked, to live on Ocracoke, you must like wind (or at least tolerate it). At times, winds in the 20 to 30 mph range can blow for days.

The stronger winter winds may cause the ferries to temporarily suspend operations.

Ocracoke snow day. Feb. 2014. Photo by C. Leinbach

Every now and then, Ocracoke sees some snow. When that happens, local kids will “sled” (often on large pieces of cardboard) down the OVFD driveway. Snow figures will pop up in yards all over the island.

All of this wintry play has to be done quickly because snow on the island usually melts within a day or two.

Ocracoke can be the perfect winter location for someone needing quiet to “finish that book,” as former N.C. Poet Laureate, Joseph Bathanti, remarked after visiting the island this year. See story here.

When these creators want to get out into the community, they can head to the school gym to watch the two varsity basketball teams, Dolphins and Lady Dolphins, take on one of their many rivals. There are few communities where the school in such an integral part of the social fabric.

Islanders socialize by inviting friends over to watch movies or play cards. These are usually potluck style. The library has occasional evening lectures

So, yeah. It’s a lot quieter here on this sandbar 23 miles off the mainland Hyde shore. It may not for everyone, but there are those who would not want to live anywhere else.

Dolphins basketball. Photo: P. Vankevich

Sunset on the Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke. Photo by P. Vankevich

Youth baseball tourney today and Sunday at Community Park

July 15, 2017

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USSSA youth baseball tournament on Ocracoke, NC — Above, baseball action in the first multi-team USSSA youth baseball tournament was Memorial Day Weekend this year. Photo: C. Leinbach

For Ocracoke news, click here.

Youth baseball is back this weekend on Ocracoke. Below is the schedule for the Ocracoke Island Invitational USSSA youth ages 10 and under and 13 and under baseball tournament at Ocracoke Community Park at the end of Maurice Ballance Road.

Action begins at 8:30 a.m. and admission will be charged. All proceeds benefit Community Park.

To read about the first multi-team tournament Memorial Day Weekend, click here.

Ocracoke will have a ringside seat to see almost all of a total solar eclipse Aug. 21

July 14, 2017

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The Great American Solar Eclipse viewing path. Graphic from GreatAmericaneclipse.com

For Ocracoke news, click here.

Updated July 20, 2017

When the “Great American total eclipse of the sun” occurs on Aug. 21, Ocracoke will have a ringside seat to view it almost in its entirety.

According to news sources, barring a cover of clouds, the eclipse will be visible over a small portion of western North Carolina beginning at 2:33 p.m.

As it continues toward South Carolina, those on the Outer Banks will be able to see it at about a 0.9 magnitude, which is a partial eclipse of about 90 percent or more, around 2:50 p.m. Information from the National Weather Service says the partial eclipse will begin around 1:23 p.m.; the peak of 87 percent will be at 2:50 p.m., and the eclipse will end at 4:09 p.m. (See graphic below.)

For about a half hour on either side of the peak, the sky will darken, said Gerry Lebing, an amateur astronomer in Waves.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets in the way of the sun, turning day to a brief twilight.

The eclipse path will take around an hour and a half to sweep across the United States along a 70-mile-wide path.

The first point of contact will be at Lincoln Beach, Ore., at 9:05 a.m. PDT. Totality begins there at 10:16 a.m. PDT. Over the next hour and a half, it will cross through 12 states and will end near Charleston, S.C., at 2:48 p.m. EDT. From there, the lunar shadow finally leaves the U.S. at 4:09 p.m. EDT.

At any given location, the total eclipse will last for about two and half minutes.

Partial solar eclipse. Photo courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

“All of a sudden, you see a 360-degree sunset all around you,” said Lika Guhathakurta, lead scientist for the Living With a Star program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as reported on space.com. “Stars appear. The temperature drops. You can actually hear chirping of grasshoppers.”

Lebing said if there’s a cloud cover, it might become darker.

The area around Carbondale, Illinois, will get the most protracted view at 2 minutes and 40 seconds, according to information from NASA.

The Aug. 21 event will be the first-ever solar eclipse whose path of totality hits no country other than the United States. The last one to meet this geographical standard occurred before the nation gained its independence in 1776.

All are cautioned to never look directly at the sun with your unaided eye. NASA said the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters for telescopes, “eclipse glasses,” which are now available from many locations, or welder’s goggles rated at 14 or higher. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. For more information, click here.

Or, people can create pinhole projectors with two pieces of cardboard: One card should have a small hole punched in it, while the other card remains blank.

The light through the card with the hole can then be projected onto the blank card, allowing a solar eclipse or large sunspots to be seen. (See graphic below.)

The total solar eclipse of 1970 also crossed over the United States. Also known as the “eclipse of the century,” it ran along nearly the entire East Coast.

For more information, visit greatAmericaneclipse.com.

NPS approves plan for Hatteras-Ocracoke passenger ferry dock area

July 14, 2017

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NPS plan to modify their Ocracoke harbor property to accommodate passenger ferry service. Image courtesy of N.C. Ferry Division.

For Ocracoke news, click here

The National Park Service has approved a plan submitted by the North Carolina Dept, of Transportation to construct improvements to support a Hatteras-Ocracoke Passenger Ferry during the peak tourist season from May through September.

The NCDOT plans to begin construction on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands during the 2017/2018 winter season, according to a recent NPS press release. Ocracoke’s portion of the plan is within the boundaries of Cape Hatteras National Seashore and required a special use permit.

Recently, the N.C. Ferry Division awarded a contract to build one passenger ferry to Armstrong Marine, Swansboro. See story here.

The SUP will authorize NCDOT to construct several improvements including:

The existing Hatteras ferry terminal space will be converted into two additional parking areas to accommodate passenger vehicles and NCDOT ferry division employees.
A new open-air passenger waiting facility will be constructed in front of the Ocracoke Visitor Center to shelter passenger ferry users from the sun and rain.
Sidewalk improvements will be constructed to connect the passenger waiting area to the Ocracoke Visitor Center and ferry dock to create safe passageways for travelers.
A transit pullout area in front of the Ocracoke Visitor Center will be constructed to allow for safe pickup and drop-off of passenger ferry users.
A new restroom facility will be constructed behind the Ocracoke Visitor Center on an existing trailer foundation to augment existing restroom facilities.
The existing boardwalk/ramp at the Ocracoke Visitor Center will be relocated to the right side of the deck area.

Stan Austin, the director of the Southeast Region of the National Park Service, approved the “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI), according to an NPS press release.

Copies of the Environmental Assessment and the FONSI can be found on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/caha_NCDOTpassengerferry.

County Commissioners discuss school budget, drug task force; approve Ocracoke Waterways Commission

July 12, 2017

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By Connie Leinbach

For Ocracoke news, click here.

In addition to approving the “Brunch Law,” (see story here) the commissioners addressed several important issues at their Monday night meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Randolph Latimore, superintendent of Hyde County schools, told the commissioners that the budget for the current school year had a shortfall of $293,350. To fund this shortfall, the Board of Education eliminated four full-time positions, reduced sports coaches pay and expenses, eliminated teacher professional development, next year’s summer reading program and eliminated their own monthly stipends for service.

Now the budget is balanced, he said, but because of state budget cuts, the district will face a 6.7 percent teacher pay raise next year increase, for a total of about a 19 percent overall budget loss.

Board of Education Chairman Randy Etheridge also asked the board to meet with the education board to discuss this issue.

“I fear if something doesn’t change shortly the school may not be a school any longer,” he said. “The only ones that will suffer will be the children.”

Kris Noble, assistant Hyde County manager, reported that the Hyde County Drug Task force will meet at 10 a.m.. Thursday in the county services building and via teleconferencing in the Ocracoke Community Center).

This task force, composed of the county manager’s office, emergency services, the departments of Social Service, health and the sheriff, have convened to address the nationwide opioid epidemic that has affected the community, she said.

Luanna Gibbs, county health director, whose son was one of two persons who died from Fentanyl overdoses June 1, praised the sheriff’s department for their hard work with this case. She noted that while education and prevention is needed, law enforcement needs resources to be able to do their jobs to “clean up our streets.”

The State Bureau of Investigation charged Tiffaney Webber, 25, of Engelhard, with two counts of murder after preliminary results showed that fentanyl was contained in the drugs that Webber had provided to Ryan Edward Gibbs, 23, and Sarah David Reams, 16, both of Fairfield.

The commissioners approved drafting letters of support in advance of this task force’s identifying possible grants to help fund prevention education.

In other action, the commissioners approved Ocracoke Commissioner Tom Pahl’s recommendation to appoint a seven-member Ocracoke Waterways Commission that is charged with looking into solutions to the navigable waterways to Ocracoke.

One board position will be for the Ocracoke commissioner position on the board and the six others approved for this board are Justin LeBlanc, Erik O’Neal, Darlene Styron, Vince O’Neal, Rudy Austin and David Hilton.

The commission, fashioned after one in Dare County, will work on the problems in the Ocracoke and Hatteras inlets as well as Silver Lake Harbor.

It will be an advisory body to the commissioners and will need the latter’s approval for any allocation of funds.

The board approved a contract change for Rich where he has requested the county reduce his health insurance premium stipend of $650.18 a month to $233.51 a month. The commissioners approved transferring the difference of $417 per month for the remainder of Rich’s contract, or $5,000, to Noble’s salary.

This change does not change the county budget, Rich said.

The commissioners awarded a contract for $347,632 to Select Custom Apparatus to provide two new F 450 ambulances for Ocracoke.

Last October, the island’s two ambulances were flooded and lost during Hurricane Matthew as the waters inundated island roads, including Back Road where the EMS services are housed.

The commissioners ordered County EMS Director Justin Gibbs to devise a plan for these new ambulances’ to be moved to high ground or off the island in hurricane emergencies

The commissioners also awarded a $800,000 contract to Landfall Strategies to monitor storm debris removal. Gibbs said this service is completely reimbursable from FEMA. After Matthew last year, Finance Director Corinne Gibbs and temporary employees monitored the debris removal.

“This was a tremendous burden to our two-person finance office,” Justin Gibbs said. The monitoring firm protects the county and intercedes with FEMA if necessary, he said.

Debris from Hurricane Matthew on Ocracoke, NC — Debris, including household goods, shrubbery and trees, took weeks to remove on Ocracoke last October after Hurricane Matthew. Photo: C. Leinbach

He said the cost of debris removal for Hurricane Irene in 2011 was more than $3 million, but did not say how much the debris removal for Matthew was.

Although no action was taken, Rich reported that the National Park Service has approached the county about developing the land across from the Ocracoke lighthouse for parking and restrooms.

The land currently is owned by Eastern National, a nonprofit that operates museum stores at more than 160 units of the National Park Service, across 33 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Eastern has paid the NPS a total of $300,000 for this land, and it now could be deeded to Hyde County. The commissioners authorized Rich to look into how this parcel could be developed with grants with the stipulation that the Park Service retains maintenance responsibility for the site.

“It would have to be a coalition,” Rich said.

Currently, Eastern National does not pay property taxes on the land.

A public meeting to kick off the Mattamuskeet Watershed Restoration Plan, which is due next September, will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in the Hyde County Services Center.

Ocracoke restaurants, stores will begin earlier Sunday alcohol sales this weekend

July 12, 2017

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For Ocracoke news, click here

By Connie Leinbach

With Hyde County’s ratification of the recently passed ‘Brunch Bill’ in North Carolina, Brandon Benecki, a bartender at Howard’s Pub, will be able to serve alcoholic drinks to customers as soon as the restaurant opens on Sundays.

With the Hyde County commissioners’ passage Monday night of the “Brunch Bill” ordinance, Ocracoke restaurants and retail outlets will need less time on Sundays to watch the clock before alcohol sales may begin.

After Gov. Roy Cooper signed the “Brunch Bill” into law Friday, June 30, municipalities around the state began to enact ordinances ratifying the law which allows alcohol sales on Sundays to begin at 10 a.m. instead of noon.

The state law mandated that earlier sales were contingent on local approval. Town and city councils can make the change inside their borders, while county commissioners are in charge of any unincorporated areas. Since Hyde County has no incorporated municipalities, the county commissioners approved this ordinance effective

Jolly Roger Manager Alex Garrish is looking forward to serving adult beverages earlier on Sundays. Photo:. C. Leinbach

immediately.

In Dare County, Several municipalities are taking up this issue as reported by the Outer Banks Voice.

County Manager Bill Rich told the commissioners at their meeting Monday night that 48 states have passed this law.

Howard’s Pub owner Ann Warner was happy. Since the Pub opens at 11 a.m. they can serve drinks immediately.

“We no longer have to watch the clock,” she said Tuesday. “It’s a win for the customers, the staff, the businesses and the county. ”

Variety Store proprietor Tommy Hutcherson said his staff is remaking their hand-written poster to say alcohol sales will begin at 10 a.m.

“We rope off the beer until then,” he said.

Juan Galvis: Helping owners understand and control their dogs through training

July 11, 2017

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Juan Galvis Dogability, Ocracoke, NC — ALL EYES FRONT. Juan Galvis and Maria Sol Arenas, holding Paloma, with their animals at their Ocracoke Island home. Photo: C. Leinbach

For Ocracoke news, click here.

By Connie Leinbach

Part-time islander Juan Galvis is in the business of saving dogs’ lives, but not in the medical sense.

His Durham business, The Pet Wagon, an animal care and dog-training center, arose from his quest to discover the keys to controlling the aggressive behavior in his second dog, Fuser, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, whom he had to euthanize.

“By the time I had him two years, he had put me in the emergency room twice,” Galvis said.

Fuser’s aggression resulted in bites and even a broken wrist, after which Galvis made the devastating decision to put his dog down.

“I was in so much pain mentally,” he said. “I felt I let the dog down and felt guilty.”

From that pain, he began researching dogs to understand their world, ultimately channeling that knowledge into his Dogability Dog Training.

A native of Colombia, South America, Galvis, 38, has an engaging personality and is an articulate speaker of English, his second language, as is his wife, Maria Sol Arenas, a native of Argentina.

At their home on Sand Dollar Road, passersby might notice four of the same kind of dog—Belgian Malinois.

When these and two other mixed-breed dogs aren’t zipping around the yard, one will see how all of them instantly obey Galvis’ commands. It’s beautiful to behold.

But don’t ask him for dog training tips because understanding and training dogs cannot be conveyed in a few sentences or even a few hours.

Lux and Vidin, two of Galvis’s four Belgian Malinois, show their ability to obey. Photo: C. Leinbach

“You can’t just get bits and pieces,” he said shaking his head. “Getting a dog is easy. Knowing the psychology and management of them is a different world. The optimal way to help someone is to set up a program.”

His passion is all about helping dog owners understand their pets and have control over them to avoid the tragedy he underwent with Fuser.

Consequently, he and Maria created a wildly successful business.

But before that, his career took some hairpin turns.

At the age of 18, he came to the United States to pursue a professional golf career having been in the top 10 junior golfers in Colombia. A stint in the IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton, Fla., led to his enrolling in Campbell University in 1997 to seek a berth on the college team and to study golf management and economics.

Campbell is where he met Maria, who, at the time, was the top woman golfer in Argentina.

Owing to injuries, both rarely play the sport anymore.

After college, while Galvis worked as a sales rep for Nationwide Insurance, his experience with Fuser led him to seek out the best dog trainers in the world.

First there was Michael Ellis of Santa Rosa, Calif., who opened Galvis’s eyes to what was possible.

But meeting Ivan Balavanov, a two-time world-champion Malinois trainer, unlocked the knowledge Galvis needed to propel him to a higher level—as a trainer and as a protection-dog sport competitor.

A visit to Balanavov’s website shows a video of him in competition with one of his dogs and the same kind of instant obedience as when Galvis commands his dogs.

Even his cat, ChiChi, obeys (most) commands

Paco, a flying squirrel, makes his appearances at night. Photo: C. Leinbach

He credits Maria with the ideas of adding a dog hotel and then training to their initial service of mobile dog sitting and walking.

Business success allows the couple to make frequent trips to Ocracoke, bringing along their six dogs, one cat and a flying squirrel, Paco, whom Galvis had rescued from the wild.

Although two rescued tortoises have fled the couple’s menagerie, the newest addition is Paloma, a white dove Galvis rescued on the road and is rehabbing.

On the island, the couple indulges their passion for fishing and island life.

“My employees enjoy life, too,” he said about his business philosophy. “My key people are some of my best friends.”

Back home, his staff oversees 120 dogs per day in their facility and 10 dogs in training.

His staff trains the dogs in two-, four- or six-week sessions. Then Galvis comes in to finish up the work with the owners in a handler’s course.

Galvis takes their success in stride.

“I can’t believe how well we’ve done,” he said. “Money’s not the goal. I’ve helped so many people because it’s been done with honest passion.”

Training a dog is about safety and freedom for the owners, he said.

“I help people not to go through the pain I went through with Fuser,” he said. I’ve saved so many dogs’ lives now.”

Editor’s note: Since this story was published in the July print edition of the Ocracoke Observer, Paloma, the white dove, was, unfortunately, killed by a cat.

With voice and hands commands, Juan Galvis’s dog Lux backs up against a wall. Photo:. C. Leinbach

Ocracoke needs affordable housing; Let the discussion begin

July 10, 2017

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Ocracoke Island, NC, from above — A small place, Ocracoke has a tight housing situation. Photo: C. Leinbach

Talk to business owners, young people wishing to work here for the summer and those who have year-round jobs and there is a consensus: affordable housing here is sorely lacking.

This is not a new problem, but based on the seasonal economy and small size of the village, this issue is one of Ocracoke’s greatest challenges with no easy solutions.

Of course, other towns have a greater variety of housing options. Cities often have houses with basement efficiencies that permit someone to live and pay a rent within the means of their income. But Ocracoke has no basements and very few options for low-cost housing for either seasonal or year-round.

Realizing this problem, several island businesses have their own housing available for seasonal workers whom they hire. But this doesn’t help all young or older workers who want to live on the island inexpensively, be it seasonally or long-term.

From 1977 until the late 1990s, island visionary Vickie Cobb rented rooms in her Oyster Creek home to half a dozen college women for the summer. Known affectionately as “The Cobb Boarding House,” the young women had to fend for themselves, but the idea worked at a time when taxes were considerably lower and everything was less expensive, says Vicki’s daughter Candice Cobb.

Year-round workers, including teachers, may find places to rent from September to April, but often must vacate their abodes in deference to weekly summer rentals, from which landlords can make more money for several months than they can from year-round renters.

Such scrambles have forced many productive members of the community to leave for more stabilized housing and lifestyle.

Could some buildings on the island be converted to efficiency apartments for these workers? What would be a reasonable monthly rent payment that could be acceptable for both the landlords and the renters? We encourage a discussion of this pressing issue.

There are plenty of knowledgeable people on the island who could come up with creative ideas that could help solve this vexing issue.

Events on Ocracoke week of July 10 to 16

July 10, 2017

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Lifeguard Beach on Ocracoke, NC — The Day Use Area (Lifeguard Beach) on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach

Summer is in full swing on the island and there’s lots going on this week.

Updated July 10; 2 p.m.

Monday, July 10
Community Center: Hyde County commissioners meeting, 6 p.m. For the agenda and packets (background information) about this meeting , click here.
Jolly Roger: Barefoot Wade, 6 pm
Ocracoke Bar & Grille: Aaron & Jackie, 7:10 pm
Deepwater Theater: Blackbeard: An (Historical/Hysterical) Account, 8 pm
Gaffer’s: Villa*Nova, 9 pm

Tuesday, July 11
Jolly Roger: Aaron Caswell & Jackie Willis, 6 pm
Gaffer’s: Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, 7 pm
Coyote Music Den: Coyote Plus One, Maxx Katz. 8 pm, doors open at 7:30 pm
Gaffer’s: Sassagrass, 9 pm

Wednesday, July 12
Makers Market on Silver Lake, Wahab House lawn, 9 am to 3 pm
Jolly Roger: Jeff Miller, 6 pm
Berkley Manor; July wine dinner hosted by Zillie’s Island Pantry; 6 p.m. Reservations required. For details and reservations, click here.
Dajio Restaurant: Barefoot Wade, 7 pm
Ocracoke Bar & Grille: Jon Lea, 7:10 pm
Coyote Music Den: Just We Two, 8 pm, doors open at 7:30 pm
Deepwater Theater: The Dingbatter’s Guide to Ocracoke, 8 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Co.: Karaoke, 9 pm
Gaffer’s: Sassagrass, 9 pm

Thursday, July 13
Ocracoke Oyster Co.: Martin Garrish and Lou Castro, 3 pm
Jolly Roger: Jeff Miller, 6 pm
Dajio Restaurant: Raygun Ruby, 80s music, 7 pm
Ocracoke Bar & Grille: Kate McNally, 7:10 pm
Deepwater Theater: Molasses Creek band, 8 pm
Gaffer’s: Johnny Love, 9 pm

Friday, July 14
Jolly Roger: Willis Gupton, 6 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Co.: Kate McNally, 7 pm
Dajio Restaurant: Jeff Miller, 7 pm
Coyote Music Den: Playing your Ocracoke Memories, Martin Garrish, 8 pm; doors at 7:30 pm
Gaffer’s: Johnny Love, 9 pm

If you’re hankering for some baseball, USSSA youth baseball teams will play a tournament Saturday and Sunday at Community Park.

Saturday, July 15
USSSA youth under-13, multi-team baseball tournament, Ocracoke Community Park. Start times TBD.
Jolly Roger: Willis Gupton, 6 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Co.: Martin Garrish & Lou Castro, 7 pm
Gaffer’s: Johnny Love, 9 pm

Sunday, July 16
USSSA youth under-13, multi-team baseball tournament, Ocracoke Community Park. Start times TBD.
Gaffer’s: Formula, 9 pm

Thunderstorm damages Ocracoke’s United Methodist Church

July 9, 2017

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Church without cross after storm. Photo: C. Leinbach

For Ocracoke news, click Here

By Peter Vankevich

The steeple of the Ocracoke United Methodist became an unintentional lightning rod Friday night when it got struck by lightning in a thunderstorm and the wooden cross was shattered.

A portion of cross on ground. Photo: C. Leinbach

The bolt probably struck between 9:30 and 10 p.m., said Pastor Richard Bryant, but the damage was not discovered until Saturday morning. The wooden cross on the steeple was shattered and in pieces on the ground.

Fortunately, it did not cause a fire, but the church’s electrical system, including the organ and phone lines, was damaged. Church officials are still assessing the damage.

At Sunday morning’s church service, all singing was done using the church’s piano.

Dark clouds and thunder started building up around 7 p.m. and rain began a little after 8 p.m.

The rains got stronger and lightning was seen in the immediate area, peaking before 10 p.m.

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