The Rodanthe Roundabout. Photo by Kerry Hooper, Jr. for Hooper Photography Solutions, LLC. Photo used by permission from the Island Free Press
Traffic on N.C. Highway 12 through the Outer Banks village of Rodanthe, Dare County, moved onto a new roundabout on Friday.
The roundabout is part of the eventual traffic shift onto the new Rodanthe “jug handle” bridge, expected to open in early 2022.
The speed limit through the roundabout will be 20 mph, and signage will keep traffic flowing in a constant direction and prevent motorists from exiting the roundabout to the bridge. Rumble strips will be installed on the roadway leading up to the roundabout to remind motorists to slow down as they approach. The Rodanthe “jug handle” bridge, which is still under construction and nearing completion, is a long-term transportation solution for N.C. 12 that bypasses a section of the highway vulnerable to flooding and ocean overwash.
The N.C. Department of Transportation is raising the highway onto a 2.4-mile bridge that extends over Pamlico Sound between the southern end of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and the village of Rodanthe.
Arial view of Rodanthe. Photo by Kerry Hooper, Jr. for Hooper Photography Solutions, LLC. Photo used by permission from the Island Free Press
Marci Mason is among a number of Ocracoke Islanders who pick up trash in their own quiet way. Photo: C. Leinbach
For years, an island couple have carried a trash bag on their morning walks through the village, picking up litter left by others.
They are not the only ones. Many others do the same thing, and not just in the village, but on their walks on the beach.
These acts of “doing the right thing” are done quietly and not part of an organized effort to keep our island clean.
Picking up stuff, especially plastics that wildlife may see as food, helps make Ocracoke safer and helps us humans live in harmony with nature on the island.
In a world of greater division and politicizing of the smallest of acts, it is these unsung heroes, acting on their own that make Ocracoke –- indeed throughout the world — a better place.
If one were to reflect on their daily lives, most would find things to do or say that would make a positive difference.
What are the rewards for pitching in or helping someone in a time of need?
It is the personal satisfaction that we who live on this earth should make it a better place. Often faith-based, many see themselves as stewards of the world and a desire to live in harmony.
Sure, becoming a member of a group committed to the same principles is important and often, by sheer numbers, can help push politicians to enact legislation or regulations that are needed to fix a problem.
But not all of us are joiners.
We have heard of many examples of individual letters to politicians at all levels, not responding to an individual.
One should not give up. Enough individuals sending the letters albeit unaware of what others are doing, can make a positive difference.
We saw that when LegaSea, a Manteo- and Ocracoke-based grass-roots group formed in the late 1980s to fight offshore drilling, was responsible for getting a 20-year moratorium on Atlantic offshore drilling.
Ginny Warner, a sea glass jewelry artist from Bakersville, N.C., describes a recent unexpected act of kindness in her letter to the editor below.
We are heartened by these many small acts and hope they continue to kindle and foster a sense of caring and humility in this season of gratitude and well beyond.
A thank-you to Ocracoke
Editor: What a wonderful world we live in. These past two years have been such a challenge for so many people. First it was Hurricane Dorian that slammed Abaco, Bahamas, with 185 mph winds for 48 hours and bringing a 23-foot storm surge. Words cannot even come close to the devastation it left. This is where I collect all my sea glass. Mostly all now buried. But it will come back. Just like the Abaco people.
But it was not only Abaco that was hit so hard. Dorian also pummeled Ocracoke Island. I had done a festival here and fell in LOVE with this small quaint island. It broke my heart again to hear of the devastation there too. But like Abaco, the people of Ocracoke Island are just AMAZING. They pull together to help one another to come back. They make sure the elderly are taken care of, even gifting one who had lost her home with a used trailer. She could not imagine a more perfect place to live. I also would have those same feelings. Then just like Abaco, COVID-19 hit.
But one word for the people of Ocracoke is … AWESOME.
The spirit of the people of Ocracoke Island lifted mine after hurricanes and COVID seemed to zap it away. The Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree (Oct. 29 & 30) was such a changing time in my life. The winds that tried to blow down the tent (on Friday) only made us hold on harder. Just like we all have been doing for the past two years. We have been holding on to the belief it will get better.
As an artist we all have been hurt by cancelled shows. Like no shows for over a year. But on the tiny island of Ocracoke something amazing happened. The show reaffirmed my belief that most people are amazing and nice.
On a sale after running the charge and the “signature” I noticed the amount was wrong. I asked for the card back to credit the overpayment and he told me it was a tip! Tears came to my eyes that someone had tipped me for my art. This occurred five times while on Ocracoke and is the only time it has. Just the thought that someone would tip my art — just like you would a gig worker — still brings tears of joy to my eyes.
Everyone was so happy to be out and about enjoying themselves. I would never expect a tip for my jewelry, but the generosity of those people reaffirmed my belief that there is good in all. Hidden sometimes, but somewhere there is humanity. And I will for sure pass it on.
So, from a humble Ginny the Bead Lady, thank you, Ocracoke Island, for who you are. A community who cares about everyone. A community that deserves to survive and thrive. Ginny Warner
Roseate Spoonbill and White Ibis. Photo by Karen Rhodes
By Peter Vankevich
The Ocracoke and Portsmouth Christmas Bird Counts will be on Dec. 30 and 31. Those wishing to participate should contact the compiler, Peter Vankevich, petevankevich@gmail.com.
Following a successful summer colonial bird nesting season, Ocracoke’s fall birding got off to a nice start with several rare and unusual birds appearing, plus great sightings of the more common ones.
As for the rarities, a Traill’s Flycatcher perched on a cedar tree at the pony pasture pleasantly surprised those on the NC
Traill’s Flycatcher. Photo by Peter Vankevich
Bird Atlas field trip on Oct. 25. Traill’s is the name for silent Willow and Alder Flycatchers which in the fall look virtually identical. These two bird species were considered the same under that name but were split in 1973 by the American Ornithological Society’s North American Classification Committee.
From spring into summer, they are easily distinguished by their calls. The Willow Flycatcher’s call is traditionally described as “Fitzbew.” A variety of their sounds can be heard here on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site.
The Alder Flycatcher call, more complicated to describe, can be heardhere.
The following week, a Yellow-headed Blackbird from the Midwest was seen foraging on the ground on North Pond and British Cemetery Roads and two young Gray Kingbirds from Florida showed up on the sound side of O’Neal Drive.
Yellow-headed Blackbird has been seen on two occasions on Ocracoke in the past few years. This is the one seen this fall. Photo by Evan Buckland
Three Roseate Spoonbills appeared briefly on South Point on Oct. 20 and one again on Oct. 27, beautifully photographed alongside a White Ibis by Karen Rhodes. Other unusual species were a Dickcissel at Springer’s Point on Oct. 23 and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the NPS campground on Nov. 5.
White-winged Dove. Photo by Jennifer Garrish
Sometimes you don’t have to look far to see a rarity, as a White-winged Dove was seen on Nov. 16 at a bird feeder outside a house in the village.
South Point
The South Point, where the Atlantic Ocean and Ocracoke Inlet converge, is a hot spot for many species to congregate. Its dunes are a wintering site for the Ipswich Sparrows from Sable Island off Nova Scotia. Rare Snowy Owls appeared there for several months from late 2013 to March 2014 and once again for about 10 days this past January. It’s also a a hangout for Peregrine Falcons.
With the erosion at the north end’s beach area that hosted a Least Tern colony, the South Point is now the only location for colonial nesting birds.
This expansive salt flat has plenty of room for nesting birds, but is also vulnerable to overwash by storm activity, including the swells from storms well out to sea. Although there were a few close calls, the season went on without disturbance, resulting in successful nesting.
“We had 3 separate colonies on South Point (2 colonies consisting of only Least Tern and 1 colony consisting of Least Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Common Tern, and Black Skimmer), and estimated a total of 525 nests,” wrote Amy Thompson, Ocracoke’s lead biotechnician for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. “During our peak nest surveys, we counted 38 Common Terns nests, 14 Gull-billed Tern nests, and 220 Black Skimmer nests.”
Throughout the island were 14 American Oystercatcher nests that produced nine fledglings.
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Behind it are an immature Brown Pelican and Herring Gulls. Photo by Peter Vankevich
An amazing number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present there in October and November with one rough day estimate of 1,000 individuals. A common European gull, the first reported sighting of a Lesser Black-backed in North Carolina was on the Outer Banks in 1968, and reports have increased every year. Where they come from is a mystery since there are no known nesting colonies in continental North America. One theory is that most of them have migrated from Iceland where they are plentiful, others are from Greenland and Baffin islands where they have expanded their nesting sites in recent years.
Mixed in with the many lingering Royal Terns throughout September and well into October, were many Caspian Terns stopping on Ocracoke for a while before continuing their migration south.
Maybe it was our Indian summer, but a lot of Brown Pelicans are still around, including many in their first year brownish plumage, a sign of a successful nesting season. Hundreds of Brown Pelicans nested on Beacon Island, a few miles away in the Pamlico Sound.
Ocracoke’s Raptors
Part-time islanders Gil and Jann Randell have been tracking migrating raptors — hawks, falcons, eagles, ospreys and vultures, on a dune north of the pony pasture for the past seven years.
Weather permitting, in the fall from late morning into the early afternoon, they record the birds passing through.
American Kestrel often seen on wires along NC 12 in the fall. Photo by Peter Vankevich
This year, they reported on the Hawk Count website as of Nov. 1, a total of 381 raptors, notably 21 Bald Eagles, 112 Peregrine Falcons and 60 Northern Kestrels.
Gil Randell expressed concern that fewer Sharp-shinned Hawks are being counted, mirroring data at other hawk watches.
On the increase is the similar appearing, slightly larger Cooper’s Hawk, which has adapted to nesting in urban settings and is the most likely hawk to be seen in the village.
Our winter denizens return
Here are some birds one can expect to see from fall into winter. For a perspective of birds on Ocracoke from fall into early winter, the Christmas Bird Count at the end of the year usually tallies 80-plus species with an excellent year, numbering into the 90s. Weather conditions and number of observers can impact the number on that day.
Be aware that many common species on the mainland such as the Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse, are not present on the island, or, like Downy Woodpeckers, are in small numbers.
Yellow-rumped Warblers have returned from their nesting grounds in the north. They can be easily seen throughout the island. Unlike most warbler species that feed primarily on insects, these warblers — also known as Myrtles, the subspecies name — eat berries, permitting them to winter farther north.
A Walk on the beach
Shorebirds move back and forth along the beach. The most likely to be seen are Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Ruddy
Willet in flight. Photo by Peter Vankevich
Turnstone, Red Knot, Dunlin and, of course, the Sanderling.
Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, and Ringed-billed Gulls are present. Laughing Gulls are heading south and few will be around come December. Forster’s and Royal Terns may be observed resting on the beach or in flight.
Over the waters are Double-crested Cormorants, Brown Pelicans and the spectacular North Gannets. Cormorants sometimes rest on the beach in great numbers.
Socializing Double-crested Cormorants on Ocracoke’s South Point. Photo by Peter Vankevich
South Point Road, marsh and wetland areas
Look for American Bitterns, Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Great Egrets and White Ibises. As the sun sets, Black-crowned Night Herons fly over the island making their loud squawk call. Northern Harriers can be seen flying low in search of their prey.
American Bitterns blend into their habitat. Photo by Peter Vankevich
Hammock Hills/Devil Shoals Road
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Photo by Peter Vankevich
The longleaf pines of Hammock Hills makes it a hot spot for wintering Red-breasted Nuthatches and a few have been heard in October. Their numbers vary from year-to-year depending on available seed food crops in Canada. More often first heard than seen, they are quite vocal, having a slightly higher more nasal pitch than the White-breasted Nuthhatch, which are common on the mainland, but not present here.
The two woodpeckers most likely to be seen on the island this time of year are Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Flicka.
Terns abandon Big Foot Island
Birds need suitable nesting habitats and when a traditional site has changed for the worse, they will seek other locations. Such is the case with Big Foot Island, the dredge spoil island off Ocracoke, seen from the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries.
Sandwich Tern. Photo by Peter Vankevich
The island was built up from dredged sand back in the late 1980s from the nearby Big Foot Slough navigation channel. It has had some of the highest nesting numbers in the state for Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns and had been relatively stable for many years, getting periodic renourishment from pipeline dredging. But in the past few years, a sidecaster dredge has been used to keep the channel clear. This form of dredging does not add material to the island. As a result, Big Foot has seriously eroded, causing the vast majority of the terns to abandon the site.
It seems that many of them relocated to Cora June Island in Hatteras Inlet, seen from the ferries that pass close by.
Carmen Johnson, wildlife diversity biologist with NC Wildlife Resource Commission which manages these two islands, provided statistics on these two terns.
Big Foot – 2020 Royal Terns – 5,238 nests Sandwich Terns – 1,053 nests
Big Foot – 2021 Royal and Sandwich Terns – combined approximately 50 nests
Cora June – 2020 Royal Tern – 578 Sandwich Tern – 263
Cora June – 2021 Royal Tern – approximately 2,500 Sandwich Tern – approximately 500
Islands that have fewer predators of eggs and hatchlings are safer areas than many mainland sites. Cora June is not ideal as it is subject to human disturbance and has predators, including ghost crabs, gulls and the occasional Bald Eagle.
Considering the high number of successful nests it has had in the past, I hope that with future dredging to keep the channel clear for the ferry service, Big Foot can receive more uploaded sand material and be rebuilt.
Hatteras Island
The rarest bird of the season on the Outer Banks was a Thick-billed Longspur that showed up for about a week at the old ferry landing below the south side of the Basnight Bridge – the first report ever in North Carolina.
There are many online references to this bird of the shortgrass prairies at the center of the North American continent, but don’t expect to see this bird listed in your printed field guide.
Thick-billed Longspur. Photo by Hal Broadfoot
This is a new name for what was formerly known as McCown’s Longspur. The name change is part of a movement to replace birds named after individuals — often the person credited with finding a new species, with more descriptive names. Why this is occurring could be the subject of a separate article.
Birders are encouraged to enter their Ocracoke observations into eBird, the massive database of bird sightings from all over the world. While inputting, one can add the same observations into the North Carolina Bird Atlas, by switching to the NC Bird Atlas portal in your eBird mobile app settings.
For more information, or if you need technical assistance, contact regional volunteer coordinator Sarah Toner at ncbaregion1@gmail.com. Volunteers can also adopt nearby priority blocks for surveying.
A Birds of Ocracoke Facebook page is up and running. Folks can post photos of birds seen on the island and ask for help in identification.
Brown Pelicans at sunset on Ocracoke. Photo by Peter Vankevich
Gary Davis works on the front door of the newly renovated Ocracoke United Methodist Church. Photo by Richard Taylor
By Richard Taylor
Ocracoke United Methodist Church will have much to celebrate this Thanksgiving as the church returns to in-sanctuary services at 10 a.m. Sunday.
This milestone follows more than two years of fundraising and repairs since Hurricane Dorian flooded the 78-year-old building on Sept. 6, 2019.
Pastor Logan Jackson announced the long-anticipated reopening at last week’s service in the adjacent recreation hall.
“The church is a community of people, but for many there’s something about being in the church building that feels like home,” he said. “Getting back in this building will give us a sense of being home again. It’s also going to give us time to focus on things we care about for the community, to get back to what the church really should be working toward with our ministries.”
Initially guided by former pastor Susie Fitch-Slater, the church has struggled to raise funds needed to raise the building, replace electrical, flooring, walls and HVAC systems.
During that period, workers stabilized and raised the building, repaired sub-floors and repainted pews. A donated piano will be relocated from the rec hall into the sanctuary.
Over the last two years, joint services were held on the Ocracoke School porch, the Books to Be Red lawn, at Pastor Ivy Belch’s Life Saving Church, in the undamaged rec hall and outside the church during warmer summer months.
During his time as previous board chair, trustee Gary Davis was instrumental in securing many gifts and grants, including $50,000 from an English patron for a new, yet-to-be-installed organ, plus another $10,000 pledged this summer. Last week, he announced another $50,000 grant from the Duke Endowment.
“We depend on tourism to help in the summer, as many businesses do,” Davis said. “The operating fund has been somewhat under water all summer because we had fewer people in attendance. We were right on the edge before the Duke Endowment grant came through last week.”
Trustee chair Richard Waldrop said the cost of raising and repairing the church and Howard Street parsonage has cost more than $500,000.
“So far we haven’t taken out any loans,” he said. “We don’t owe anybody any money. I think we’ll have just enough to just finish the major repairs.”
Church members Nelson Adams, Richard Waldrop and Logan Jackson, OUMC pastor, and Ivey Belch, pastor of Ocracoke Life Saving Church, reset the pews. Photo by Richard Taylor.
In addition to front railings, some rear painting, trim and door installation remain to be done.
Flooring for office and lower classroom areas was salvaged from the Ocracoke Health Center after Dorian. Waldrop hopes to secure donations for office and classroom furniture and a conference table in the near future.
The church received a $13,000 donation specifically for carpeting in the sanctuary.
“The Lord willing, I hope the carpeting will go in by Christmas,” Jackson said. He urged patrons to bring something to sit on until new pew cushions are procured.
Wednesday morning, volunteers cleaned the sanctuary, reset pews and dressed the alter in preparation for the first service in the 1943 building for 26 months.
Later that day, the Hyde County building inspector issued a temporary certificate of occupancy with the stipulation that all must enter by two side entrances until Landmark Construction installs railings on new elevated front steps.
Deborah and Charlie Ralston help clean. Photo by Richard Taylor
Catherine Jackson and Trisha Davis reset the altar candles. Photo by Richard Taylor
Pastors Jackson and Belch refine the pew arrangement. Photo by Richard Taylor
The Ocracoke School honored high achieving students and military veterans Nov. 15 in the school gym. The Principal’s List (for achieving grades of 93 to100) had 17 students and the Honor Roll (achieving 85-92) has 38.
These lists below are for third grade students and above.
Dophin Award Winners
The Dolphin Award recipients are selected by the teachers. Criteria is for anything from being a good friend, Mr. Alphabet, putting in a lot of effort everyday, never giving up and a chapter book champ. This list is for all grades.
Dolphin Award winners.
1st Quarter Dolphin Awards
PreK- Goran Katinas
Selene Perez
Kindergarten- Delfina De Paz Bullard
Luke Gallaher
Xander Palacios
Joseph Suazo Paz
First- Chase Pacanins
Sam Walters
Second- Adrian Gonzalez
Asher Mason
Daila Rodriguez Santiago
Arianna Strissel
Arrington Sumner
Third- Maranda O’Neal
Fourth- Daira Mendez-Amador
Fifth- Javier Trejo
MS Math- Jayden Suazo-Dominguez
MS ELA- Payce Howarth
MS Science- Dulce Juarez Resendiz
MS Social Studies- Heidy Garcia Lora
HS Math- Quinten Brooks
HS English- Marilyn Monter
HS Science- Kimberly Moreno
HS History- Gavin Elicker
HS Technology Engineering and Design –Daymon Esham
PK-2 PE- Cora Walters
3-5 PE- Camila Hernandez Rubio
6-8 PE- Yael Mendez-Amador
9-12 PE- Landon Fuller
Ocracoke veterans were honored on Nov. 15. Photo by Casey Robertson
The veterans honored at the ceremony were Dave Frum, Thurston Sumner, Vince O’Neal, George Chamberlain, Ronnie Van O’Neal, Dan Robinson and Richard Waldrop.
The new federal voting districts in North Carolina.
By Peter Vankevich
With the newly redrawn voting maps, Hyde County will be in three new voting districts next year unless a court orders them to be redrawn.
Throughout the country, every state is redrawing political maps based on new data from the 2020 census. North Carolina ratified new districts on Nov. 4. The new districts for Hyde County, which includes Ocracoke, are two for the state legislature and one for the federal congressional seat.
These new districts will be effective Jan. 1 unless lawsuits filed by Common Cause North Carolina, the NAACP and some other private citizens to put a halt to their implementation are successful. Two other lawsuits challenging the maps on racial and partisan gerrymandering also have been filed.
The ramifications of redistricting cannot be overestimated. It affects who gets to represent constituents and which political parties control state legislatures. Unless courts halt the process, will stay in effect until the next census in 2030.
While these changes apply to all of Hyde County.
Ocracoke, currently in state House District 6, next year will move into House District 79. The newly drawn district groups Hyde County with mostly noncoastal counties of Beaufort and Pamlico and a portion of Dare County up to the Harris Teeter grocery store in Kill Devil Hills. The current representative in this new district is Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort County), who lives in Chocowinity at the western end of the district.
Next year House District 6 will consist of most of Craven County.
As for its state senate district, Ocracoke will now be grouped with Carteret, Chowan, Halifax, Martin, Pamlico, Warren and Washington counties.
Federal Congressional lines are also redrawn because North Carolina will gain one additional seat, sending 14 representatives to Washington, D.C. Ocracoke will move out of District 3 to be part of the new District 1, consisting of 17 counties: Dare, Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Gates, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt and Tyrell. A portion of Onslow County will be divided between the new District 1 and District 3.
Current District 3 Rep. Greg Murphy (R-Greenville) will move to District 1 where he would run for reelection, should he choose to do so.
Ocracoke can expect a change in who represents it in the North Carolina General Assembly.
The island’s s current House Representative, Bobby Hanig (R-Powells Point), had his county, Currituck, reassigned to House District 1, making him ineligible to represent Ocracoke.
Hanig, however, after the redistricting was completed, promptly announced that he would run for the State Senate in his home District 1, which does not include Ocracoke.
Bob Steinburg (R-Chowan), who represents Ocracoke in Senate District 1, will likely receive a Republican primary challenge from current District 2 Senator Norman Sanderson (R- Chocowinity) from Beaufort County in the newly configured District. Sanderson, who had his residence shifted to District 1 has represented District 2 since 2012.
Other candidates will, in due course, announce their intentions to run for these three seats.
Dare County, much to the consternation of many, including Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard and Kill Devil Hills Mayor Ben Sproul, was split into two districts with its northern areas, the towns of Duck, Southern Shores and Kitty Hawk and a small part of Kill Devil Hills, placed in NC House District 1 joining all of Chowan, Currituck, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties. The southern towns Nags Head, Manteo, Stumpy Point, Wanchese, Colington and all of Hatteras Island are part of District 79.
It was reported that Sproul said that splitting Kill Devil Hills into two districts will create confusion among his town’s voters when it comes to knowing what races they are allowed to vote in.
The lawsuit by Common Cause and the NAACP in part argue that intentional refusal by the Redistricting Chairs to consider racial data or to conduct any racially polarized voting analysis will dilute the voting power of Black North Carolinians and violates the Voting Rights Act.
A second lawsuit by private citizens argues that partisan gerrymandering, “where mapmakers manipulate district boundaries from behind a computer to maximize their own party’s advantage and guarantee the outcome of elections before anyone casts a ballot, is incompatible with North Carolinians’ fundamental rights guaranteed by the North Carolina constitution.”
As the second lawsuit alleges, intricate computer algorithms and sophisticated data about voters allow map drawers to create, with what has been described as laser-like precision, computer-generated maps in their favor.
Many organizations and individuals have criticized the process of allowing the political party in power to determine redistricting maps, and as long as it continues, that process will remain contentious with lots of litigation.
There have been frequent calls to reform the redistricting process with an independent, impartial group. These calls are invariably joined by the minority political party — in North Carolina’s case, the Democrats — which has no say in the final decision.
Common Cause North Carolina, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy, has been arguing for reform for many years.
In the 2000s, they were joined by the state Republican party in opposing district lines drawn by then-in-power Democrat party. Now that the power in the General Assembly has switched, so has each party’s view on reform.
“As long as lawmakers, be they Democrats or Republicans, are drawing their own districts, it will always be, in our opinion, a flawed process,” said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina.
Carolina Demography at UNC-Chapel Hill reports that of the 7 million registered voters, 36% are registered Democrats, 30 % Republicans, 0.7% other parties and 33% are unaffiliated.
Chito Guerrero of Ocracoke is first across the 5K finish line on Nov. 13 during Runfest Weekend on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Connie Leinbach
It may not have been the largest group in the Runfest Weekend’s several years in existence, but the 10th annual 5K/10K and half-marathon runners were happy to be back on Ocracoke Nov. 13 and 14.
The races were cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were moved to the November date this year also because of the pandemic.
Next year, the races will go back to the spring, on April 22 & 23, said Race Director Angie Todd as she cheered on the finishers and handed them participation medals. Find details at http://www.runocracoke.com.
“I’m super happy with the turnout,” said Garick Kalna, owner of 1718 Brewing Ocracoke where all three races began and ended. This will be the spot for next spring’s race and the upcoming 5K Turkey Trot at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Proceeds from the weekend’s races will benefit Ocracoke’s community radio station, WOVV 90.1 FM, the Ocracoke School Boosters and the Ocracoke Community Ballfield.
Among the beers the runners sipped following their exertion was one Kalna brewed especially for the weekend – Puddle Jumper – which was particularly apt because of all the puddles around the island from a rainstorm the day before.
“I just went through them,” islander Mau Guerrero, 12, said about the puddles, “but it was my worst time.” Mau came in 23rd at 27:03.
Mau is a son of 5K winner Chito Guerrero, 41, both of Ocracoke, who has won the 5K almost every year since the race started 10 years ago.
Chito’s time this year of 18:45 was a bit slow, he said. His time as the overall 5K winner in 2018 was 18:33. In 2019, he came in second with a time of 18:09.
Connor Readman runs the half-marathon. Photo: C. Leinbach
Following close behind Guerrero this year were Dennis Dominguez Vasquez, 28, whose time was 19:33, and Gerardo Dominguez, 31, at 19:40, both of Ocracoke.
Abby Berquist, 39, of Kitty Hawk, was fourth at 20:56, and also was the women’s overall winner.
Sherry and Tim Rothrock of Winston-Salem and their two-year-old dog, Bosco, were running for their fifth year.
“It’s always a yearly getaway,” Sherry said after doing the 5K on Saturday.
Amy Johnson, 37, of Clayton, won the 10K with a time of 40:57. Second place was Ted Richardson, 51, of Chapel Hill at 41:27, and the third-place winner was Millard Thomas, 53, of Nags Head.
Johnson and her husband, Mathue, arrived on the island for the first time along with their baby.
“We came to run both the 10K and the half marathon, my husband ran pushing the baby stroller,” she said.
“We run lots of races, including marathons and ultramarathons, — 50-mile and 100-mile events. So, this is a nice short run,” said Matthue about the half marathon on Sunday. “Yesterday was my first time running with the baby stroller.”
Amy also was the top woman scorer the next day in the half-marathon with a time of 1:30:52. She came in seventh overall in that race, which was not good enough to beat Connor Readman, 20, of Southern Shores.
Readman blew past all 74 half-marathoners with a 1 hour, 18 minutes and 35 seconds 1:18:35 score.
“There’s a new kid in town,” Todd noted about Readman’s fast time as she gave the awards out after the race. “He blew us all away.”
Chito Guerrero was hoping to add another half-marathon win but at a time of 1:29:05, he couldn’t best Readman.
Amy Johnson, 37, of Clayton, won the overall 10K. Her husband Mathue, 38, came in fifth while pushing the couple’s baby in a stroller. Amy also came in seventh and was the female overall winner in the half-marathon . Photo: P. Vankevich
Guerrero trailed behind Brent Ziegler, 46, of Greensboro, who came in second at 1:26:06, and Mike Slaughter, 42, of Kill Devil Hills, who came in third at 1:27:46.
Guerrero’s compadres, Vasquez and Dominguez, in the 5K also joined him in the half-marathon, with Vasquez coming in sixth at 1:30:40 and Dominguez coming in eighth at 1:30:51.
Readman, in an interview, said he had only recently decided to run the Ocracoke race since the OBX half marathon got cancelled.
“It was my first half-marathon,” he said, explaining that it’s his first year doing endurance sports, such as triathlons.
Tiffany Batiste, 40, of Kenly, Johnston County, participated in her first race of any kind doing the half marathon with her husband, Daniel Batiste and sister Ashley Viverette, and she walked the 13 miles.
“I feel fine,” she said afterwards, noting that she walks a lot for exercise. “Right before the last turn my legs were hurting.”
Katrina Robeck, 69, of Garner, enjoyed the flat Ocracoke course after having run the City of Oaks half-marathon recently in Raleigh.
“I don’t like to do (races) under 10 miles,” she said, noting that her time of 2:39 was good for her. “(Half-marathons) are more of a challenge but I plan to do one marathon when I’m 70.”
Viverette echoed other runners when she said she runs for the mental health.
“You clear your mind and just think about running,” she said. “It’s a great weekend.”
Although this year’s Run Fest Weekend drew about 300 runners, which was 150 to 200 fewer than in past years, Todd was happy.
“Runners are my favorite people,” she said.
Peter Vankevich contributed to this story.
Race Director Angie Todd bestows a participation medal on 5K runner Gloria Perez of Ocracoke, who was 16th overall and first in her age group.
The Runfest participants on Saturday at 1718 Brewing Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach
Mau Guerrero crosses the 5K finish line. Photo: C. Leinbach
Some of the volunteers who make Runfest Weekend happen. From left, Lena Austin, Angie Todd (race director), Gloria Perez and Melinda Esham. Photo: C. Leinbach
Kings of the half marathon, from left: Miguel Uribe, Connor Readman, Chito Guerrero, Dennis Dominguez Vasquez and Gerardo Dominguez. Photo: C. Leinbach
Tiffany King-Batiste of Kenly runs her first race ever in the half-marathon. Photo: C. Leinbach
Katrina Robeck runs along Silver Lake Drive. Photo: C. Leinbach
The 5K/10K racers at the starting line on Nov. 13. Photo: C. Leinbach
The Pacanis family of racers: Courtney, Lilly, Frank and Chase. Lilly and Chase won first place in their age groups and Chase, age 6, was the youngest racer. Photo courtesy of Courtney Pacanis
Prize license plates. Photo: C. Leinbach
Millard Thomas, who was third overall in the 10K, is running again after having broken three vertebrae in a biking accident in May 2020. ‘It’s been a long road back,’ he said, ‘and I really appreciate everything.’ Photo: C. Leinbach
The Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 17) virtually and will be viewable on Facebook live on the Hyde County Public Information page.
After a two-year hiatus, the Festival Latino de Ocracoke will resume Nov. 19 & 20 in the Ocracoke Community Center and the Berkley Barn. Photo: C. Leinbach
The 4th annual Festival Latino de Ocracoke will take place on Ocracoke Nov. 19 and 20. Produced by island non-profit Ocracoke Alive, in partnership with Ocracoke’s vibrant Latino community, the festival will feature music, ballet folklorico dances, incredible food, games and more.
The festival kicks off on Friday, Nov. 19, with a musical concert from 7 to 9 p.m. with Ángeles Diaz at the Ocracoke Community Center. Snacks and drinks will also be on hand.
From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, the celebration moves to the Berkley Barn with performances by Jimmy Román, the Charros de Jalisco mariachi band, Ballet Folklorico de Ocracoke, and others.
A multitude of traditional Latino delicacies will be on hand for foodies, as well as games for kids of all ages.
From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday evening, there will be an evening concert at the Berkley Barn, followed by a community dance at the Ocracoke Community Center from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with La Destreza de México.
The festival also is looking for volunteers and those interested can sign up here.
Proceeds from the Festival Latino de Ocracoke will benefit island programming. The festival is supported by Ocracoke Alive with Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Funds and additional sponsors. For details, visit http://www.ocracokealive.org.
Jeff Dippold, treasurer of the Ocracoke Fire Prevention Association that oversees the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department operations, accepts a $1,400 donation from the NC Shell Club. Photo: P. Vankevich
By Peter Vankevich
Although the North Carolina Shell Club has not held its annual spring meeting on Ocracoke for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not forgotten the island.
From a special live auction at their September meeting in Cedar Point, the club raised $1,400 for Ocracoke and donated it to the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.
The OVFD gratefully accepted the donation since its most important fundraiser, the Firemen’s Ball, has also not been held for two years due to COVID concerns.
“This is much-needed and greatly appreciated,” said Fire Chief Albert O’Neal. “It’s also good timing as we need to replace a fire engine.”
This is not the first donation and support the club has given Ocracoke in a time of need. Soon after Hurricane Dorian devastated the island, they responded quickly by sending supplies and money to help with the recovery efforts.
In June 2020, club members brought 748 books to help replenish the collections of the Ocracoke Community Library, which Dorian had flooded, along with the rest of the island, in September 2019.
About 1,400 books were water-damaged more than half of which were children’s books. Of the books the shell club members delivered, 673 were children’s books and 65 adult books.
The club plans to return to Ocracoke for its 2022 spring meeting, the date to be determined.
The North Carolina Shell Club formed in 1957. In 1964, they nominated and successfully campaigned to make the Scotch Bonnet North Carolina’s official state shell.
Anyone with an interest in North Carolina mollusks and shells and wishes to learn more or share your knowledge about them, this membership-based nonprofit is a great resource and provides a wealth of information: www.ncshellclub.com/.
Point of disclosure: Peter Vankevich is a volunteer firefighter and a member of the North Carolina Shell Club.
Along with hundreds of other groups, the N.C. Shell Club sent supplies to Ocracoke following Dorian’s devastating flooding Sept. 6, 2019. Photo: C. Leinbach
