Local public schools are more than a collection of classrooms and hallways lined with lockers. Our public schools provide a space for connection, bringing people together through sports, arts, and activities to build relationships across generations.
In times of need, our public schools are a place of resources and support for all students and families in the community, regardless of household income, race or ability.
These are just a few of many examples of how local public schools are the cornerstone of a community, especially in a time of need. In fact, federal law mandates that students experiencing homelessness, including those displaced after a natural disaster, have the right to enroll immediately in a local public school in the community in which they are currently living, even if they do not have the paperwork typically required to enroll.
This is a testament to the unique and central role that public schools play in our state, which is why we need to support them more than ever. On Oct. 9, the NC General Assembly passed a $273 million relief package for Western North Carolina that included $16 million for the Department of Public Instruction to compensate school nutrition employees, along with compensation for employees and school calendar flexibility for districts impacted by the storm.
The bill included all but one of DPI’s requests for help–$150 million for building, equipment, and technology loss in impacted districts. DPI highlighted that their request for $150 million to address needed repairs is only a first-round request, noting that it will not be enough. Yancey County Schools lost an entire elementary school building, which is estimated to cost $42 million alone.
The ongoing need for support in Western North Carolina comes as an override vote looms for Governor Cooper’s veto of HB10, which would allocate an additional $248 million of taxpayer funds to private school vouchers for the current school year. Although the voucher program was originally designed to provide scholarships for low-income families to attend private schools, the NCGA eliminated the income eligibility requirements beginning with the 2024-25 school year. This led to a drastic increase in applicants and a waitlist of around 55,000 families, the majority of which make over $115,000 annually.
If passed, the veto override would take hundreds of millions from local public schools and instead send those taxpayer dollars to private schools that do not have to report what they teach or which students they accept.
The Public School Forum’s analysis of the 200 private schools that received the most taxpayer dollars in the 23-24 school year revealed that only 42 percent were accredited, only 2 percent required teachers to hold state certification, and 89 percent utilized some form of discrimination in their admissions process.
Moreover, children in rural public schools, including those in Western North Carolina, will lose the highest rate of funds. Even without additional voucher funding, the state is spending nearly $20 million on private school vouchers for the current school year in the impacted districts alone.
The vast majority of North Carolina’s families choose to send their children to local public schools; however, our state continues to rank near the bottom in public school funding — 48th in the nation — and spends nearly $5000 less per student than the national average. Despite this, and even in a time of crisis, our public schools continue to serve their communities. If we continue to underfund these schools, we risk their closing, leaving families with no or few viable options, especially in rural communities.
We cannot take our local public schools for granted. They are often the backbone of our communities and serve over 1,500,000 children and their families. Those children need their schools to be funded and supported.
Elizabeth Paul.
For nearly 40 years the Public School Forum of North Carolina has served as a nonpartisan champion of better schools. We bring together individuals and institutions from business, education, and government to study education issues, develop ideas, seek consensus, and ultimately inform and shape education policy.
Skeletons–giant, life-size, small and animal–figured in heavily in the Halloween decorations judged in the Halloween decorating contest sponsored by the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association.
Judging was done the evening of Oct. 24 and the judges were impressed.
“It was fun to look at all the creative Halloween decorations,” one judge said. “the most impressive displays stood out because of their eerie visuals, clever themes and creepy sound effects and lighting. Extra points to the setups that showed originality and effort.”
Below are the winners, some honorable mentions and some notable displays.
The “Rolling Bones” and their crowd surfing audience outside The Breeze capture Best in Show. Observer staff photo.
This mermaid and several skeletons sitting at tables and animal skeletons scattered about elevated Eduardo’s to Best Theme. Observer staff photo.
The Spookiest is along Lighthouse Road. Observer staff photo.
A ghoulish barbecue with musicians along Creek Road is Most Original. Observer staff photo.
Best Fall Theme honors goes to this display along First Avenue. Observer staff photo.
Honorable mention Best Fall Theme is at 379 Back Rd. Observer staff photo.
A Spookiest honorable mention goes to this display, which looks different in the daylight, see below, at the end of Cemetery Road. Observer staff photo.
The Spookiest Honorable Mention in the daylight. Observer staff photo.
Other notable displays are as follows:
At the corner of Irvin Garrish Highway and British Cemetery Road. Observer staff photo.
This fisherman at 28 Cedar Drive didn’t know when to stop. Observer staff photo.
Philosophical skeletons along Howard Street. Observer staff photo.
Mayhem at Cemetery Road and First Avenue. Observer staff photo.
Part of the colonial encampment at Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree Nov. 1 & 2 on the Berkley Manor grounds. Photo: C. Leinbach
Monday, Oct. 28 “Witches Paddle” (paddle boarding in costume), 5 to 6:30 pm. Registration $40. All proceeds to benefit Hurricane Helene relief. Register online at ocracokeislandyoga.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 29 1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Pumpkin carving: Music and fundraising for western North Carolina relief. 6 pm. All ages welcome; Entry available until pumpkins run out.
Thursday, Oct. 31 Stella Maris Catholic Chapel one-year anniversary mass of her dedication into the Diocese of Raleigh, with her Pastor Fr. Fred Smuda, OSFS. 1 pm. A reception to follow on the grounds, 95 School Road.
Halloween trick-or-treating: along Lighthouse Road, at homes that have their porch lights on and “trunk or treat,” sponsored by the Ocracoke United Methodist Church. Don’t live on Lighthouse or Loop Rd? Want to pass out Halloween candy? Register for our Trunk or Treat Event! Best “Trunk” will split the proceeds of the registration fee with OUMC! https://www.ocracokeumc.com/trunk-or-treat.
Jerniman’s Campground: Showing the movie “Ghostbusters,” outside on a 20-foot screen. 8 pm.
Friday, Nov. 1
Historian Kevin Duffus will be a guest on “What’s Happing on Ocracoke.” 11:00 am, WOVV. 90.1 FM and wovv.org
Ocracoke Community Multicultural Celebration, Nov. 1, 1 to 4 pm, Ocracoke School.
Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree begins with the Brigands Bazaar vendor fair at 2 p.m. on the Berkley Manor grounds; “The Dating Game with Blackbeard,” 7:30 p.m. in the barn. See schedule here.
Island artist Robert Chestnut photography show “Ocra-broke” opening reception at Dare Arts, 300 Queen Elizabeth Ave., Manteo. 6-8 pm. Exhibition will be on display in their Vault Gallery through Dec. 21.
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Raygun Ruby, 8 pm
Saturday, Nov. 2 Ocracoke School’s cross country team travels to state championships in Kernersville.
Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree on the Berkley Manor grounds, 9 am to 6 pm. See schedule below. Pirate parade begins at 10 am from Ride the Wind, down Irvin Garrish Highway, to the Berkley Manor grounds. It will take about 10 minutes and the road will be blocked. Please plan accordingly.
Hurricane Helene relief fundraiser with Mexican food and music. 4 to 8 pm food; 8 pm to midnight DJ Walter. Community Center. See graphic below.
1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Devil’s Night Party with Kill Devil Rum bar and the Ray McAllister Band. 7 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Company: The Bawdy Beer Garden with the Motley Tones, 7:30 pm
The Breeze: Halloween party with Daniel Jordan Band, 9 pm
Sunday, Nov. 3 Church services: Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am Stella Maris Chapel, 3:30 pm Hurricane Helene relief fundraiser soccer tournament. Noon at Community Ballfield. See graphic below.
First year Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Springer’s Point Preserve. Photo P. Vankevich
By Peter Vankevich
Here is a summary of some of this year’s Ocracoke region nesting observations.
Beach nesting birds such as American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers and several tern species are finding it harder and harder to have success in producing much-needed fledglings.
Beach erosion, overwash from major storms and losses of both eggs and hatchlings by predation have taken their toll.
The nesting birds on South Point suffered in large part due to, as best as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore staff can figure, a single coyote. Coyotes on the Outer Banks have been increasing and becoming a threat not only to wildlife, including sea turtle nests, but also to cats on Hatteras Island.
Indications show that this animal was the cause of destroying the nests and eggs of the Black Skimmers. Only one bird managed to fledge this year.
The only successful nests at the Point were 50 Least Terns along with two American Oystercatchers, three Wilson’s Plover and one Piping Plover. Six more Oystercatchers fledged from nests on the rest of the island. Hatteras Island had 29 American Oystercatcher nests but failed this year to produce a single fledgling due to predation.
The NC Wildlife Resource Commission conducted a survey of islands around the north end of Ocracoke and Hatteras Inlet. According to Carmen Johnson, the commission’s wildlife diversity biologist, they detected approximately 320 Laughing Gull nests and seven Common Tern, 40 Black Skimmer, three Least Tern and two American Oystercatcher nests.
Other nesting species not counted as part of this survey were Black-crowned Night Herons, White Ibises, Glossy Ibises, Forster’s Terns, Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets and Brown Pelicans.
Islander Karen Rhodes, who frequently spends mornings walking the island with her camera in hand, has been photographing an impressive number of bird species. Many of these beautiful photos are posted on Facebook on her personal page and the Birds of Ocracoke page, administered by Heather Johnson.
Eastern Kingbirds can be seen throughout much of Ocracoke Island during nesting season. Photo by Karen Rhodes
Purple Martins were seen throughout the summer due to the number of condo-like nesting houses in the village. First-year seaside Sparrows could be seen in the saltmarshes of the island, including along South Point Road and young Eastern Kingbirds could be found perching in the higher vegetation throughout the island.
Anecdotally, Great-crested Flycatchers appeared to have had a successful nesting season with several first-year birds seen in the village and at Springer’s Point. A first-year bird and an adult were seen in a yard in the Widgeon Woods neighborhood near the lighthouse on Sept. 1.
These flycatchers arrive in March and most depart by late August for their winter range of southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, northwestern South America and the Caribbean.
First year Seaside Sparrow at the South Point wetlands. Photo: P. Vankevich
A birding outing on Sept. 8 yielded 13 immature Yellow-crowned Night Herons, another sign of a good year for them.
A comprehensive look at bird nesting will be published in the forthcoming North Carolina Bird Atlas. Now in its fourth year, this citizen-science project administered by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, is mapping the distribution and abundance of bird species across the state. Many of these sightings are entered using the eBird app.
Laughing Gulls nest on the islands of Pamlico Sound. Photo: P. Vankevich
Not surveyed this year was Big Foot Island which is a dredge spoil island created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1980s to clear shoaling in Big Foot Slough. This slough is the channel used by the sound ferries that go to Swan Quarter and Cedar Island. It hosts some of the largest nesting sites in the state for Royal and Sandwich Terns. Last year after a major replenishment of material (sand) from dredging the channel there were 6,256 Royal Tern and 1,012 Sandwich Terns nests.
Audubon North Carolina owns and manages for bird nesting three islands located two miles northwest of Portsmouth Island in the Pamlico Sound. These are Beacon, Shell Castle and North Rock islands. The North Rock islands are now submerged, and Shell Castle is barely on the surface.
It’s hard to imagine that Shell Castle Island, formerly called Shell Castle Rock, was once about 25-acres on which stood a lighthouse, windmill, gristmill, store, lumber yard, a tavern and 300-foot main building.
Beacon Island, barely seven acres in size these days, is an important nest site. It had more than 300 Brown Pelican nests and 50 Great Egrets which are good numbers for the island according to Lindsay Addison, a coastal biologist with Audubon North Carolina. There were also a few Snowy Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons nesting there as well along with two pairs of American Oystercatchers, she said.
Farther south, the Cape Lookout National Seashore had a great year for terns and skimmers, according to Jon Altman, its supervisory biologist.
“There were two large mixed colonies at Old Drum Inlet and Ophelia Inlet. Audubon NC had a research permit to band Black Skimmer chicks and they banded 125 between the two sites,” he wrote responding to an email inquiry.
“At Old Drum peak counts were 126 Black Skimmer pairs, 21 Common Tern pairs, 28 Gul-billed Tern pairs and 45 Least Tern pairs nesting on June 28. At Ophelia Inlet on June 5 there were 99 Gull-billed Terns, 50 Common Terns, 47 Black Skimmers and 52 Least Tern pairs. We still have to organize the data, but these two colonies produced hundreds of chicks and fledglings.
There was little or no coyote predation at these remote colonies, but coyotes did impact American Oystercatcher nesting and other colonial waterbird nesting sites, he wrote.
Baltimore Oriole family on Ocracoke. Photo by Karen Rhodes
First year Great-crested Flycatcher. Photo: P. Vankevich
First year Prairie Warbler at Springer’s Point Preserve. Photo: P. Vankevich
The Ocracoke Community Multicultural Celebration, a new event celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Ocracoke Island, will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. onFriday, Nov. 1, at Ocracoke School.
Festivities begin with a student presentation in the school gym at 1 p.m., and then move to the main building for an open house.
The festival is open to the public and aims to bring together students, families, residents, and visitors to honor and celebrate cultural heritage through music, dance, food and interactive activities.
This year’s theme focuses on the shared histories and traditions of the many cultures that have influenced Ocracoke, highlighting both the diversity within the community and the universal experiences that bind us together
The event is free to the public, with food available for purchase.
The celebration is produced through a partnership between Ocracoke School and the non-profit Ocracoke Alive. Additional support provided by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The Bread of Life Food Pantry on Lighthouse Road. Photo: P. Vankevich
Text and photos by Peter Vankevich
Through the journey called life, one may have ups and downs — some health-related, feelings of the blues or financial challenges. Churches have been safe havens to seek solace and get help to bounce back.
The Life Saving Church on Lighthouse Road not only provides spiritual assistance but also administers the Bread of Life Food Pantry that provides free food and household supplies for those in need.
With the assistance of the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board and some grants, the pantry was built after Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016 and before Hurricane Dorian in 2019 devastated the island. Its shelves are filled with a variety of foods, paper goods and cleaning materials along with a couple of refrigerators and freezers.
Pastor Tim Lynch inside the food pantry.
These days, the pantry is operated by Pastor Tim Lynch and his wife Paris.
“We are here for the community,” Lynch said. “We serve everyone: elderly folks on fixed incomes and young families. There should be no stigma or embarrassment in seeking assistance. We look at it not as a handout but providing a hand up.”
The food is primarily provided by the Albemarle Food Bank which monthly drives a truck to the Hatteras ferry parking lot and the church sends a truck across the inlet to pick it up. All meats are delivered frozen and remain so in the pantry until distributed.
The Albemarle Food Bank can deliver only what is has and sometimes there are shortages of needed items.
Bread of Life Food Pantry.
A major supplement to the food and supplies came from John Connor. He cleared part of an adjacent lot he owns to create parking for those wishing to visit the Ocracoke lighthouse or Springer’s Point. While parking is free, there a donation box installed there benefits the food pantry.
“Johnny Connor is a saint. He should walk around with a halo around his head,” Lynch said, which is quite a compliment coming from a pastor. “This money has been a tremendous help in allowing us to purchase special food needs that Albemarle cannot provide such as Ensure for older folks.”
In addition to these two sources, individuals and groups send checks and will drop off food donations, often left on the porch. Because this is a food pantry, clothing items are better given to the Village Thrift Store.
On one recent day, there were a few 50-pound bags of sweet potatoes and onions, which is a quantity that the Albemarle Food Bank will provide with some vegetables.
“Sometimes we get so much that is perishable that we place bags on the pantry porch or send out informally a note to come get some,” said Lynch.
The Ocracoke United Methodist Church on School Road has another food support program, which delivers meals to peoples’ home during weekdays. Items available at the food pantry can be used for supplementing these deliveries. “We are partnering with them to share our food resources,” Lynch said.
This safe food pathway is confidential, though someone requesting assistance will have to fill out a brief form that is required by the Albemarle Food Bank.
Open hours are on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but if that is not a convenient time, one can call the church 252-928-9001 for an appointment.
Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation can mail a check to Bread of Life Food Pantry, P.O. Box 68, Ocracoke, NC 27960.
Onlookers await a loggerhead turtle nest excavation by NPS staffers on the Ocracoke beach. Photo: P. Vankevich
Tuesday, Oct. 22 Red Cross Blood Drive: Community Center. 1 to 6 pm. To donate, call Kristin Willis 252-341-1325. Walk-ins available.
Wednesday, Oct. 23 Red Cross Blood Drive: Community Center. 8 am to 12:30 pm. To donate, call Kristin Willis 252-341-1325. Walk-ins available
An Evening at the Commons hosted by the Ocracoke Preservation Society to thank the community and sponsors for their support. Everyone is invited to drop by, tour the garden and have a glass of wine, 5 pm. See invitation below.
Island Trivia, 1718 Brewing Ocracoke, 6 pm.
Thursday, Oct. 24 Early voting for the General Election, from 8 am to 5 pm at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. See story for information on local candidates.
Friday, Oct. 25 Early voting for the General Election, from 8 am to 5 pm at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. See story for information on local candidates. Tourism Development Authority meeting, 9 am. Community Center. Battle of the Ocracoke Infield, five adult teams from the Triangle will take on Ocracoke; view and/or play at the Community Ballfield. See flyer below. Ocracoke School Carnival, begins with parade at 3:30 around the front of the school and games, cakewalk and more to follow in the school gym. See flyers below. Ocracoke Oyster Company: Shane Thomas, 7 pm
Saturday, Oct. 26 Installation of the dedicated brick pathways at the Island Inn Commons Fig Garden. We invite anyone who wants to help us to please volunteer and come by. All day Saturday and possibly Sunday. Battle of the Ocracoke Infield, five adult teams from the Triangle will take on Ocracoke; view and/or play at the Community Ballfield. See flyer below.
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray, 7 pm
Sunday, Oct. 27 Church services: Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am Stella Maris Chapel, 3:30 pm
Capt. Horatio Sinbad with Lt. Terry Brown on the MEKA II docked in Silver Lake for Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree Nov. 1 & 2. Photo: C. Leinbach
Capt. Horatio Sinbad and his crew will be among the living history reenactors at Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree Nov. 1 & 2 on the Berkley Manor grounds. His documentary about building a boat will be shown at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.See schedule below and more info here.
By Kevin Duffus
It was a momentous turn of fate.
Imagine, the entire course of your life’s journey, an adventure lasting nearly 75 years, the result of seeing a 96-minute movie when you were eight years old?
It’s an extraordinary story that could have been spun from the imaginations of writers Jack London or Mark Twain.
An eight-year-old boy from middle America sees the 1950 movie “Treasure Island.” He dreams of life on the sea as a pirate, builds his first ship—an eight-foot pram—to sail and plunder vessels on a nearby lake.
The lake was too confining for a budding pirate. It also had a scarcity of prospective victims. A few unsuspecting fair maidens, however, could be had, one of whom would later become his first wife and the mother of his four children, but that came later.
Bored with school at the advanced age of 16, he runs away from his Michigan home and winds up serving as a mate on a 96-foot schooner in the Windward Islands for three years. There, he earned the nickname, Sinbad.
You know the name, but you probably don’t know the entire story—how he and his wife, Marilyn,were nearly drowned after his second home-built sloop, the 22-foot MEKA I, sank during a hurricane in the deadly Graveyard of the Atlantic 200 miles east of the Outer Banks.
After drifting for two days in a life raft they were fortuitously rescued by a passing freighter.
Undaunted, while working for a few years as a draftsman for General Motors back home, Sinbad scrimped every dollar—he prefers to call them doubloons—to build in his backyard a proper 16-ton, ocean-going pirate vessel, the majestic brig MEKA II.
Without much forethought, he could hardly have predicted the ordeal he would suffer trying to get his ship out of his backyard and afloat two years later.
The adage “Life’s a journey, not a destination” could be his motto.
In a recent interview, the one-of-a-kind Sinbad told me, “You’re just looking down this horizon and you decide, ‘I’m gonna set sail and see what happens.’ And that’s the whole adventure of it for me because I didn’t know all the answers. But (seeing the movie ‘Treasure Island’) was the driving force that sent me on that road.”
What an adventure it has been.
He and various members of his family have lived aboard the MEKA II for 57 years, sailing more than 65,000 miles.
When his fraternal twin daughters, Molly and Sarah, were born, Sinbad constructed a double gimbaled highchair so that the girls could sit upright to be fed no matter which way the MEKA II was pitching or rolling on the ocean waves.
During the times that the boat was docked and the two-year-old girls were temporarily left on deck unsupervised, they wore harnesses attached to the boat’s lifelines. “We’d go on deck to look for them and if we didn’t see them, the first place we’d look was aloft in the rigging, and there they’d be up on the crow’s nest,” Sinbad recalled, laughing.
It was among Molly’s earliest memories.
“At that time, we were docked down in Florida,” she said. “Against our parent’s orders, Sarah and I had been feeding marshmallows and even our diapers to an alligator that would sometimes swim up to the boat.”
Molly and Sarah on the quarter deck of the MEKA II. Photo courtesy of Sinbad.
One day, mad that she was sternly ordered not to feed the alligator, Molly threw her diaper overboard and then wiggled out of her harness. She then climbed the ratlines to the crow’s nest. “Mom came on deck looking for me,” she said. “My diaper was floating in the water and mom immediately thought that the alligator had eaten me. She screamed for dad but then she heard me laughing up in the crow’s nest.”
You can relive many of Sinbad’s adventures at Ocracoke’s Berkley Barn at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, during the annual Blackbeard Pirate Jamboree when we screen Sinbad’s documentary film, “Boat Building in Your Own Backyard.”
What else should you know about the adventures of North Carolina’s pirate?
He’s done just about everything imaginable to sustain his dream. He’s designed and built boats, a restaurant, a house and a barn. He’s operated a sailing school and attended more pirate festivals and tall ship events than he can remember.
He’s written books, made a documentary and even a feature-length movie.
By Sinbad’s side for more than 45 years has been Lt. Terry Brown, his second wife. When she signed aboard the crew, she had no idea what she was in for or how much work and danger would be involved.
“Through all these years she stuck with me, Sinbad said. “I mean, the worst times, the worst storms, the worst everything, she’s stuck with me and she’s still here. And I marvel at that. I feel so lucky, so very, very, very lucky.”
Over the years, the Meka II’s nine cannon have fired at U.S. Navy submarines, warships, North Carolina ferries and other pirate vessels, expending thousands of pounds of black powder.
He brought a tall ship event to Beaufort in 2006 by winning a race at Jamaica with a crew of teens.
But what is Sinbad most proud of?
A framed parchment hangs on a wall in his captain’s cabin with then-President Ronald Reagan’s signature identifying Sinbad as an officially commissioned privateer.
The document is known as a “Letter of Marque.” (Allowing a privateer to legally plunder ships of an enemy nation in wartime.)
“That was a pretty interesting accomplishment and an adventure in itself,” Sinbad said.
Pretty interesting? Did I mention that Sinbad can be subtle at times.
The MEKA II was invited to participate in “Operation Sail” for America’s Bicentennial in New York Harbor in 1976.
Knowing that his little pirate ship would be dwarfed among the 225 sailing vessels, 16 tall training ships from around the world and 50 naval warships from as many nations, Sinbad sought a way to stand out. What he needed was a Letter of Marque that no one else had. He petitioned the government.
Sinbad on the MEKA II, circa 2016. Photo courtesy of Sinbad.
Secretary of the Navy John Warner invited Sinbad to Capitol Hill before they went to the White House to meet then-President Ford.
Always keen on putting on a good show, Sinbad and his crew arrived in Washington wearing their full privateer accoutrements.
“Heavily armed! I mean cutlasses and many pistols,” Sinbad recalls. “Being naïve my whole life, I didn’t realize what I was doing.”
Needless to say, it caused quite a commotion.
After being temporarily handcuffed and pressed against a wall by the Capitol police, Warner intervened, and off to the White House went the pirate crew from North Carolina.
It’s all because Sinbad watched the 96-minute movie, “Treasure Island,” when he was eight years old.
Now, in the words of the inimitable Sinbad, “Carry on.”
Sinbad’s MEKA II, left, and Carl Cannon’s Adventure enter Ocracoke’s Silver Lake harbor for Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree. Photo: C. Leinbach
Some local candidates attended the OCBA candidates night Oct. 15 in the Community Center. From left are Ocracoke Sanitary District candidate Scott Bradley, Hyde County Commissioner candidate Randal Mathews, NC House of Representatives District 79 candidate Mary Beedle (on screen), Hyde County Commissioner write-in candidate Mark Carawan, Hyde County Commissioner candidate Jeffrey Berry and NC State Senate District 2 candidate Tare ‘T’ Davis. Photo: C. Leinbach
Editor’s note: The General Election will be held Nov. 5 and early voting has begun in North Carolina. The Ocracoke Observer published the comments of local candidates in the October print issue because the November issue will come out after the election. We will update this guide as more candidates representing Ocracoke weigh in. A sample ballot can be found at the end of this post. Here are some key dates and deadlines for voting in North Carolina: Oct. 11: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)* Oct. 17: In-person early voting begins statewide; same-day registration available. All Hyde County voters can early vote at the Board of Elections office, 1223 Main Street, Swan Quarter, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 24 and 25: Ocracoke early voting will be two days only, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Oct. 29: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.) ballot at votebymail.ncsbe.gov.* *Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters. Nov. 5: General election, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.
An important source of voting information is the North Carolina State Board of Elections: www.ncsbe.gov.
The website forYou Can Vote is particularly helpful for college students wishing to vote on campus by providing the official campus address: www.youcanvote.org/students
Hyde County Board of Commissioners candidates. Hyde County voters vote for all candidates. Name three important issues that you as a county commissioner and the board could address and actually accomplish.
Thomas Midgette
Thomas Midgette (D), Lake Landing Township: The first thing I want to address is transparency.
I believe we need to keep the citizens as informed as is legally possible. Rumors and false accusations are damaging to the morale of county employees, who I believe are the best advocates for the county.
Secondly, we need to make sure that our taxes are fair and that they are being used in the most effective way possible.
Thirdly, we need to find ways to attract tourists to the mainland as well as the island.
Education and employment are other areas that need attention. Our youth have to leave the county in order to build a family and a life because of lack of employment opportunities.
I also believe that we need to explore with neighboring counties to attract businesses to the area.
Mark Carawan (D), write-in candidate for Lake Landing Township: My candidacy for County Commissioner offers me an opportunity to serve all of Hyde County. The first thing is the high taxes we are paying and
Mark Carawan
receiving very little service. We can’t keep up with Wake County. We are Hyde County with Ocracoke paying the biggest part of the taxes, about 40%. This is putting a burden on the local people of Ocracoke. With that being said we need to bring the Dare County traffic to Ocracoke through Swan Quarter with high-speed ferries, so mainland Hyde County can start paying some of the taxes.
If 70% of the traffic to Ocracoke was funneled through mainland Hyde look at the revenue it would bring to the mainland. It can be done. The ferry system is Ocracoke’s lifeline. We can make it better with faster ferries and less red tape. It’s a highway service.
Why should you need a permit every time you need to channel dredge. It’s been done for years. Get an open permit. The people need to come first.
EMS needs to be improved. We are a long way from a hospital and minutes matter. EMS should be the best of the best for mainland and Ocracoke. For $2.5 million I think it can be made a lot better. I will work to ensure the best standards in the county and of the economic process for all the citizens. Every business in Hyde County is suffering from the condition of Lake Mattamuskeet and the ferry services to Ocracoke. Write my name in when you early vote or on November 5.
Jeffrey Berry.
Jeffrey Berry (U) Hyde County commissioner, Fairfield Township I have lived and worked in Hyde County all of my life. I truly Love Hyde County and want better for the county’s people.
I have many more concerns than three but as for the question here are my three important issues that I would like to try to accomplish:
1. Dredging of all the inlets concerning our waterways. Acquiring the funding to keep the dredging in place would be a massive challenge but I would do my best.
2. Improvements to NC 12 to bridge the overwash area or possibly move South Dock closer to the village beyond the continual overwash area.
3. Our EMS system needs much improvement. I feel lack of communication among all involved is among the biggest issues. Also, it takes far too long for response from Dare to Hyde.
Hyde County must communicate with our legislators and governments, continually, to ensure they know our needs.
Through asking people in our county what they worry about, I’ve come up with these problems too: Taxes. I will work to find an answer. Our school system needs as much help as possible. Bringing employment to Hyde County is needed.
Thomas Whitaker, Hyde County commissioner, Fairfield Township Building, enhancing and maintaining the infrastructure, on the mainland and on the island will be important. There are three types of infrastructure that are required for a county or business to function.
* Hard infrastructure: physical systems needed for operation, such as transportation, energy, telecommunications, waste management and removal services, and electric power.
* Soft infrastructure: Access to education, government, health services and emergency services.
* Critical infrastructure: the minimal systems that are necessary to operations, such as access to food and water, heat, shelter, and medical care.
This is the mindset and vision we need working together as a unit. We can accomplish this task.
Randal Mathews (D), Hyde County Commissioner, Ocracoke Township, unopposed: I think my record of accomplishments in the last four years speaks for itself. Here are great examples of what the future possibilities may be.
Randal Mathews.
Here are some of the things I am proud of:
The lobbying effort for the million-dollar funding of the Tekniam project that provides emergency communications during telecommunication outages on Ocracoke Island.
Initiated federal and state funding grants for Brightspeed to place a submarine fiber optic cable to the mainland.
Used ARPA matching funds $100,000 to expand broadband service on mainland Hyde County.
Increasing the school district funding from Hyde County by more than $700,000 to over $1.8 million.
Increasing the EMS budget by more than $200,000, acquiring new vehicles and also the purchase of the Ocracoke Masonic Lodge for our new EMS station on Ocracoke.
Acquiring more than $100,000 for maintenance and operation of the Ocracoke Community Center since 2021.
Enhancing the Ocracoke Development Ordinance to address food trucks, travel trailers and roaming dogs.
Hyde County (Manager Kris Noble) has taken great steps to involve us in expediting the dredge permitting process, funding of projects, funding of the ferry division, Army Corps, and even NCDOT as co-chair of the RPO as an Rural Transportation Advisory Committee. Manager Noble created and got legislation passed that does not require Hyde County to provide matching funds while using the Shallow Draft Fund for dredging projects.
Acquiring permits and funding for the use of the Miss Katie hopper dredge to widen and deepen Sloop Channel between Ocracoke and Hatteras. (Manager Noble with guidance from our Waterways Commission)
We will continue our efforts to find additional funding for capital expenses for the Hyde County School District by lobbying our legislators.
We will be tireless in our support of the Ferry Division and its funding from the Transportation Appropriations Committees in our legislature.
We will continue to pursue funding in addition to the $490,000 in NCDEQ resilience grants to address flooding and drainage issues in Ocracoke Village.
We will continue to advocate to move the existing federal ferry channel from Big Foot Slough to Nine Foot Slough which will ultimately save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands in dredging and maintenance cost.
It takes the “yay” of three County Commissioners to take official action on anything that comes before the board. That means building positive relationships with my fellow commissioners, which I will continue to do.
Hyde County Schools Board of Education candidates What’s the biggest issue facing Hyde County Schools and how will you address it? Edward Torres (U), Swan Quarter: All issues in the school system are of high importance. To focus on one single issue could potentially deny addressing matters that are contributing factors to the challenges faced by public education.
As a longtime resident of Hyde County, a graduate of Mattamuskeet High School and a small business owner, I have seen the struggles of our school system, from retaining students, securing and retaining staff, having adequate facilities to facilitate proper education, and the influx of ESL students to mention a few. (myself being a product of the latter)
As a candidate for the Hyde County Board of Education, one of my areas of interest for our school system is to work with other peers to build a program that prepares young students as they progress through the grades and continue their post-secondary education whether it is at the university level, a local community college or if they decide to enter the workforce immediately following their high school graduation.
We must provide the proper tools so our younger generation is ready and successful as they face the challenges of becoming responsible and productive members of our society.
Chanta Kaila Gibbs-Rickard (D) Fairfield: one of the biggest issues facing Hyde County Schools is inadequate funding and resources, which affects facilities, technology, and educational programs. This leads to outdated materials, and limited extracurricular activities, ultimately impacting student performance and engagement. To address this issue, the schools should: Advocate for Increased Funding: Engage with local and state representatives to push for better financial support.
Pursue Grants: Actively seek grants from educational foundations and federal programs designed for underfunded schools.
Build Partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses and organizations for sponsorships and mentorship opportunities that provide additional resources.
Engage the Community: Involve parents and community members in fundraising efforts to foster a sense of investment in education.
Strategic Planning: Create a long-term plan identifying specific needs and goals to allocate resources effectively.
By tackling these funding challenges, Hyde County Schools can enhance educational quality and create a more supportive learning environment for all students.
Ocracoke Sanitary District boardof supervisors
Scott Bradley: The Ocracoke Sanitary District (OSD) has been awarded two significant grants to upgrade the island’s water infrastructure, most of which is over 45 years old, having been put into service in 1977, and aging from our salt-air-corrosion environment.
The Water Tower Replacement Project Grant of $5.6 million will provide for replacement of OSD’s 150,000-gallon elevated water tank with a concrete composite pedestal tank.
The grant also funds partnering with the OVFD to replace 68 fire and flushing hydrants. Completion deadline for the project is December 2026.
A smaller grant of $150,000 will help inventory, map and assess water infrastructure assets and needs to identify water quality issues and areas of low pressure and flow, leading to improved water quality and enhanced fire protection.
I was appointed to the board in June 2003 and re-elected by Ocracoke voters in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. I was elected chairman by the board in January 2010.
I am on the ballot for re-election now in 2024.
As I have been involved in the process with the board and our engineering firm, MESCO, to help secure these grants, I am seeking re-election to the board to continue working to help complete these projects.
Regina Boor The Ocracoke Sanitary District (OSD) has been awarded two significant grants to upgrade the island’s water infrastructure, most of which is over 45 years old, having been put into service in 1977, and aging from our salt-air-corrosion environment.
Regina O’Neal Boor
The Water Tower Replacement Project Grant of $5.6 million will provide for replacement of OSD’s 150,000-gallon elevated water tank with a concrete composite pedestal tank.
The grant also funds partnering with the OVFD to replace 68 fire and flushing hydrants. Completion deadline for the project is December 2026.
A smaller grant of $150,000 will help inventory, map and assess water infrastructure assets and needs to identify water quality issues and areas of low pressure and flow, leading to improved water quality and enhanced fire protection.
I was appointed to the board in June 2003 and re-elected by Ocracoke voters in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. I was elected chairman by the board in January 2010.
I am on the ballot for re-election now in 2024.
As I have been involved in the process with the board and our engineering firm, MESCO, to help secure these grants, I am seeking re-election to the board to continue working to help complete these projects.
More information on the various statewide candidates is available online but Jason Williams visited Ocracoke in September and sent the following statement: District Court Judge Judicial District 2 Seat 3 M. Jason Williams (D): I am serving as a district court judge covering Beaufort, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde counties. I was appointed by the governor last year to fill the unexpired term of a judge who retired, and I am running now for my own four-year term.
I grew up in the southern Pitt County town of Grifton, and I attended college at East Carolina University and law school at the University of Florida. I started my career at Legal Aid in New Bern and also worked as an assistant public defender in Greenville before opening up my own practice in 2003 in Washington.
During my time in private practice, I represented people in matters including family law (divorce, child custody, property distribution), criminal law (felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic tickets) and juvenile law (child welfare and juvenile delinquency). These are exactly the kinds of cases that I preside over today. My extensive experience across civil, criminal and juvenile courts makes me uniquely qualified to continue serving as a District Court Judge.
I also know what it is like to run a small business and to meet payroll, something I did for 20 years while practicing in my law office. Although I would never say that “I’ve seen it all,” there isn’t much that goes on in district court that I haven’t had more than a little experience in.
Although mine is a partisan race, the position of district court judge is certainly not a partisan job. There is no Republican way to decide a child custody case, or no Democrat way to decide who is guilty in a misdemeanor criminal case. My judicial philosophy is simple: listen to each individual case without bias and apply the law to the facts while making a decision. During my time on the bench, I have earned a reputation for treating people fairly and respectfully and for knowing and following the law. I have presided over all kinds of cases throughout each of the five counties, and I look forward to serving the people of eastern North Carolina for many years to come.
NC state Senate District 2 More information on the various statewide candidates is available online but Tare Davis visited Ocracoke in Oct. 15 (and before) and sent the following statement:
Tare “T” Davis (D): I am running for NC Senate District 2 because, while I will soon retire from service as a state trooper, I still have a desire and passion to serve the people of North Carolina.
Seven of the eight counties in District 2 have lost population, which means a decrease in funding.
As a Warren County commissioner for almost 10 years, I have learned that we need representatives from the state and federal levels to invest in Eastern North Carolina rural communities so local officials don’t have to rely solely on property taxes to continue providing services to residents while maintaining stability of the county and pushing its growth.
Being president of the NC Association of County Commissioners, elected by my peers in all 100 NC counties, has placed me in the room with local leaders from across the state, and recently sent me to our western counties, accompanied by high level state and federal officials, to help address needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Compared to my opponent I have a more moderate mindset of bipartisan leadership to make governing work for all people.
I have dedicated my life’s work to serving others. Joining the Army National Guard at age 17, my 28 years of service in law enforcement, and my work as a county commissioner have helped me hone my servant leadership skills and work within the communities that I have protected and represented to address and meet their needs.
As your next state Senator, important issues that I would address include:
Economic stability for working- & middle-class families
Prioritization of teachers & schools
Increased support for the ferry system & tourism
Defending individual rights, including the right to choose
Support for farmers, small businesses & public service providers
Mark Thomas Justice, 69, of Ocracoke passed away peacefully on October 15, 2024, at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.
He was the husband of Sharon O’Neal Justice.
Born on November 26, 1954, in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Shirley E. Anderson and John William Justice, Mark lived a life filled with passion, dedication and love for his community.
Mark was a cherished member of the Ocracoke community, where he owned and operated the beloved Fudge and Ice Cream Shop in Ocracoke’s Community Square. His shop was not just a place of business but a gathering spot where locals and tourists alike found comfort in his warm hospitality and sweet treats.
Beyond his entrepreneurial spirit, Mark was a committed firefighter with the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department for over two decades.
He served as the first assistant fire chief for several years, showing unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of his neighbors. Mark’s courage and resilience were evident in every call he answered, and his legacy will live on in the lives he touched.
An artisan at heart, Mark had a passion for carpentry and woodworking. His skillful hands crafted pieces that brought beauty and functionality into the homes of many.
In addition to his wife, Mark is survived by a son Robbie Lewis and wife Claudia; and granddaughter Camryn, who was his pride and joy; all who will forever cherish his memory. Mark is also survived by his sister Shirley Justice of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who, along with countless friends, will miss his kindness, humor, and generous spirit deeply.
His twin brother, Kevin Justice, preceded him in death.
In accordance with his wishes, there will be no service at this time. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support from the community.
Mark Thomas Justice’s legacy is one of service, compassion, and an enduring love for his family and community. He will be remembered always by those who were fortunate to know him.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
Local public schools are vital to community resilience
From our news services
By Elizabeth Paul, Policy & Research Manager at the Public School Forum of North Carolina
Local public schools are more than a collection of classrooms and hallways lined with lockers. Our public schools provide a space for connection, bringing people together through sports, arts, and activities to build relationships across generations.
In times of need, our public schools are a place of resources and support for all students and families in the community, regardless of household income, race or ability.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, local public schools, teachers, and staff have worked tirelessly to support children and families. Watauga High School, located just outside of Boone, spent four days accounting for each and every student, including by going door to door. Ashe County Public Schools opened three emergency distribution centers in their schools and served over 800 hot meals out of a high school parking lot in one afternoon, free for anyone in need. Buncombe County School locations were used for water distribution and the principal, along with teachers, from North Buncombe Elementary brought birthday cupcakes and presents to one of their students while checking in on families in the community.
These are just a few of many examples of how local public schools are the cornerstone of a community, especially in a time of need. In fact, federal law mandates that students experiencing homelessness, including those displaced after a natural disaster, have the right to enroll immediately in a local public school in the community in which they are currently living, even if they do not have the paperwork typically required to enroll.
This is a testament to the unique and central role that public schools play in our state, which is why we need to support them more than ever. On Oct. 9, the NC General Assembly passed a $273 million relief package for Western North Carolina that included $16 million for the Department of Public Instruction to compensate school nutrition employees, along with compensation for employees and school calendar flexibility for districts impacted by the storm.
The bill included all but one of DPI’s requests for help–$150 million for building, equipment, and technology loss in impacted districts. DPI highlighted that their request for $150 million to address needed repairs is only a first-round request, noting that it will not be enough. Yancey County Schools lost an entire elementary school building, which is estimated to cost $42 million alone.
The ongoing need for support in Western North Carolina comes as an override vote looms for Governor Cooper’s veto of HB10, which would allocate an additional $248 million of taxpayer funds to private school vouchers for the current school year. Although the voucher program was originally designed to provide scholarships for low-income families to attend private schools, the NCGA eliminated the income eligibility requirements beginning with the 2024-25 school year. This led to a drastic increase in applicants and a waitlist of around 55,000 families, the majority of which make over $115,000 annually.
If passed, the veto override would take hundreds of millions from local public schools and instead send those taxpayer dollars to private schools that do not have to report what they teach or which students they accept.
The Public School Forum’s analysis of the 200 private schools that received the most taxpayer dollars in the 23-24 school year revealed that only 42 percent were accredited, only 2 percent required teachers to hold state certification, and 89 percent utilized some form of discrimination in their admissions process.
Moreover, children in rural public schools, including those in Western North Carolina, will lose the highest rate of funds. Even without additional voucher funding, the state is spending nearly $20 million on private school vouchers for the current school year in the impacted districts alone.
The vast majority of North Carolina’s families choose to send their children to local public schools; however, our state continues to rank near the bottom in public school funding — 48th in the nation — and spends nearly $5000 less per student than the national average. Despite this, and even in a time of crisis, our public schools continue to serve their communities. If we continue to underfund these schools, we risk their closing, leaving families with no or few viable options, especially in rural communities.
We cannot take our local public schools for granted. They are often the backbone of our communities and serve over 1,500,000 children and their families. Those children need their schools to be funded and supported.
For nearly 40 years the Public School Forum of North Carolina has served as a nonpartisan champion of better schools. We bring together individuals and institutions from business, education, and government to study education issues, develop ideas, seek consensus, and ultimately inform and shape education policy.
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