In response to the recent shootings in Dallas, St. Paul, Baton Rouge and beyond, the island churches will hold a candlelight vigil and march starting at 8 p.m. tonight (Sunday) from the Ocracoke lighthouse to the United Methodist Church on School Road.
Candles will be provided for participants and both church pastors, Rev. Richard Bryant for the Methodist Church, and Rev. Ivey Belch of the Ocracoke Assembly of God Church, will speak.
At the end of the service, (about 8:30), they will offer prayers of blessing for our law enforcement community on the island.
Bryant also will offer words about peace and the need not to meet violence with violence.
The regular monthly meeting schedule for Monday (July 11) with N.C. Ferry Division officials and Ocracoke islanders has been cancelled, and the next meeting will be Monday, Aug. 8, in the Ocracoke Community Center.
In cancelling this month’s meeting, Jed Dixon, deputy director of the Ferry Division, said the postponement will give the division time to understand how the new legislation regarding ferry funding will be implemented.
“We realize that there are many questions about how these changes will impact Ocracoke and we would like some additional time to prepare to discuss,” he said in an email.
In late June, the legislature passed next year’s budget, which includes an annual appropriation of $4 million to the Ferry Division for replacement vessels and a one-time grant of $6, which includes $3.65 million to match a federal grant received to implement a passenger ferry between the islands and the rest for ferry infrastructure repair.
More than 35 bills await McCrory’s signature, including the budget, and he has until midnight July 31 to sign or veto them. Bills not acted upon become law without his signature. News sources report that McCrory is out of town and expected back next Wednesday.
To read more about this appropriation to the ferry system, click here.
In addition, the recently released feasibility study on adding passenger-only service between Hatteras and Ocracoke also may be discussed.
The study is posted on the Ferry Division’s website, here, for the public to review.
The Ocracoke Friends of the Library Annual Used Book Sale, which began Wednesday, continues through the summer during open hours.
Located on Back Road, the Ocracoke Community Library serves as the Ocracoke School library during the school year and is open to the public year-round from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The sale features hundreds of hard cover and paperback books in all genres. Proceeds benefit the Ocracoke Friends of the Library.
Doran Quigg and Charlie Mason prepare to do battle for cobia. Photo by P. Vankevich
By Peter Vankevich
For the first time in his 48 years visiting Ocracoke, Doran Quigg was not able to pursue his passion for cobia fishing.
Hailing from Julian, Pa., Quigg has always loved fishing for just one species–cobia, which he said are the best for catching and eating. Steaks from cobia are akin to swordfish.
Resembling sharks, cobia can get quite large–from 30 to the largest record pounds of 172–and he fondly recalled several years ago hooking his largest ever, a 52-pounder that took about 90 minutes to land.
This spring, he got a call from his good fishing buddy, Charlie Mason of Charlottesville, Va., who owns a home on the island, announcing that the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) in May decided to limit the season for recreational cobia fishing to three days a week–Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
“I don’t mind a limit of one or so per day,” Quigg noted about the new regs. “It is the limited days that I find so frustrating.” If cobia anglers for whatever reason can’t get out to fish on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday, they are out of luck and must fish for something else.
Mason who owns a house here with this wife, Marci, noted that most rental houses turn over Saturdays and Sundays.
“I’m concerned about the impact on the island economy,” he said. “If this system continues next year, visitors may opt to go elsewhere for their summer vacations.”
Mason, who has been fishing on Ocracoke for 34 years, questioned how recreational fishing is contributing to overfishing and not charter or commercial fishing.
“How did the federal government get the numbers that the fish have been overfished since we don’t report cobia that we catch?” Mason asked. “Do recreational fishermen take more than charter boats and commercial fishermen?”
Spencer Gaskins with a large cobia caught on Ocracoke.
Calculating recreational fishing statistics is not an exact science.
According to the DMF, estimates on recreational fishing harvests come through broad-based intercept surveys, where port agents talk to fishermen on beaches, at piers or boat ramps and through mail surveys to license holders.
The DMF’s report of June 21 said coastal recreational fishermen hooked more fish in 2015 than in 2014, landing an estimated 10.2 million fish to the docks in 2015–an increase of 6.8 percent over 2014.
This also was the highest cobia harvest since 2013, and the DMF maintains that recreational fishing constitutes the bulk of cobia harvests.
The change in the regulations is part of a complicated compromise among several stakeholders and led the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ban cobia banned in federal waters (beginning three miles from the coast) on June 20. Those now caught in the Gulf Stream must be released.
However, the state decided this year to continue limited cobia fishing within the North Carolina boundaries, a decision supported by fishing organizations.
This limited-days restriction does not apply to commercial fishermen, who harvest cobia only as a by-catch from pound nets, nor to licensed charter boats.
Personal recreational boats until September 30 are allowed to keep up to two cobia per day, and charter boats can catch only four, said Ernest Doshier, captain of the Gecko.
Minimum size for cobia in state waters is 37 inches, and citation size starts at 40 pounds.
Cobia caught during the other days of the week must be released, and all cobia fishing in federal waters ended June 20.
Cobia migrate north from in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in late winter often following rays, turtles and sharks to feed on whatever is left behind. When inshore waters warm up in late May and early June, cobia swim from the warm off-shore waters through Ocracoke Inlet to spawn in the Pamico Sound.
Cobia can also be caught surfcasting from beaches and piers, but Quigg and Mason prefer to be on the Sound on Mason’s boat, the “Hoose Boat.”
Both say the best location for boat fishing Wallace’s Channel with depths of 20 to 30 feet near Portsmouth Island, a few miles from Ocracoke.
Although Quigg and his wife Marilyn love Ocracoke, they may reconsider returning next year if he won’t be able to fish for his beloved cobia.
This particular season was difficult for his annual visit due to the heavy rains and high winds that hit the region, curtailing his fishing opportunities even more.
This year, Mason hooked one cobia and Quigg none, noting glumly that they caught about 14 skates.
“I love Ocracoke,” Quigg said. “But the highlights of our visits centers around my passion for cobia fishing.”
Nonetheless, anglers have the opportunity in the summer months to catch other species in the ocean in-shore waters, Doshier said.
“There still are a good number of mahi-mahi and a few wahoos,” he said. Bottom-fishing is good now for trigger fish and vermillion snapper.
Doshier noted that sparse catches of any fish around the island may be due to the low numbers this year of bait fish, such as silver sides and menhaden.
The following is a recent press release (Jul. 1, 2016) from NC Division of Marine Fisheries:
MOREHEAD CITY – The stock status of most coastal fish did not change in the 2016 Stock Status Report, released today by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. Only one species was reclassified from the 2015 report.
Summer flounder moved from “viable” to “concern.” The change was based on a 2015 National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center benchmark stock assessment for U.S. waters north of Cape Hatteras. The assessment indicated the stock was not overfished but overfishing was occurring.
As a result of the stock assessment, federal fisheries authorities lowered the allowable biological catch by 29 percent, which lowered the state-by-state commercial quotas proportionately. North Carolina receives the highest commercial quota share at 27.4 percent.
The annual classifications are based on biological and statistical data from the prior year and serve as a barometer of the overall health of the state’s fishery resources. They are used to prioritize development of state fishery management plans.
New this year, the online table that summarizes the report includes information about which fisheries management authorities manage the stock in parenthesis under each species name.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore will host two family-friendly events this summer on Ocracoke to celebrate the National Park Service Centennial this year.
“Concert in the Park” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on both Monday, July 11, and Monday, Aug. 8, on the grassy picnic area adjacent to the National Park Service boat docks, alongside Silver Lake Harbor.
Brooke German and Nick Derrick
Visitors are invited to take in the sunset while enjoying live music entertainment provided by different local Ocracoke musicians.
Brooke German and Nick Derrick will provide the July 11 entertainment with the possibility of some friends joining them.
Aug. 8 will feature the Madam Presidents–Kate MacNally, Kim Franz and Katy Mitchell).
At 5:30 pm each night, Seashore personnel will be present to answer any questions about the park and provide some literature about the park.
Junior Ranger booklets and badges will also be available for kids of all ages.
The Hyde County services building in Swan Quarter.
By Peter Vankevich
The appointment process and who will serve on the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board is beginning to look like aMobius stripin its permutations. The County Commissioners monthly meeting Tuesday did not add much to a resolution.
At the June 6 Hyde County commissioners’ meeting County Commissioner John Fletcher nominated two people —including himself—to the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Advisory Board. After the meeting it was discovered that the positions are for the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association to appoint.
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting and after the June meeting, a letter from Rudy Austin, president of the OCBA was delivered to the commissioners stating it is the OCBA that has the right to recommend these two positions to the five-member Occupancy Tax Board.
The letter stated that John Fletcher was in error on June 6 when he nominated himself and Stephanie O’Neal to the board. It went on to note that the OCBA was not consulted prior to Fletcher’s nominations on June 6. Since then, Brown and Gaskill have agreed to continue with their appointments to this board.
According to the statute authorizing the enacting of an occupancy tax and an advisory board, the county nominates three and the OCBA recommends two.
“The OCBA respectfully requests the Hyde County commissioners to vacate/rescind Mr. Fletcher’s appointments at the June 6 meeting and reinstate Brown and Gaskill for another term of whatever term durations they had held previously,” the letter stated.
In addition to himself, Fletcher appointed islander Stephanie O’Neal, a native of the island who has had a nursing career off island but recently moved back.
The commissioners on June 6 approved both appointments pending a county attorney review of the legality of Fletcher nominating himself to the position.
Connie Leinbach, the OCBA secretary, spoke at Tuesday’s meeting and said the association forgot to make the appointments earlier in the year.
Fletcher said he had contacted both Brown and Gaskill who told him they were not interested in continuing on the board which was the reason he made the recommendations. He said the OCBA wanted Brown and Gaskill to continue, then resign later and they would make other appointments.
“As far as I’m concerned (the positions are) appointed,” Fletcher had said earlier in June. “I mentioned it twice in public meetings that these appointments were needed by June 1, and no one said anything.”
The terms of these two members previously appointed by the OCBA are up July 7 and new appointments are to be made by July 30, according to the ordinance in the Board of Commissioners section of the Hyde County website. To view that section of the ordinance, click here.
The commissioners who spoke Tuesday said they were hopeful for a resolution. Benjamin Simmons offered a compromise that Fletcher appoint one member and OCBA the other. This was not accepted since it appeared to be in violation of the ordinance that said the OCBA could recommend two members.
Fletcher also said there was no conflict of interest for him to be a commissioner and also be on Occupancy Tax Board that decides how Hyde County Occupancy Tax revenues are granted each year to various nonprofits on the island. “A commissioner can serve on one county committee,” he said.
At the OCBA June 8 meeting, County Manager Bill Rich, attending via cell phone, noted that because of what the Occupancy Tax statute says about the OCBA making two nominations, “both appointments John Fletcher made are not valid.”
Tom Pahl, who beat Fletcher in the March 15 primary and is unopposed in the November election, said Tuesday during the public comment period that he has heard a tremendous amount of negative feedback about Fletcher appointing himself to the Occupancy Tax Board.
“I hope you will see the wisdom of walking it back,” he said of the tentative approval of Fletcher and O’Neal last month. “Because the ordinance that created the Occupancy Tax Board clearly states that two of the five board members will be nominated by OCBA and it happens that the two positions that came up were those two.”
Pahl also said that it just doesn’t sit right when a person who is on one board making a recommendation to another board that he also sits on. “The (OTB) is an advisory board and it should be separate people from the people who ultimately make the decisions.”
The commissioners agreed to table any motions, let the OCBA come back with a recommendation and take up the issue at the Aug. 1 meeting.
Most of the five-member OT board’s work is in the spring when they review requests for money by various island nonprofits and make recommendations.
This year, $365,005 was distributed to 14 groups.
Note: Connie Leinbach, secretary of the OCBA, is editor and co-publisher of the Ocracoke Observer.
The Swan Quarter ferry, viewed from a helicopter, chugs to Ocracoke. Photo by C. Leinbach
Editor’s note July 10, 2016: a correction regarding the amount of funding for maintenance has been corrected.
A toll on the Hatteras/Ocracoke ferry has been a possibility for the last several years.
This free ride since the 1960s has been a major benefit for the Ocracoke community and, apparently, a major sticking point to some outside our small area.
We won’t enumerate the many good reasons why this route should remain free. We don’t begrudge folks crossing multi-million dollar toll-free bridges or snow removal in the mountains.
The good news is that the legislature in June successfully kept the Hatteras Ferry free and did something equally impressive: They approved an annual $4 million for ferry replacement and $6 million this year for maintenance.
We hope this ends calls for a toll on the Hatteras ferry since finding money to fund new vessels was the reason for the continued jockeying to enact a toll.
We hope the folks at the NC Ferry Division are as pleased with this as we are.
This news can’t come soon enough, and we hope the Ferry Division will move with alacrity to purchase a new vessel between Hatteras and Ocracoke and fix the old ones since, of late, more and more vessels have experienced maintenance issues, delaying both the traveling public and islanders.
The legislature also approved money to match a federal grant for a trial run with passenger ferry service for Ocracoke.
Back in October, Paul Tine, our House representative (U-Kitty Hawk), had said in a community meeting about, yet again, another attempt to get a toll on our lifeline approved, “Let us try to fix this in the short session.”
And we say, “Bravo!” to Tine, John Torbett (R-Gaston) and Phil Shepard (R-Onslow) for accomplishing this impressive feat of bipartisan statesmanship.
In the last few years, principally Tine, Torbett and also Hyde County Manager Bill Rich worked tirelessly to convince their colleagues in the House and the Senate to view the ferries as part of the highway system.
These players deserve our thanks–for all of this hard work and also for bringing a cadre of representatives to mainland Hyde in January where they could see the rural nature of the county and the ferry docks for themselves.
If there is a bit of sadness to this political year it is that Paul Tine decided not to run for a third term in office. He has been an effective advocate for Ocracoke and eastern North Carolina.
This election year, our region is one of the few in the state that have both the state House and Senate seats at play.
So many areas have safe seats (owing to redistricting) –the incumbents are either unopposed or are not in danger of losing.
The November election is around the corner, and it is vital that islanders become familiar with the four candidates seeking to represent Ocracoke in Raleigh.
The Ocracoke Observer has provided coverage on issues and candidates will continue to do so. This information is available on our website, ocracokeobserver.com.
Lastly, several sources familiar with the General Assembly have said the legislators do read and consider letters and emails.
The efforts of those islanders who did contact them recently to support Tine and Torbett’s efforts with the ferry system did indeed have an impact. It shows that voicing your opinion does matter.
We urge you to thank those in office and continue to share your views with them and the candidates.
While we hope the ferry toll issue is gone for good, we recommend vigilance.
Professional fireworks returned to Ocracoke July 3 to the acclaim of islanders and visitors. Melinda Sutton captured this shot during the Sunday evening show.
By Connie Leinbach and Peter Vankevich
The Ocracoke community and visitors were overwhelmingly impressed with the fireworks show Sunday night that was part of July 4 holiday events.
“They were awesome,” was the comment most frequently heard on peoples’ lips following the show and two days later.
“They were perfect,” said Judy Eifert, co-owner of Dajio Restaurant.
Trudy Austin, a Variety Store cashier and member of the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board who granted the funds to make it happen, said Monday that she had heard nothing but great comments from visitors.
“It was a fun night,” added Variety Store owner Tommy Hutcherson, who provided deejay services and music for an hour prior to the 9:15 p.m. launch. “I got a lot of positive feedback. I think everyone appreciated and loved it.”
However, at least one islander, who had watched them up close, commented that they were rather scary because of the proximity.
The display, put on by Pyrotecnico of Columbia, S.C., featured 18 minutes of a variety of rockets, which ended with a huge finale of smoke and fire that had the crowd roaring. An extended applause and hooting followed the last spark.
David Hallac, Cape Hatteras National Seashore superintendent, views the Ocracoke fireworks. Photo courtesy of NPS.
About a half hour later, islanders were treated to a few more bursts of flaming color as the fireworks crew shot off 33 rockets that did not ignite during the main show, according to Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Company officials.
“I’m so proud of Ocracoke,” said Mickey Baker, co-owner of Mermaid’s Folly. “We got over the trauma.”
She was referring to the accident on July 4, 2009, when the fireworks truck while being unpacked detonated in an explosion that was heard and felt all over the island, and in which four of the fireworks company workers were killed.
Since then, the community had no fireworks until in the last few years it began to explore the idea once again.
Last year, the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board agreed to grant the money needed to put on a show, and while it was not on the actual holiday, which was a Monday, the day before (Sunday) was close enough.
“The community is very happy,” said islander Kenny Ballance, who was the chief NPS ranger on Ocracoke in 2009 and helped with the emergency response. “They did an excellent job. A lot of people from up the beach came down for it.”
Some came especially for the fireworks.
Andrea St.-Cyr, center, and her husband Eric of Cornelius, NC, came to the island especially to see the fireworks. Islander Art Mines is at left. Photo by C. Leinbach
Andrea and Eric St.-Cyr of Cornelius, NC, dashed back to Ocracoke two weeks after they’d just been here just to see the professional fireworks Saturday night.
Shortly after they arrived, the couple placed their two beach chairs on the NPS dock sidewalk facing the end of the NPS parking lot where the fireworks were to be launched.
“Ours were the first chairs here,” Andrea said.
David E. Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, who was instrumental in finding a launch site, attended along with Boone Vandzura, CHNS chief ranger and many other NPS staffers.
“What a joyful crowd,” he said as hundreds of spectators found places to sit or stand in the grassy area near the ferry landing. “It was our pleasure to be a partner in the celebration of Independence day on Ocracoke Island. What a show” he noted as the evening’s activities concluded.
Islander Mitzi Krall noted that while the island has had a long sabbatical from fireworks, it’s nice to have them back.
“Fireworks are an integral part of the Fourth of July celebration,” she said.
Darlene Styron, owner of the Sweet Tooth, and who with Teresa O’Neal and Sundae Horn spearheaded getting the fireworks, said Tuesday she’d never seen so many people coming down the road from the village toward the Hatteras ferry as she did Sunday night after the fireworks.
Planning a fireworks show involves a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination, she said, and acknowledged the help from the following agencies: Hyde County, Hyde County EMS and Sheriff’s departments, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore superintendent, the Dare County fire marshal, the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Dept., the NC Ferry Division, the U.S. Coast Guard and the NC Dept. of Marine Fisheries.
Boy Scout Troop 290 members raise the flag as Mariah Temple, Alyssa Bryann and Maren Donlon sing the National Anthem. Photo by P. Vankevich
The Fourth of July began with the traditional flag raising at the school. Boy Scout Troop #290 raised the flag and Mariah Temple, Alyssa Bryann and Maren Donlon sang the National Anthem. When Hurricane Arthur struck the island two years ago, the flag raising ceremony was the only event that was not canceled.
Eril and Paul Lammers and their “I reveal” pregnant mermaid. Photo by P. Vankevich
The sand sculpture contest took place Monday at Lifeguard Beach. Eril and Paul Lammers, from Ann Arbor, Mich., came up with the name “I Reveal” since Eril is expecting.
“I wanted to find a fun way of telling my four children,” she said. “So we sculpted a pregnant mermaid so the kids would learn that day.”
The lighthouse was open for visitors and about 500 people made a visit.
Early Monday afternoon, Skydive OBX of Manteo put on two sky diving demonstrations at the Ocracoke Community Park ball field.
A skydiver lands Monday afternoon on the infield of the Ocracoke Community Park ball field.
The two instructors with the company, Sven Jseppi and Pete Schwartz, leapt from about 6,000 feet, said Heather McLay, wife of Jseppi and a member of the company.
After a few minutes of floating and a few circles, the two men landed on the infield as if they were on fire.
“These guys come in hot,” she said before the demonstration. The two often take part in competitions in maneuvering their canopies for distance, speed and accuracy, she said, and they often will land at a speed of 70 mph.
Under threatening skies on Monday, the parade began at 4 p.m., and attracted participants on foot, horses, bicycles, golf carts, cars, trucks and floats.
Lacking a marching band to lead the way, law enforcement vehicles and OVFD fire trucks heralded the entourage with blaring sirens and horns.
There was some musical accompaniment this year, however, with a lone bagpiper.
Islander Jakie Spencer was the grand marshal and waved to all from a decorated golf cart driven by Woody Billings.
The skies opened up a bit after the parade and ended before Donald Davis’s storytelling performance at 6 p.m., but by the time of the final event–a community beach fire at the lifeguard beach–the evening was dry and balmy.
A community beach fire at the lifeguard beach capped the holiday weekend.
Horn, who organized the two-day event for the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association, announced the competition winners Monday evening before the beach fire was lighted.
Winners of the parade categories are as follows: Walk & Roll: Charlotte Edwards and her horses, first place; the Alcorn Family “Grateful Dead,” second place; Ed Barber “Iron Eagle,” third place.
Wheels: The Ocracoke Garden Center, first place; “Krewe Da Beach,” second place; Ocracats, third place.
Floats: The Nutcracker, first place; Ocracoke Coffee, second place; NC Ferry Division, third place
Winner of the Community Prize, given to a nonprofit, was the Ocracoke Library Summer Reading Program.
Ride the Wind Surf Shop won best of show with its Olympics theme, and second place went to the “Old Airmen.”
On behalf of her other parade mates, Lisa Krizner of West Orange, NJ, accepted the prize for her group’s winning Ocracats parade entry.
Krizner said their three-family group decided earlier this spring to get into the parade, dress up as cats and support the island’s nonprofit Ocracats group, which helps care for and control the island’s feral cat colonies.
She donated their $25 prize to Ocracats.
A parade entry, Ocracats, by visitors, received the third-place prize in the “Wheels” category.
“It’s very moving that when we all work so hard for Ocracats to have a visitor group step up and offer this kind of recognition,” said Ruth Fordon, Ocracats president.
The annual sand sculpture contest also was held Monday morning. Winners were chosen by popular vote.
The Best in Show award went to Kate Highsmith of Concord, NC, the first individual to win best-of-show, with her rendition of sea turtles hatching.
A frequent vacationer to the island, this was her first time doing the sand sculpture contest.
“When I was 10, I saw turtles hatch,” she said. “That was so amazing. That speaks to me about this place.”
Don Johnson of Scottdale, Pa., has been vacationing on Ocracoke over July 4 with his family for 39 years and competing in the sand sculpture contest. While their group won third place in the Groups 13 and Over category, Johnson said the activity is less about competition and more about family togetherness and camaraderie in a community they’ve come to love.
“This is home,” he said.
Other winners in the sand sculpture categories are as follows.
“Ocra-croc” by the Johnson family of Scottdale, Pa., won third place in the Group 13 and over category. Photo by P. Vankevich
Individual 12 and under: Petros Burleson, first place, “Squid”; Catherine Todd, second place, “Sponge Bob & Friends.”
Individual 13 and over: Giovanni Capriotti, first place, “Shark”; Adrianna Davis, second place, “Mermaid”; Barb Oelschlegel, third place, “medieval castle.”
A sand sculpture depicting turtles hatching, by Kate Highsmith of Concord, NC, won Best of Show. Photo by C. Leinbach
Group 12 and under: Team Mini Awesome, first place, “Little Mermaid”; Short, Yellow & Sandy, second place, “Sponge Bob”; Hunter and Ally Capriotti, third place, “lighthouse.”
Group 13 and over: Helmetheads, first place, “Ocra-croak”; Emma, Tim and Sam Dzialo, second place, “Octopus”; Don Johnson Crew, third place, “Ocra-croc.”
A number of islanders noted that they liked that events were spread over two days instead of packed into one.
Mandy Harmon, interpretive park ranger, greets visitors at the lighthouse. Photo by P. VankevichThe Ride the Wind Surf Shop float featuring the summer Olympics won first place. Photo by C. LeinbachJakie Spencer is the July 4 parade grand marshal with Woody Billings driving. Photo by C. Leinbach
Mariah Temple, Alyssa Bryann and Maren Donlon sing the National Anthem. Julian Bennink in background. Photo by P. Vankevich
Mary Schulz, Elizabeth Aiken and Jackson Staelin with their rendition of Blackbeard in their sand sculpture “Teach’s Hole.” The beard was made of seaweed and the hat from seashells. Photo by P. Vankevich
Ocracoke School Class of 2016 are, rear from left, Dalton Kalna, Kevin Perez and Cecilia Carter. Front from left, Caroline Temple, Deana Seitz, Arianna Contreras, Jordan Novak, Evin Caswell, Aldo Resendiz, Josie Winstead and Brandon O’Neal. Photo courtesy of Ocracoke School.
By Connie Leinbach
Ocracoke School’s eleven-member Class of 2016 received more than $418,000 in financial aid and scholarships, the most money ever awarded to local students.
“This class will be known for achieving academically, artistically and for having several athletic historical firsts,” said Walter Padgett, school principal, during graduation ceremonies June 12 in the school gym.
One of those athletic firsts was the boys’ basketball team winning a berth in the state tournament, though it lost in the first round.
“I am so proud of this group,” said Mary McKnight, school counselor. “They achieved a lot of this without any of my help.”
She said the total is approximate because sometimes the school doesn’t receive checks until August and the amounts can change.
Deana Seitz received the largest institutional scholarship of approximately $160,000, or full tuition for four years at Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vt.
She also was awarded $1,000 from the Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament, $2,000 from the NC Beach Buggy Association and $500 from Ocracoke Island Realty.
Evin Caswell received a total of $118,700, with the highest amount of $115,200 from two Susquehanna University scholarships where he will attend and continue his basketball career.
He also received the following: Ocracoke School PTA, $500; Ocracoke Alumni Association, $500; an athletic scholarship in memory of Anna and Edward Fryer, $1,500; and Ocracoke School Athletic Booster Club, $1,000.
Cecilia Carter, class valedictorian, who will study computer science at UNC Chapel Hill, received the largest institutional scholarship—the George and Frances London Scholarship for $30,000 over four years.
Carter also received the Hyde County Children Center Scholarship of $1,000.
Josie Winstead, class salutatorian, who will attend UNC Chapel Hill, received the Golden Leaf Scholarship of $3,000 for all four years of college; $10,000 from the State Employees Credit Union; $1,000 from Tideland EMC and $1,000 from the Ocracoke Athletic Booster Club.
Dalton Kalna, who will attend Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colo., received the Presidential Merit Scholarship of $40,000, or $10,000 per year.
He also received the Ellen Holiday scholarship of $1,500 from Wells Fargo Bank; $500 from the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association; and $250 from Ocracoke Community Radio WOVV 90.1 FM.
Caroline Temple received a grant of $29,840 or the first year from Warren Wilson College, where she will attend, $1,000 from the Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament and $1,350 in memory of Charlotte Castro.
Arianna Trejo Contreras, the first person in her family to attend college, received the Greg and Eden Honeycutt Scholarship of $3,000, the Beveridge and Mayo Scholarship of $500 and the Ocracoke Assembly of God Founders Scholarship of $500.
She will attend Pitt Community College in Greenville majoring in biology with the first goal of becoming a pediatric physician’s assistant.
Kevin Perez received a $1,500 athletic scholarship in memory of Anna and Edward Fryer of and $500 from both the PTA and Ocracoke Island Realty. He will study filmmaking at Southern Maine Community College, Portland, Maine.
Graduates Brandon Ellis O’Neal and Aldo Serrano Resendiz did not receive scholarships since they are not immediately pursuing higher education.
Jordan Novak will be the school’s first fifth year/super senior/early college student and will receive her diploma at the end of 2017.
Local musician Marcy Brenner gave the commencement address and spoke personally about each graduate.
“Our lighthouse is a metaphor, for all of us will be here for you to come back,” she said. “When you go out into the world, you bring the lighthouse with you to shine your light. We’re your safe harbor. Know that always.”
The class honored Karen Lovejoy with its Community Service Award.
Karen Lovejoy, right, received the Community Service award, bestowed each year by the graduating class. With her is Kay Riddick. Photo: C. Leinbach
McKnight said the school is always accepting new scholarship gifts.
“Next year, the school will have 16 graduates, many who will be pursuing college,” she said.
Some scholarships are already in place that people can donate to anonymously, or they can give one in the name of their business.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation also can help set up an endowment.
For details, contact McKnight at mmcknight@hyde.k12.nc.us.
