Low water in the Pamlico Sound. Photo by Peter Vankevich
Update Monday, Feb. 19: Low water continues to hamper the long ferry routes. The following was posted on Twitter today: “Conditions in the channel leading into Ocracoke are still an ongoing problem for our larger vessels on the sound routes. 1:30 Swan Quarter to Ocracoke and 4:30 Ocracoke to Cedar Island are cancelled for today 2/19/18.” Visit the N.C. Ferry Division’s website herefor the latest information.
Sunday morning (Feb. 18) update: The Swan Quarter to Ocracoke 1:30 p.m. and the 4:30 p.m. Ocracoke to Cedar Island are cancelled for today due to the low tide water.
The Pamilico Sound has been experiencing low water levels, which has caused cancellations of some of the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter runs to and from Ocracoke.
Via twitter, the NCDOT Ferry Divsion announced that the Cedar Island to Ocraocke 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Ocracoke to Swan Quarter are cancelled for Sunday (Feb. 18.)
Call the Ocracoke Ferry Office, 252-928-1665, for updates and more information.
The Ocracoke boys’ varsity basketball team is on its way to Columbia for tonight’s Atlantic 6 1A Conference championship game.
Undefeated in conference play (10-0) and 19-3 overall, the Dolphins will play the Columbia Wildcats (13-7 overall and 7-3 in conference) in Columbia High School.
Ocracoke School Athletic Director Charles Temple will broadcast tonight’s game live at 7:30 tonight on WOVV, 90.1 FM and wovv.org.
The Wildcats made it to the finals Thursday night by defeating Bear Grass Charter 80-53. The Dolphins advanced to the tournament championship Wednesday night with in a 80-23 semifinal victory over the Mattamuskeet Lakers in the Creswell High School gym.
The first two rounds of the tournament were played in the gym of host school, Creswell High, but this morning Ocracoke was informed that the tournament final would be relocated to Columbia High due to HVAC problems causing condensation on the playing floor.
During the regular season, the Dolphins beat the Wildcats twice: 55-45 in an away game, Dec. 12, and 71-61 at home on Jan. 30.
Dolphins basketball coach David Allewalt and the team captain, Liam Caswell, appeared on Peter Vankevich’s “What’s Happening on Ocracoke” WOVV broadcast at noon Friday.
Allewalt emphasized the Dolphins off-season work last year, previous JV team experience and the team’s work ethic during practice as factors leading to the Dolphin’s impressive record this year.
The conference championship game was in the team’s “Chapter 4” and attaining the state playoffs are in the “Chapter 5” plans, he said.
“By all means Liam’s the leader, but all nine players contribute,” Allewalt said. “It’s a lot of off-season work and hard practice last fall. It’s a tribute to the sense of accountability among all our players.”
Caswell emphasized how well the entire team gets along with each other, which is one of the important reasons why they play so well.
Allewalt has been coaching the Dolphins for eight years.
“We like to distinguish ourselves as a school which can compete with anyone,” he said. “It’s the dedication of the athletes.”
“We’re not finished yet,” Caswell told WOVV Friday, adding the team was unfazed with the relocation of the game tonight. “We’re ready to play anywhere.”
The Dolphin senior, honor roll student and leading scorer with 23 points per game, concluded, “We want to bring it home.”
Win or lose, the Dolphins will play in the state playoffs. The first round of those games may be here at home.
RALEIGH – Islanders needing to drive the long way to mainland points west should be aware of a second closing March 14 to 20 of the Alligator River Bridge between Tyrrell and Dare counties.
The closure will allow NCDOT crews to complete major renovation work on the bridge’s swing-span drawbridge.
The bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, and is expected to reopen by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20. The drawbridge will also be closed to boat navigation.
During the closure, crews will complete the electrical and mechanical swing span repairs that were started during the previous bridge closure Jan. 10 to 17.
Area of Alligator River detour. Graphic by NCDOT
During the closure, NCDOT will have detour signage and variable message signs in place to guide motorists through the following detour routes:
Motorists traveling east from Columbia should use N.C. 94 South to U.S. 264 East to U.S. 64.
Motorists traveling west from Dare County to Columbia should use U.S. 264 West to N.C. 94 North to U.S. 64.
Motorists traveling to the Outer Banks from areas west of Williamston should use U.S. 17 North to U.S. 158 East.
Motorists traveling from the Outer Banks to points west of Williamston should use U.S. 158 West to U.S. 17 South to U.S. 64 West.
No additional bridge closures are expected during the renovation project.
This work is part of an extensive renovation project designed to extend the life of the 58-year-old bridge. The $16.7 million contract was awarded to Flatiron Constructors of Morrisville, NC, back in March 2017.
Taylor Fuller takes a foul shot in losing effort agains the Hatteras Hurricanes. Photo by Ed Fuller
By Richard Taylor
The Dolphin varsity boys advanced one step closer to the Atlantic 6 1A Conference Championship with a convincing 80-23 semifinal victory over the Mattamuskeet Lakers at the Creswell High School gym Wednesday night.
Liam Caswell led the Dolphins with 18 points. Colby Austin and Mason Fuller each scored 17. Both made five 3-pointers. The regular-season champion Dolphin boys led 44-14 at halftime. Undefeated in conference play, they are now 19-3 and haven’t lost since falling to Division 2-A Currituck County High School on Dec. 28 in the Perquimans Holiday Tournament.
The Lady Dolphins did not fare as well, losing to the regular-season conference champion and undefeated Cape Hatteras Hurricanes 71-12. Hatteras led 38-9 at the half. Ingrid Contreras led Ocracoke with seven points. Taylor Fuller had four and Vanessa Lora scored one point. Full game stats were not available. Only six Lady Dolphins made the tournament trip to Washington County.
The Dolphin boys will play in the tournament title game Friday evening against the winner of today’s Bear Grass Charter vs. Columbia game at 5:30 p.m. in Creswell. That game will follow the girls’ championship game at 4 p.m., matching Hatteras against the winner of today’s match between Creswell and Bear Grass Charter which tips off at 6 p.m.
NPS ranger Ed Fuller, who drove the bus to Creswell, called into WOVV 90.1 FM to provide on-air updates on the two games played in the cramped confines of the Creswell gym. He said he was very proud of his children, Taylor and Mason, for their play this season. .
WOVV will broadcast the game on 90.1 FM and online at wovv.org., approximately 7:30 p.m.
The rising full moon is captured on a ferry ride from Swan Quarter. Photo by C. Leinbach
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation has launched the department’s third annual customer survey.
The purpose of the survey is to gauge how the department is performing in its effort to provide great customer service.
Randomly selected citizens will receive a paper copy in the mail in the coming week, but citizens can also participate online here.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and the link is mobile-friendly. Participation can help NCDOT identify ways to make North Carolina transportation services safer, more efficient and customer focused.
The N.C. General Assembly requires the survey, and the results will be used as the basis for measuring our performance in the area of customer service across the department.
Survey responses must be received by March 31. The results will be available to the public on NCDOT.govlater in the summer.
Having beaten the Columbia Wildcats Monday in the first round of the Atlantic 6 1A Conference, the Ocracoke School Lady Dolphins advanced to the semifinals and will play the Cape Hatteras Hurricanes in Creswell today.
They tip off at 5:30 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m. at Creswell High School, which is hosting the conference tournament.
The girls’ varsity team, 9-13 overall and 5-5 in conference play this season, defeated Columbia 43-40 on Monday. Columbia, whose season ended Monday with the defeat, was 4-16 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
The Lady Dolphins will have their hands full today. The Hurricanes are undefeated, 21-0. They defeated Ocracoke 72-22 in their home game and 51-25 last week at Ocracoke. Top scorers this season are juniors Ingrid Contreras and Taylor Fuller. The Hurricanes are led by senior Caroline Gray who is averaging 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
The winner of the Creswell vs. Bear Grass Charter, who play tomorrow, will be play in the girls’ finals on Friday.
Sophomore Perry Austin is averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds per game. Photo by Peter Vankevich
The boys’ varsity team, having gotten a bye in the first round because they were the top seed, will play Lake Mattamuskeet. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Bear Grass Charter Bears vs. Columbia Wildcats, who play tomorrow at 7:15 p.m.
The varsity boys are 18-3 overall and 10-0 in the conference. Their only losses in December were to First Flight and Currituck high schools, both in the larger Northeastern Coastal 2A Conference.
The boys team should have an easier time against the Lakers, who are 3-17 overall and 3-8 in conference. The teams played three times this season, with Ocracoke winning convincingly 75-36, 80-24 and 68-13.
The Dolphins’ top scorers this year are senior Liam Caswell, 23 points, and junior Colby Austin with 12.
The undefeated Cape Hatteras Hurricanes hold the paddle, which is held by the latest winning team between Ocracoke and Hatteras in a traditional rivalry called ‘Battle of the Paddle.’ Captain and lead scorer, Caroline Gray, is number 23. Photo by Peter Vankevich
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Ocracoke campground. Photo by Peter Vankevich
The Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Frisco and Ocracoke campgrounds will open for the season on Friday, March 30.
All campgrounds accommodate tents, trailers, and motor homes up to 35 feet. Each campground also provides rest rooms, potable water, showers, grills and picnic tables. Hookups (utility connections) are not currently available.
Group camping is available at Oregon Inlet Campground. The group campsite accommodates groups of seven to 30 people, including infants and toddlers. Due to the popularity of the group camping site, it is recommended that reservations be made at least two weeks in advance.
Camping in Cape Hatteras National Seashore is permitted only in designated campgrounds. Camping on beaches is prohibited. For more details, go to www.nps.gov/caha.
Reservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777, or online at www.recreation.gov, and can be made up to six months in advance.
All four campgrounds will remain open until the season ends on Nov. 26.
The Ocracoke Dolphins take the court Feb. 6 in a victorious game against Creswell, cinching their conference championship. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Richard Taylor
The last several weeks have been exciting for Ocracoke basketball, whether you were in “the Tank,” on the road with the teams or listening to the home games on WOVV radio.
The varsity boys team finished the regular season as Atlantic 6 champions, following their 77-48 away win over Creswell Feb. 8.
The team travels to Creswell for the conference tournament Feb. 14, having secured a bye for the tournament’s first round, owing to their perfect 10-0 conference record. It was their second win over Creswell, Martin County, that week.
The Lady Dolphins play the first round of the conference tournament today 5:30 p.m. against Columbia at home. Their record overall is 8-13 and Conference 5-5.
The Dolphin varsity boys are 18-3 overall this season. Due to their record, Ocracoke has moved up six positions to number 29 in MaxPreps’ 1A state rankings this week. Their national ranking has moved up 138 places.
Ocracoke defeated the Tigers 65-29 at home Feb. 6 for Senior Night.
Right out of the box, the Dolphins were energized quickly began scoring and didn’t let up the entire game. Many of the goals were three-pointers.
“We start out fast,” said Coach David Allewalt after the game. “It takes the fight out them.”
College scouts have been closely watching Caswell in recent games and the senior reportedly plans several college visits this spring.
Before that, the boys won the “Battle for the Paddle,” beating Hatteras 72-11 on Feb.5, while the Lady Dolphins lost the paddle 51-25. The boys beat Mattamuskeet 68-13 on Feb. 2.
Seniors Darvin Contreras and Liam Caswell were honored with flowers and specially inscribed commemorative Dolphin basketballs on Senior Night, as were Lady Dolphins Lupita Martinez and Iris Trejo.
The Dolphin middle school boys failed to defend their Tideland Middle School Conference title Feb. 9, losing to Creswell 27-20.
Coach Jason Wells had said Feb. 8 that the game between two teams with identical 10-2 records could have gone “either way.”
Several Dolphins missed that game due to the flu.
Lady Dolphins basketball action Feb. 6 at home. The Lady Dolphins play Columbia today at 5:30 at home in the first game of a conference tournament. Photo: C. Leinbach
Monday, Feb. 12 Tourism Development Authority meeting, 3 to 5 p.m. Ocracoke Community Center Eduardo’s closed for one month.
Tuesday, Feb. 13 United Methodist Rec Hall: Pancake Supper. 5 to 7 p.m. $5 per person/$15 per family. To-go boxes will be available. Proceeds support Methodist youth, emergency plumbing repairs and water bill at the church. Coyote Den: Open music jam: All ages, all levels players, singers, listeners. Bring instrument. No charge; donations welcome. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Chrisi Gaskill and Jessica Caldwell lead Team Trivia at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Gaffer’s.
Wednesday, Feb. 14 Jason’s Restaurant reopens. Coyote Den: Word Play. 7 to 8:30 p.m. If you love words, bring something you wrote, read, heard and share; listen or tell a story. No charge, but donations welcome. Gaffer’s: Team Trivia. 7 p.m. to benefit will benefit the Ocracoke School 4th and 5th grade field trip.
Friday, Feb. 16 Berkley Manor: Zillie’s Belgian-Chinese New Year Beer Dinner. Five Belgian beers will be paired to a uniquely Asian-influenced menu to celebrate the New Year. Seating is limited to 32. 6 p.m. For reservations, call 252-928-9036, or visit zillies.com.
Ocracoke Child Care is currently closed for reasons described below. In order to overcome a looming financial crisis, the board of directors agreed to lease the facility to a local private business for one year.
Below is the statement from the board of directors:
Ocracoke Child Care (OCC) is at a crossroads. For many years, OCC has provided Ocracoke with quality childcare. As many of you know, the center closed its doors in early May of 2017 due to lack of teachers. At that time, all but one OCC board member resigned from the Child Care’s board of directors.
A new board for OCC was established, bringing some new members and some very loyal previous members together. After months of trying to get offerings lined up, the OCC board has realized it needs more resources and more time to bring OCC back to the community as its healthy and vibrant former self.
Unfortunately, the position OCC is currently in also brings with it the stark realization that funds are running out and in the very near future there will be no money in the budget to pay insurance, utilities and other costs of maintaining the building. These costs are over $1,000 per month, even with the building sitting empty.
Over the past several months, the OCC board has had to make some very difficult decisions to preserve what financial resources it has, while still planning for the future. Understanding the difficult position OCC was in, a local business reached out to the OCC board with a proposal to rent the building for a one-year period of time. After a thorough discussion and realizing that without this offer OCC would officially be financially broke, the OCC board accepted the offer at hand with a vote at their Monday, Jan. 22 meeting.
We want the community to know that as the OCC board, we are committed to continuing our efforts to support OCC in its mission and vision of being a vital part of the lives of children and families on this island. We feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity for this year’s time that the rental agreement has given us to formulate a solid and sustainable plan for the future of Ocracoke Child Care.
We know we cannot do this alone. Our current plan includes seeking guidance and support from the Hyde-Beaufort Partnership for Children, various outside business resources and YOU, the community of Ocracoke.
We assure you that we are not ready to abandon ship and we implore you to please come back to OCC, as we need all of your ideas! We want to hear from you! We want to know what YOU, as an Ocracoke community member, need from OCC. Is it full time childcare, or part-time childcare, or maybe evening childcare, play dates, or parenting workshops? Perhaps you have something else in mind different from all of these.
We are open and accessible. Please bring us any and all ideas you may have to us and help us move forward. The current OCC board members are Mandi Cochran, Tyke Ely, Leslie Monticone, Bob Kremser, Claire Senseney, Doreen Robinson, Celeste Brooks, Krystine Hadley and Mary Bryant. Every one of us is eager to hear from the community, so if you see any of us out and about and have an idea to share, please do.
We appreciate your support and look forward to continue working for this great community and with this great community!
In response to the Ocracoke Childcare developments, islander Daphne Bennink offered her observations:
As many of you may know Ocracoke has a new tax revenue, the Tourism Development Authority. With this new source of funds there is work underway to further develop a program already in place with Ocracoke Civic & Business Association working to better promote Ocracoke’s tourist industry and consequently our local economy.
Part of this proposed plan includes a visitor center, office space and restrooms. Prior to learning you had leased OCC building, I had been pitching the idea of acquiring use of that space for the purpose stated above. It is a perfect “turnkey” fit for such a use and, in my opinion, would be a win-win partnership as it maintains the building’s role as a community-based and community-serving facility. This was the original intent in creating the facility. I know this as I chaired the board that built it.
I am confused and disappointed that your board chose to engage in leasing the property to a private party without opening any dialogue with the community and therefore not allowing for any external input into your final decision. I can say with confidence that many in the community echo this sentiment .
That being said I understand that you all are acting in what you believe to be the best interest of the property. I would like to propose that your board be open to entering into a dialog regarding a potential acquisition of the OCC property, be it via lease-hold or purchase for the purpose of a community building that could house a visitor center, OCBA offices, county satellite offices etc… It is my understanding that there is currently a one-year lease in place and that these discussions could focus on a term to commence at the end of that lease.
I would like to disclose that while I am a member of the newly appointed TDA board I am writing this to you on my behalf personally and solely and not as a representative of that board.
