Aerial view of Ocracoke Island. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Connie Leinbach
The Ocracoke Advisory Planning Board, after a several month hiatus, regrouped and will take a fresh look at travel trailers and accessory structures on the island.
Since Hurricane Dorian struck Sept. 6, 2019, and left many islanders homeless, more travel trailers appeared on the island to serve as temporary housing.
In addition, the building inspector, John Contestable, needs some guidance on “accessory structures,” Randal Mathews, Ocracoke’s county commissioner, noted at the Nov. 11 meeting.
“Travel trailers are now being treated the same as dwellings regarding setbacks, septic capacity, density,” Mathews said, but the question arose that if a travel trailer is considered a house, can a second travel trailer be considered an accessory structure?
These are questions that the Ocracoke Development Ordinance (ODO) does not adequately answer.
Hyde County Manager Kris Noble, who also is the county planner and the county development officer, said the ODO is different from a zoning ordinance and is basically a ramped-up subdivision ordinance
Her staff will look at accessory structure definitions in several other ordinances and these will be discussed at future meetings.
Planning Board Chair Stevie Wilson said the board is required by law to review the ODO every two years. He asked the group to read over the ODO on their own and highlight areas of concern or questions for later discussion.
“We need to review the ODO so we can discuss the things we’re concerned about,” he said. “I want the support of the community rather than the wrath of the community.
He suggested that at future board meetings the public be required to notify the board 24 hours before the meeting if they want to make a public comment.
The board agreed to hold meetings on the second Thursday of the month. The next meetings will be Jan. 13 and Feb. 10 in the Community Center.
The Ocracoke Preservation Society is decked out for Christmas 2019. Photo by Traci DeVette Griggs
The Ocracoke Preservation Society will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting and Wassail party on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the David William’s House Museum, 49 Water Plant Rd., starting at 4:30 p.m.
Participants are asked to bring their own mugs and a plate of cookies to share.
The drawing for the special quilt made by the Ocracoke Needle and Thread Club will also take place.
Canvases for the “Ocracoke Through Your Eyes” art auction on Jan. 22 are still available. To receive a canvas, email info@ocracokepreservation.org.
The auction will be held in the Ocracoke Community Center starting at 5 p.m.
Ocracoke basketball tips off Dec. 3. Photo by Leslie Cole
By Peter Vankevich
In an unofficial homecoming of sorts, basketball returned to the newly reopened Ocracoke gym on Friday.
The first home basketball games since February 2019 included a special thank-you to East Carteret High School for hospitality shown to Ocracoke students following Hurricane Dorian.
The atmosphere was joyful in the newly refurbished gym, as parents and fans packed the bleachers. After destructive Hurricane Dorian devastated the school on Sept. 6, 2019, Dolphin teams had to play all games away for two seasons.
The main school building was razed last year and rebuilding has just begun. The school gym was saved, but needed extensive repairs. The gym, which goes by “the Tank” (where dolphins swim), opened for women’s volleyball this fall on a new modular court.
There were no surprises against East Carteret, as the formidable Mariners from Beaufort handily beat the varsity girls and boys in the non-conference games Friday evening.
The Lady Mariners led from the very beginning. By the second quarter, the Dolphins got their offense going and came within a few points throughout the second period and a good part of the third. The Mariners then used a full court press, which created several Ocracoke turnovers. On two occasions, the Dolphins broke the press and got the ball to Maggie Evans who scored.
The Lady Dolphins lost the first game, 65-42. Senior Savannah Hodson was the high scorer for Ocracoke, followed by Maren Donlon and Maggie Evans. Complete final stats were not available.
The Lady Mariners fielded a balanced team. Kenliana Dixon was high scorer with 18 points, followed by Sydney Roberson with 17 and Tanzania Locklear with 15.
Dolphin Maggie Evans makes layup, gets fouled to score 3-point play against East Carteret, Dec 3, 2021. Photo by Richard Taylor
The Ocracoke boys also got off to a slow start, down 25-2 by the end of the first quarter. The Mariners brought excellent shooting (including eight 3-pointers) and a stifling defense to the game, cruising to a 72-31 win.
Landon Fuller led the Dolphins with 10 points (including two 3-pointers), followed by Davis Grant with 6, Dirk Ely with 5, Rosalio Villanueva with one three-pointer and Gavin Elicker with 2.
Shamel Baker was high scorer for the Mariners.
All Dolphin basketball teams (including the boys JV and middle school teams) have had limited playing time for two years. All are stacked with young players and will have to rebuild.
Most of the boys’ varsity players are freshmen and sophomores. Brandt O’Neal and Rosalio Villanueva are the only seniors for the boys.
Savannah Hodson is the only senior for the Lady Dolphins.
Perhaps the most heartwarming part of the evening came after the game. After clearing the new playing surface, Ocracoke Boosters set up tables, chairs and a buffet so that players, parents and coaches from both teams could share a meal.
Before the big spread, Ocracoke School Principal Leslie Cole and Athletic Director Mary McKnight lauded the East Carteret High School family for their kindness in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
Cole said East Carteret reached out to Ocracoke School right after the storm, asking how they could help. A week later, Carteret parents hosted 90 Ocracoke students, so our kids could escape the effects of Dorian’s devastation, if only for a long weekend.
“This school helped us out greatly after Hurricane Dorian and was incredibly generous to our students,” Cole wrote on the Ocracoke School Campus Facebook page. She also thanked the Ocracoke Oyster Company and Pony Island Restaurant for providing much of the food for the feast.
“What a great night at our home season opener against East Carteret,” Cole said. “We were happy to host our friends in the first home game since Hurricane Dorian. It was wonderful to see so many come out and support us.”
As often happens here, several island cooks brought dessert items for the dinner. The Pony Island Motel provided lodging for our Down Sound neighbors until they returned home the next morning on the Cedar Island ferry.
Richard Taylor contributed to this story
Post game appreciation dinner. Photo by Richard Taylor
Pat and Rudy Austin decorate the Ocracoke lighthouse grounds with holiday garlands. The OCBA decorates the public building with garlands every December and Tideland EMC installs holiday lights on some of the island utility poles along the streets. Rudy noted that Tideland refurbished the lights. Photo: C. Leinbach
Tuesday, Dec. 7: Ocracoke Preservation Society annual Wassail party, lighting of community Christmas Tree and drawing the winner for quilt raffle. David William’s House Museum, 49 Water Plant Rd., 4:30 pm
Wednesday,Dec. 8: Methodist Women potluck, secret Santa exchange & carol sing, 6 pm, Community Center. Donations go to the Methodist Home for Children.
Santa Claus arrives at the Variety Store for photos and sleigh rides, 4 to 6 pm.
Santa Claus arrives Dec. 8 at the Variety Store for photos and sleigh rides, 4 to 6 pm.
Friday Dec. 10: The Dental Van returns to Ocracoke for fulltime residents without dental insurance. Sign-up sheets are at the post office.
Christmas Market in the Castle B&B, noon to 5 pm
Saturday, Dec.11: The Dental Van returns to Ocracoke for fulltime residents without dental insurance. Sign-up sheets are at the post office.
Sunday, Dec.12: Christmas Market in the Castle B&B, noon to 5 pm
Life Saving Church, Christmas Gospel Sing with Trio Double Portion from Belhaven, singing, finger foods, and fellowship, 5 p.m.
Joe Rockenstein is the new CEO of the Ocracoke and Engelhard health centers.
By Connie Leinbach
Someone who knew Ocracoke Health Center was looking for a new CEO took a photo of Joe Rockenstein with an Ocracoke Coffee Company mug and sent it to the recruiter.
And suddenly, Rockenstein, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa., found himself in a new part of the country and in a new job this summer.
Rockenstein has been in the position of new CEO of the Ocracoke Health and Engelhard Medical centers since June 21 at the retirement of longtime CEO Cheryl Ballance.
Even though he wasn’t looking for a new job, the idea sounded interesting.
“I didn’t know anything about this job,” he said during a Nov. 20 retirement fete for Ballance. He wasn’t looking for a new job, but during their vacations on the Outer Banks over the years, he and his wife, Carol, had mused about moving to a place like this.
And, maybe, a good opportunity just dropped into his lap.
Ocracoke Health Center Board President Sue Pentz said the center needed someone who could take on the finances and that the board clicked with Rockenstein when they met him.
“The whole (recruitment) committee instantly knew we had our guy,” Pentz said about “CEO Joe,” as she calls him. “He has the vision to help us grow in small steps before taking giant leaps, and his commitment, like, Cheryl, is so true. We’re very fortunate we found someone who thinks like us.”
At the retirement party, Ballance was surprised to receive the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, reserved by North Carolina governors as their highest honor and bestowed on persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.
Ballance, who has worked for the health center for 30 years, is not fully retired but is still working as needed as the grant writer.
She and Rockenstein also hit it off, Pentz said. “She left it in good hands.”
Under Ballance’s administration, the Ocracoke Health Center and Engelhard Medical Center joined forces in 2013 to become a federally qualified health center (FQHC) making the organization eligible to receive federal grants.
Rockenstein has worked as the chief financial officer in nonprofit healthcare for about 12 years at an FQHC that is three times the size of the Ocracoke-Engelhard concern.
So, he brings needed experience centers and is anxious to make a difference.
Pentz said Rockenstein is looking into getting a pharmacy on Ocracoke.
“I love it,” he said about the job so far. “It’s great because it services the community, which is really important to me. Whether you’re insured or uninsured, regardless of what walk of life you come from or your orientation, what’s important is you’re getting health care.”
He and his wife, Carol, moved to Belhaven so that Joe can travel to both Ocracoke and Engelhard.
Pentz noted that Rockenstein met every staff member in both locations.
“The best thing about the job are the people,” he said. “Everybody who I’ve met and talked to so far are just some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life.”
Retiring CEO Cheryl Ballance, center, receives the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award from Jamie Tunnel Carter, billing manager, while Dr. Erin Baker, physician at the Ocracoke Health Center, looks on. Photo: C. Leinbach
Cheryl Ballance, former CEO of the Ocracoke Health Center, is the newest Ocracoke member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an honor reserved for those who have shown extraordinary service to the state and to their communities for over 30 years.
The highest service award in the state, the Long Leaf Pine award is bestowed by the governor to those making a significant impact in North Carolina.
Ballance officially retired June 30 as the health center CEO and has put Ocracoke and Engelhard on the map through her work to make the two medical centers in this rural area a success.
Jamie Carter, health center billing manager, made the presentation at a retirement celebration Nov. 20 with staff and members of the board of directors on Ocracoke.
She paid tribute to Ballance’s long years of service and dedication by sharing some of the letters of support written by Ballance’s former peers and associates for the nomination of the award.
In addition to the day-to-day operations to keep the medical centers open to provide the much-needed service in this area, Ballance met the demands of living and working in an area with regular storms, isolation, and challenges. She went above and beyond the 8-5 day to travel, write grants, conference call, and fulfill site requirements for funding.
“I really appreciate this more than you know,” Ballance said upon receiving the award. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you all these years.”
Board Chair Susan Pentz and Dr. Erin Baker, D.O., the Ocracoke Health Center provider, also presented awards and words of thanks during the celebration.
“Cheryl has kept us on track for many, many years,” Pentz said. “We will miss her leadership and the vision that she has given to this organization.”
Taking over for Ballance is Joe Rockenstein, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Ballance will continue to work as needed on grant writing.
Ballance started at the Ocracoke Health Center as an R.N. in 1987, and then worked as a public health nurse for Hyde County Health Department providing home health nursing service and coordinating care for the residents of Hyde County.
For many years, she was the R.N. and administrative director of the Ocracoke Health Center and then added the Engelhard Medical Center in 2010.
In 2013, with her vision and dedication, the two medical centers joined and became a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to continue to offer expanded medical care and services.
She has served on the Hyde County Board of Health and the North Carolina Community Health Center Association Board of Directors.
She received the NC Office of Rural Health and Community Care Administrator Award in 2013 and the N.C. Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service in 1998.
Continued beach erosion at the north end of Ocracoke where these sandbags are located is an ongoing area of concern. Photo: C. Leinbach
In this season of reflection and, we hope, tranquility, Ocracoke has a lot to be thankful for.
Despite the ongoing, global COVID-19 pandemic, Ocracoke has fared well as visitors continued to discover and rediscover the slower pace of living on this island lacking in many trappings of civilization and accessible only by ferry, private boat or plane.
Helena Stevens, executive director of the Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority, noted the banner year Ocracoke has had, especially after the recovery from Hurricane Dorian. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the cancellation of several major events in 2020 and earlier this year.
“COVID had a tremendous impact because tourists had a haven to come to and be outdoors,” she said, adding that she has heard that reservations and bookings for lodging next year are already strong.
As with last year, many island businesses prospered and with lodging so successful occupancy tax collections will benefit the island nonprofits.
In the two years since Hurricane Dorian flooded Ocracoke on Sept. 6, 2019, Ocracoke has showed its resilience.
Some businesses have closed or have been sold to new owners and new enterprises have started. Like birds on a barrier island, people come and go seasonally, some leave permanently switching to visitor status and new folks buy what may have been their dream home. On such a small island, all of this is noticeable.
Ocracoke, being what some of our wags have described as a sandbar off the eastern edge of the continent, has a lot of challenges ahead — notably how to shore up beach erosion; keep the island’s highway, N.C. 12, open; affordable housing; and keeping Ocracoke’s lifeline, the ferry system, sufficiently funded, adequately staffed and the channels sufficiently dredged.
In the fall, visitor numbers have traditionally dropped off, prompting many businesses and restaurants to cut back their hours or close until spring.
This year the number of visitors remained high, and by August many of the island’s workers were exhausted or left the island for school or to return to family, and Ocracoke, like so many other communities in the age of COVID, struggled to stay open.
These challenges continue to be front-and-center and we hope all islanders join in to help address them.
Ocracoke Dolphin Rosalio Villanueva shoots against Bear Grass Oct. 27.
Text and photos by Richard Taylor
Sports teams returned strong to Ocracoke School this fall following two years of limited games due to the pandemic and recovery from Hurricane Dorian.
Basketball begins in the Ocracoke School gym on Friday at 4 p.m. starting with girls’ varsity followed by the boys varsity as they take on East Carteret from Beaufort. Ocracoke’s community radio station, WOVV will broadcast the game locally on 90.1 FM. The station’s website, wovv.org, is currently out of service.
Varsity basketball coach Frank Moore returns for his third year, although no games were played last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty games were played away for the 2019-2020 season due to Dorian.
The only seniors on Moore’s 10-man squad are Rosalio Villanueva-Romero and Brandt O’Neal.
“Rosalio is probably one of the most enjoyable kids I’ve coached,” Moore said after practice on Nov. 17. “He gives me everything he has. You can’t ask for more. None of these kids except Roaslio has played in a varsity game. It’s a big jump from middle school to varsity. You might be the best in middle school, but when you’re going against an 18-year-old kid who’s been playing varsity for several years, it’s a different game.”
He’s pleased with the young group he has now.
“This isn’t going to be an overnight thing,” he said about coaching them to win. “I hope by February, we’re a lot better than we are right now. We’re going to be alright.”
In the season opener Nov. 15, the 10-player Dolphin boys team lost at Lawrence Academy in Bertie County, 73-47. “We played well until the middle of the second period,” Moore said. The Lady Dolphins, coached by Kadi Richardson, lost to Lawrence Academy, 44-31.
The Lady Dolphins played a non-conference away game Dec 1, while both varsity teams play Friday/Saturday home games this weekend, first hosting East Carteret Friday. The Lady Dolphins play at 4:00 p.m. while the boys play at 5:30 p.m.
Maren Donlon returns a volley against Lawrence Academy Oct. 15 in the refurbished Ocracoke School gym.
Earlier in the fall, girls’ volleyball, co-ed soccer, and cross-country teams all qualified for regional state playoffs.
Guidance counselor Mary McKnight took on the additional role of athletic director this fall, replacing Adam Burleson.
“We went a couple of years without playing,” she said “There’s some rebuilding’s happening and some new coaches. We’re doing good now.”
Playing volleyball before an enthusiastic crowd in the newly refurbished gym, the Lady Dolphins, 5-7 overall, played hard before losing to Lawrence Academy from Bertie County, 0-3, in the last home game of the season Oct 15.
The girls led the first set right up to the end, before letting that set slip away, 25-23.
The Dolphins finished the regular season third in the Atlantic Five 1A conference, behind Bear Grass Charter and Cape Hatteras.
The Dolphins subsequently lost 3-0 at Northside Pinetown in the first round in the N.C. High School Athletic Association regional playoffs Oct. 25.
The entire 11-member volleyball squad returns next fall. Ocracoke did not roster middle school volleyball this year. Jessica Caldwell coaches the Lady Dolphins, assisted by Charles Temple.
The co-ed Dolphin soccer team finished their regular season 2-5 at home Oct. 27, losing 5-2 to first-place Bear Grass Charter.
It also was Senior Night as Ocracoke School seniors Odalys Garcia, Daniela Garcia, Jonathan Martinez, Brandt O’Neal and Rosalio Villanueva-Romero were honored with flowers for their players at halftime.
In the second half, McKnight felt the need to quickly intercede when two heated arguments broke out between Dolphin and Bear fans following questionable calls by the referees.
“It was a great game,” said Andy Todd, coach. “I’m proud of our team. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They did very well.”
McKnight said Todd was a great choice for head soccer coach, noting, “He’s got a wealth of knowledge. He’s a good mentor and role model for the kids.”
“After a courageous effort, the Dolphins bowed out of the playoffs this evening,” Todd wrote on Facebook following a 9-0 loss to Eno River Academy in Hillsborough Nov. 1.
Todd will return to coach next year.
Dolphin Maren Donlon, left, and Elsie Kattenburg, right, at the Bayboro Regional Cross Country meet on Oct. 30.
The Dolphins ran all cross-country meets away this year.
“We’re hoping to set up a course for home meets next year,” McKnight said.
Under coach Shea Youell’s leadership, Ocracoke took 13 runners and ran well at the cross-country regionals in Bayboro Oct 30.
There, three Dolphins qualified for the next state level meet.
“Everybody had a great experience in Kernersville (on Nov. 6),” Youell said. “They ran really well. It’s really good for our girls to be competing against some of the best runners in the state. I hope it’s something we can build on for the future. We’re looking forward to competing in the state meet again next year.”
“It was cold up there,” said sophomore runner Maren Donlon about the Forsyth County course, “but nobody finished last.”
Beach fires like this on the Ocracoke beach are banned as of Nov.30 until further notice.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) has banned beach fires until further notice due to dry conditions and an increased fire risk.
In addition to the Seashore’s beach fire ban, the North Carolina Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide.
The Seashore’s beach fire ban will be lifted once conditions improve.
CAHA’s ban follows the statewide open burn ban the N.C. Forest Service issued at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 until further notice.
Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal.
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted.
Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
Beach fires at Seashore beaches require a free beach fire permit. To learn more about the permit, click here.
Open burning is prohibited in the village of Ocracoke.
Friday, Dec. 3 First home game for Dolphins basketball. 4 pm girls varsity, 5:30 pm boys varsity. Ocracoke School gym
Dec. 3 to 5 Core Sound Waterfowl Weekend at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum on Harker’s Island. For details, visit http://www.Coresound.com.
Sunday, Dec. 5 Ocracoke Alive Fall membership meeting 6 pm, Ocracoke Community Center. Along with dessert, the meeting will review activities of 2021 and plans for next year.
