Tom Slater and Suzie Fitch-Slater. Photo courtesy of the family
Thomas John Slater, 66, of Wanchese and formerly of Ocracoke, died on July 7, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He was the husband of the Rev. Susanna Fitch-Slater, pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church Wanchese and who was the pastor of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church from 2019 until 2021.
Born August 30, 1955, in Hartford, Connecticut, to the late Bernice Moore and Hillman Slater,
Tom was the twin brother of the late Timothy James Slater.
Tom will be remembered as a loving husband, loyal friend and a gentle man who was always content to be behind the scenes supporting those he loved.
He loved to cook and served his communities by preparing meals for those who needed encouragement. He was involved in a food ministry at every church he served.
After Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, Tom prepared lunches daily for the Ocracoke School and community.
He was his most authentic self when he was serving others. He was a man of deep quiet faith who trusted in Jesus Christ as his Lord and strength. He was a simple man who understood the act of self-sacrifice as the greatest sign of love and devotion.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons John Slater of Westfield, Massachusetts; Michael Fitch and wife Kristen of Bucksport, Maine; and Tim Fitch and wife Sarah of Rodanthe, North Carolina.
His proudest achievement in life was to be called “Tata” and “Pee-Paw” by his four grandchildren, Rebecca, Ethan, Daniel and Jonathan.
He is also survived by his sister, Karin Tyrrell and brother-in-law Jimmie of East Windsor, Connecticut, brothers, Ronald Slater of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Paul Slater and wife Duvit of Kansas, and David Slater of South Royalton, Vermont.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 14, in Bethany United Methodist Church in Wanchese.
The family and friends will gather after the service in the Fellowship Hall. He will be laid to rest in a private service at the Cudworth Cemetery in Wanchese.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to Bethany United Methodist Church, PO Box 239 Wanchese, NC 27981.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks, is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
Dramatic summer skies on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach
Updated
Monday, July 11 Yoga for Seniors (geared for 55+) at Island Yoga. Mondays from 4 to 5:30 pm starts July 11. All vaccinated folks welcome.
Tuesday, July 12 Ocracoke Preservation Society Porch Talk: Ocracats, 1 pm
1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Open mic 6-9 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Bryan Mayer, 7 pm
Ocracoke Community Library Temporarily in the Deepwater Theater, School Road: Family nights for all ages, 6 pm, Pirates
Wednesday, July 13 Hyde County Commissioners/Hyde County Board of Education meeting, 8 am, Community Center.
Ocracoke Community Library Temporarily in the Deepwater Theater, School Road: 10 am Ocracoke Preservation Society Kid Kraft: Ocracat Masks, 1 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Bryan Mayer, 7 pm
Thursday, July 14 Ocracoke Preservation Society Porch Talk: Teaching on Ocracoke, 1 pm
Ocracoke Youth Center is committed to bringing Bingo back to Ocracoke Island but needs volunteer help. They will hold Community Bingo games on Thursday nights, starting July 14 in the Ocracoke Community Center, provided they have enough volunteers to make it happen.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and games start at 6:30. They will need about six volunteers for each event to help with concessions, money, card takers and bingo callers. Right now, only three have agreed to volunteer and three more are needed. If they don’t get six volunteers by 5 p.m. Wednesday (July 13), it will not be held. If you can volunteer to help make this fun community event happen, contact Jeanie at jowens@hyde.k12.nc.us or 540-230-5552 to sign up.
1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Dye Wells, 6:30-9 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Barefoot Wade, 7 pm
Friday, July 15 Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority: 9-11am. Ocracoke Community Center.
Ocracoke Community Library Temporarily in the Deepwater Theater, School Road: Stories & More for rising K students and up:,1 p.m.
1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Dye Wells, 6:30-9 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Barefoot Wade, 7 pm
The Breeze: The Eric Dunlow Band, 9:30 pm
Saturday, July 16 Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray, 7 pm
By Peter Vankevich I have sometimes mused how I would end my Birds of Ocracoke profile series with: Last, but not least, is the Least Tern.
Sometimes called a sea swallow, the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) has a graceful, fast, buoyant flight pattern with rapid wing beats.
Careful observers will notice they are capable of suddenly putting on the skids, hovering above water, then quickly plunging to grab a small fish, their prey of choice.
Their diminutive size, the smallest tern in North America, makes them fairly easy to identify from the beach, even without binoculars as many make their way back and forth from South Point where the majority of them nest in a large colony that includes Common Terns, Gull-billed Terns and Black Skimmers.
Closer views reveal the Least Tern’s bright yellow bill, sometimes with a black tip, a black cap, white forehead, a black eyeline, and orange legs.
Do not expect to see their nonbreeding plumage here as they depart in late summer or early fall for Central America, South America and parts of the Caribbean.
Least Tern. Photo by Peter Vankevich
In winter, their heads are white, and they have a black eye stripe that goes toward the back of the head and black bills.
Tern identification in August on Ocracoke can be tricky since the fledged birds have duller plumages and their bills and leg colors can differ from the adults. Also, the adults may be going through their molt and their black caps begin to disappear.
But it is the small size of the Least Tern that makes it easily identified.
Their calls are a sharp Ki-dik and an alarm call described as wreep.
Like American Oystercatchers, Least Terns take a minimalist approach to constructing their nests, which is just a shallow scrape in sand or soil with some small bits of shell or vegetation added and lay two or three eggs. Both adults incubate and care for the young, which hatch in about 30 days. Precocial downy chicks hatch with open eyes and are ready to fly after 20 days.
Feisty is a description of their character as they will drive off would-be predators attempting to eat their eggs or hatchlings, including ghost crabs, one of the most aggressive predators of both bird and turtle hatchlings on Ocracoke Island.
Least Terns breed on the East Coast from southern Maine down to southern Florida including the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.
They are rarely seen inland in North Carolina, so it might be a surprise for some to see that a subspecies, Sternula antillarum athalassos, can be found along rivers in the Mississippi and Missouri Valleys west to the Great Plains of Montana and Colorado. There is also a California subspecies, Sternula antillarum browni.
Least Terns prefer to nest on open beaches like South Point and vegetation-free islands. However, some, including those on Emerald Isle, have adapted to human disturbance and habitat destruction by nesting on gravel roof tops.
A Least Tern fends off a ghost crab. Photo by Ben Ranelli/NPS
Roof tops are not ideal nest sites because in hot weather the tar can become stuck in the chick’s down or burn their feet. Because of their preferred low-lying nest sites, these terns are susceptible to tropical storms and overwash as was the case this spring when all of the nests on the South Point were wiped out.
The good news is that Least Terns are resilient as they will attempt to re-nest after such calamities. By June 22, there were approximately 100 nests on South Point and a small colony on the beach at the north end of Ocracoke.
Best time to see: Late spring, summer, early fall. Absent in winter. Where: Resting on the beach and in flight over the water, Srpinger’s Point, and seen from ferries Listen:The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a variety of Osprey recordings. Click here.
Like many species with handsome feathers, Least Terns came to the verge of extinction for their prized small feathers that were the fashion for ladies’ hats.
Apparently, their eggs were prized as well. In a 1913 news story in the South Carolina newspaper, “The State,” James Henry Rice warned that this vanishing species would soon join the Passenger Pigeon and the Great Auk to extinction unless strict measures were taken to protect it.
He noted that Least Tern eggs were sold in Charleston by the bushel. Since they lay only two eggs, it is not hard to see why they were on the brink.
Super Group. From left Martin Garrish, David Finch, Dallas Mason, Lou Castro and Phillip Correll at a June jam session while Castro was on Ocracoke. Photo: P. Vankevich
By Connie Leinbach
Nine-year-old drumming sensation Dallas Mason has Ocracoke buzzing whenever the Ocracoke Rockers are scheduled to play.
The rising fourth grader has been wowing crowds since his public debut at the Ocracoke Health Center Seafood Festival fundraiser in 2019 at which the Rockers capped a successful event.
Now, Dallas is the group’s drummer since its prior drummer, Tommy Hutcherson, is now a regular with the Ray McAllister Band.
Dallas’s prodigious talent has island musician Martin Garrish wowed.
“It’s just off the charts,” Garrish said about the youth’s native rhythm and musicality. “It’s amazing work. I’ve never worked with anybody or anything like this. I mean, this kid knows 70 or 80 songs already.”
Dallas Mason drums with the Rockers in The Breeze. Photo: C. Leinbach
Every night the group plays with Dallas he does something new, Garrish said.
“It just makes us proud and we just smile and shake our heads,” he said.
Dallas’s favorite band is Rush, and he can mimic the band’s drummer.
“This stuff is very complicated,” Garrish said about Rush’s music. “I swear (Dallas) can sit and play along with them and you don’t know the difference.”
Another innovative drummer was Ginger Baker of the 1960s group Cream, one of whose famous songs is “Sunshine of Your Love.”
The drum beat in that song is not standard.
“You can’t find that drum beat in any other song,” Garrish said. “If you listen to it, Dallas has got that made.”
During Easter weekend, the band Train Wreck was scheduled to play at The Breeze when their drummer got sick.
They found Dallas.
“I had to learn a lot of songs in two days,” Dallas said during an interview at his house while taking a break from shooting hoops with his younger brother Asher.
“Some of the songs I’ve heard, but I never played,” Dallas said. “We played ‘Boogie Shoes,’ a Tina Turner song and we did ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin. I never played any of those before.”
Train Wreck was impressed, said Dallas’s mom, Emilie Burrus Mason.
At the May 28 Firemen’s Ball, after all the bidding was done, Dallas joined the Rockers onstage and the first tune the band played was “Wipeout,” which is Dallas’s signature song, his mother said.
Emilie’s dad, Dal Burrus, of Buxton, is a drummer and is constantly tapping out tunes on any hard surface, she said.
“He always would drum ‘Wipeout’ on the countertops,” she said.
Five years ago, when Dallas was four, during a visit with his grandfather, Dallas heard that catchy rhythm.
After that visit, Dallas sat down at his little drum set and started playing “Wipeout.”
“He’d never played before,” Emilie said. “And I said, ‘How did you do that? Did Pop teach you that?’ And he said, ‘No, I just watched him play it. I listened to him play it and I picked it up.’ And I thought wow. That’s pretty crazy because that’s not an easy song to play.”
Dallas, who also is learning to sing, doesn’t show stage fright, something Garrish said he wrestles with.
Dallas’s talent showed up early.
Dallas Mason debuts his guitar playing at the Community Center. Photo: P. Vankevich
“He’s been singing and dancing since he could walk,” said Dallas’s dad, Shane. “He’s always just had rhythm. Everybody could tell.”
Several years ago, Dallas’s grandparents, Rex and Miggy O’Neal, gave him his first drum set and he began playing along to recorded music.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Dallas and his younger brother Asher did Facebook “concerts” by playing along to recorded music.
Last year, Dallas took some lessons via Zoom with drummer Ricky Falomir of the “punk rock ska” band The Aquabats with the children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba.
Dallas and his family recently attended an Aquabats show in Norfolk where Dallas got to meet Ricky, Emilie said. He also got to go on stage and went stage diving and crowd surfing on a giant blow-up pizza.
Earnings from his gigs help pay for the lessons.
And he’s always watching YouTube videos of drummers, especially Neil Peart of Rush, Ginger Baker and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.
While Dallas is also learning the guitar, drums offer more nuance.
“Each drum has a different rhythm,” he said. “It’s like you’re not just using like the same thing over and over. Each song is different, and I can learn a lot from the drums.”
Dallas and Asher have their little “Bros Music Room” under their house where they practice and jam with Dallas’s friend Duncan McClain, who is learning the guitar.
“Duncan will come over and they’ll go downstairs, and they’ll jam out for hours,” Emilie said. “It’s really cool to hear him and Duncan play together.”
Emilie and Shane try to get to all of their son’s gigs.
“When he’s onstage, it just blows me away,” Emilie said. “It’s really cool to watch and to see his progression.”
The Rockers are scheduled to play Saturday, July 9 and 23, at the Ocracoke Oyster Company. See the directory for other entertainment and information.
Dallas’s friend Duncan McLain, in green, makes his stage debut. Photo: P. Vankevich
Dallas and his younger brother, Asher, outside their ‘Bros Music Room.’ Photo: C. Leinbach
The Ocracoke July 4 parade got a ‘marching band’ of makeshift instruments this year from a multi-family group named Krewe da Beach. They won Best of Show. Photo: C. Leinbach
Observer staff report
Fourth of July celebration events on Ocracoke skirted potentially inclement weather and went off with fair weather and good attendance.
Although Tropical Storm Colin had threatened the weekend activities, it was downgraded to a depression by Saturday afternoon.
The fireworks show on July 2 was delayed for several minutes because of moisture affecting the electronic ignition system, according to Darlene Styron, who coordinates the fireworks and who talked to the company afterwards.
The technicians were doing one final check when they discovered one of the ignition units wasn’t working and had to be changed out, delaying the show for several minutes, she said.
Then, about eight minutes into the show, a low firing rocket caught the surrounding grass on fire where the fireworks were set up at the end of the NPS parking lot, said Ernie Doshier, Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department assistant fire chief.
OVFD firefighters, stationed at the front of the parking lot for such occurrences, responded and hosed down the blaze within minutes. The show resumed several minutes later.
Fireworks finale July 2, 2022, by Richard Taylor
After each show, the fireworks technicians go through all of the boxes, Doshier said, and must launch ones that didn’t fire. So, before midnight, several unspent fireworks were shot off, giving the island a third, albeit brief, pyrotechnical display. Afterwards, the OVFD went back and hosed down the marsh area where the fire had erupted.
An island-wide Scavenger Hunt on Sunday saw more than 30 teams with approximately 250 people hunting for answers to clues that took them around Ocracoke Village.
An old-fashioned square dance that evening in the Berkley Barn saw about 200 people learning to “dig for the clam and dive for the oyster,” which is a dance unique to Ocracoke.
“This was a blast,” said Becky Sean Foure, of York, South Carolina, as she caught her breath following the last notes of music played by Molasses Creek.
Learning to square dance on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach
Nancy Goodman of Forest, Virginia, noted the number of families participating.
“The young people weren’t afraid to dance,” she said.
Individuals and groups numbering 17 built sand sculptures of all kinds at the lifeguard beach the morning of July 4.
The old-time Fourth of July parade kicked off at 4 p.m. from the staging area at Wheelie Fun Golf Carts with 26 entrants, the largest number of entrants in the last several years, with 15 “wheels” entries, 10 floats and three walk-n-rolls.
Lydia Freda Spencer, 89, matriarch of Spencer clan, was grand marshal and was thrilled about it.
“I was surprised at the number of people,” she said about those lining the route. “I enjoyed it.”
She hasn’t only watched the parade, which goes by her house at Lighthouse and Creek roads. In one parade years ago, she and co-workers once represented Island Inn employees and wore string mops on their heads.
Lydia Freda Spencer is the Grand Marshal of the July 4 parade on Ocracoke. Her driver is Brian Warren. Photo: C. Leinbach
“One year we walked it in clown suits,” she said. “That was hot.”
Leading the parade were the fire trucks from the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Among the entrants, with varying nods to the theme of “Famous Duos,” was the Native Seafood float featuring “shrimp and grits,” a golf cart featuring Janis Joplin & the Grateful Dead’s Pigpen, two “Stars and Stripes” entries, and recently retired Hyde County sheriff captain on Ocracoke Jason Daniels driving his side-by-side with a “Thank you, Ocracoke” sign.
“It was the first time in 20 years that I was in the parade and not working it,” he said.
Desiree Christa Ricker. Photo: C. Leinbach
Although a number of entries do not adhere to the theme each year, they are not disqualified.
Bringing up the rear was the “Island Boys” float — a trailer full of fish nets, buckets and other items.
The “Krewe da Beach Band,” a large group with hand-crafted “instruments” cavorting along the road won Best of Show.
“There’s never been a band,” said crew leader Sandy Vermilyea of Kernersville, who said the effort was the work of six families who vacation at the same time each year on Ocracoke.
Island singer Desiree Christa Ricker sang the national anthem a capella before storyteller Donald Davis spun some of his classic tales at the Books to be Red lawn.
Festivities ended with a beach fire at the lifeguard beach.
Famous Duo Patrick and Sponge Bob in a float by Art Ocracoke Gallery won Best Float. Photo: C. Leinbach
Winners of the activities are as follows:
Scavenger Hunt (Sunday, July 3):
First place Gaye Herndon group of Salisbury, NC, in 29 minutes
Second Place: Chris Davidson group of Pittsburgh, Pa., in 34 minutes
Third place: Kate Cavanaugh group of Winston-Salem, NC, in 36 minutes
Scavenger hunt victors are Gaye Outlaw, Bailey Herndon, Carol Herndon and Ike Freeman. Photo: C. Leinbach
Sand Sculpture (Monday, July 4):
All categories are voted on by beach goers. Individual 12 & Under: James Husted (Shrimp) Group 12 & under: Summer Friends of Ocracoke (Disney Castle) Individual 13 & over: Dave Manthey of Monroe Falls, Ohio. (Peace sign) Group 13 & over: Jelly Dream by Mika group of Boulder Colorado Best in Show: On a Beach Far, Far away (baby Yoda), Mary Duskwood group of Chicago, Illinois
Baby Yoda sunbathing on a beach ‘far, far away’ captured Best in Show of the sand sculptures. Photo: C. Leinbach
Parade winners (Monday, July 4):
Best Theme: Old Man & the Sea Food, Brant Godfrey family of Winston-Salem honorable mention: Boys & Girls-America’s Future, Ocracoke Youth Center
Best Float: Sponge Bob Water Time, Art Ocracoke Gallery honorable mention: Oelschlegel Family Remembering Cousin Soren
Best in Show: Krew da Beach Band, Theresa Selleck group, Fenton, Michigan
Best Walk & Roll: Nemo & his Anemone, Peller family, Silver Spring, Maryland
Best Wheels: Jimmy Buffet & his Greatest Hits, Cavenaugh family of Ocracoke honorable mention: The Cat in the Hat, Blecher family of Ocracoke
The Ocracoke Civic & Business Association organizes the July 4 events with assistance from Hyde County and financed by a grant from the Occupancy Tax Board.
A community beach fire at the lifeguard beach capped the holiday events. Photo: C. Leinbach
Donald Davis regales the crowd with tales of his hilarious childhood.
The Oelschlegel family of Ocracoke remember Soren Oelschlegel.
Jimmy Buffet’s ‘It’s Five O’Clock somewhere’ won Best Wheels.
Peace by David Manthey wins best adult individual sand sculpture.
Shrimp & grits float by Native Seafood.
The ‘Mini Bar’ float.
Nemo and his Anemone captures best Walk & Roll.
The Old man and Sea Food float captures best theme with peanut butter (not shown) and jelly, seafood and butter.
The gathering crowd before the fireworks.
Sponge Bob’s world by Art Ocracoke Gallery is the Best Float.
Summer Friends create a winning Disney castle.
Jelly Dream by Mika and her group wins best adult group sand sculpture.
Jabba the Peace Frog was among 17 sand sculptures created July 4 by visitors and locals on the Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach. Story about all the events to follow. Photo: C. Leinbach
Tuesday, July 5 Ocracoke Preservation Society: Al Scarborough and Woody Billings – Fourth of July on Ocracoke, 1 pm
Wednesday, July 6 Playbox Theatre Camp for kids and families, conducted by theater artist Emmet Temple, 9-10 am. Berkley Barn. Reservations are required and the costs are free for island students (sponsored by Ocracoke Alive); visiting students aged 8 and older $10 per session; and $20 for visiting family groups (limit of four persons). To reserve, call or text Temple at 252-588-2331.
Ocracoke Community Library (temporarily inside Deepwater Theater): Storytime for babies, toddlers & preschoolers: 10 am
Thursday, July 7 Ocracoke Decoy Carvers Guild, 7-8 pm. Ocracoke Community Center.
Friday, July 8 Ocracoke Community Library (temporarily inside Deepwater Theater): Stories & More for rising K students and up: 1 pm
Ocracoke Preservation Society: Special Friday Porch Talk with Ruth Fordon – Sea Turtles, 1 pm
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Kate McNally, 7 pm
1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Kinnie Dye, 7-9 pm
The Breeze: The Cooper Greer Band, 9:30 pm
Saturday, July 9 Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ocracoke Rockers, 7 pm
The Breeze: The Cooper Greer Band, 9:30 pm
NPS Programs Discovery Center (at Irvin Garrish Highway & Pilot Town Road) hours open daily: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ocracoke Lighthouse base open daily: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Twenty-minute talks are at 11 a.m. Monday to Thursday.
Shaping these Barrier Islands Monday to Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Wars, hurricanes, winds and ocean currents have all had impacts on the shores of Cape Hatteras.
Banker Ponies Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the pony pen. Meet the ponies who once roamed as a wild herd and learn about their living history on Ocracoke Island.
The National Weather Service today (July 5) issued a heads-up for excessive heat and humidity and the threat of scattered to numerous thunderstorms in eastern North Carolina beginning Wednesday afternoon and evening.
This will begin an active, several-day period of severe storm possibilities as a very unstable air mass sits over the region with a stalled front in the vicinity.
Damaging winds, large hail, torrential downpours with localized flooding, and frequent lightning are possible with the thunderstorms.
The combination of hot temperatures and very humid conditions will set the stage for potential heat indices reaching 105 degrees or higher on Wednesday, although more inland than on the coast, and possibly through the end of the work week.
Ocracoke Alive will launch Playbox Theatre Camp, a summer theater program for kids and families weekly from July 6 to Aug. 18.
Conducted by islander Emmet Temple, a theater artist and N.C. School of the Arts graduate, the sessions for students ages 8 and older will consist of an hour-long workshop on Wednesdays of each week.
The program will run once a week from 9 to 10 a.m. for six weeks with two locations: July 6, 13, 20 in the Berkley barn, 58 Water Plant Rd, near the harbor; July 27 and Aug. 3 (in Deepwater Theater, 84 School Rd.) and Aug. 10 and 18 back at the Berkley Barn. Single-day attendees are welcome.
Using the same techniques as those used in his touring shows, Temple will lead the group in the basics of theater-making through short, archetypal scene work and other exercises.
Classes will conclude with a short performance.
Reservations are required and the costs are free for island students (sponsored by Ocracoke Alive); visiting students aged 8 and older $10 per session; and $20 for visiting family groups (limit of four persons).
To reserve, call or text Temple at 252-588-2331.
Please bike or walk in. Parking is available at the NPS lot near the Ocracoke Preservation Museum.
The National Weather Service reports that Tropical Storm Colin formed this morning along the central coast of South Carolina.
TS Colin will move northeast along the N.C. coast today through Sunday, bringing with it a variety of impacts including locally heavy rainfall, potential for isolated tornadoes, and gusty winds, especially along the coast.
The Independence Day events are all on at this point. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
For more weather information and to view the latest watches, warnings and advisories from the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/mhx.
Be mindful that the threat of rip currents will increase and remain elevated until well after the storm passes, making conditions dangerous for even the most experienced swimmers. For daily beach reports, visit LovetheBeachRespectheOcean.com
Keep your cell phone charged with Government Alerts enabled to ensure you receive National Weather Service issued alerts for life threatening weather conditions.
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 4, in the Hyde County Government Center, Multi-Use Room, Swan Quarter, and the Ocracoke Community Center. The public is welcome to attend in person and the meeting will also be live streamed via the County’s Facebook Live account.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss budgetary and legal matters with the Hyde County Board of Education.
Food truck moratorium hearing
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on the Ocracoke Development Ordinance at its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, in the Hyde County Government Center, Multi-Use Room, and the Ocracoke Community Center.
The purpose of this hearing is to receive public comment on a proposed ordinance to establish a moratorium on issuing new food truck permits within Ocracoke township until February. The moratorium would give the Ocracoke Planning Board time to review and establish regulations.
Pre-submitted comments are welcome. Comments may be mailed to Public Comment ODO Hearing at P.O. Box 188, Swan Quarter, NC 27885, emailed to publiccomment@hydecountync.gov or by leaving a voicemail at (252) 926-5288.
Public comment will also be taken in person at the hearing.
