The Ocracoke Working Waterman’s Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, on the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum grounds, 49 Water Plant Rd.
Since they became the first inhabitants of the island, Ocracokers have made their living on the water, from piloting ships through the treacherous Ocracoke Inlet, to fishing, crabbing, clamming, oyster harvesting, duck hunting, and decoy carving, all of which continue today, handed down through the generations.
The festival will celebrate these traditions with exhibits with the watermen themselves, vendor booths and exhibits. There will also be porch talks starting at 10 a.m.
A silent auction will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., at which time winners will be announced (if anyone would like to donate, they can drop off items at the museum until the day of).
There will be a traditional Ocracoke fish fry from noon to 2 p.m. or until supplies run out, as well as a baked goods sale.
Proceeds from the silent auction, raffle, and fish fry directly benefit OPS and its Island Inn & Commons Project.
T-shirts and posters for the festival will also be available for purchase.
During the week of Oct. 6 to 13, you will see artists painting the Ocracoke landscapes, beaches, Silver Lake and historic architecture.
“Plein air” means they paint outside and not from photographs.
The artists travel to Ocracoke every October for a retreat, coming from Wilmington, Jacksonville and Norfolk to explore, paint and enjoy camaraderie, friendships and talents. This year’s artists include Ann Hair, Barbara Bear Jamison, Sue Bark and Jenny McKinnon Wright.
The artists will show and sell their work from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at their rental house at 31 Creek Rd.
The artists will donate a portion of their sales revenues to an Ocracoke nonprofit.
A fall dawn on the Pamlico Sound from the Swan Quarter ferry. Photo: P. Vankevich
Monday, Oct. 7 Hyde County Commissioners, 6 pm. Community Center and on Facebook at Hyde County Public Information.
Tuesday, Oct. 8 Lady Dolphins volleyball vs Columbia . Middle School 4 p.m. varsity follows. Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray, 7pm
Wednesday, Oct 9 Roanoke Island Animal Clinic will be at the Community Center. They hope to be on the 8 am ferry Please call 252-473-3117 or leave a message here if you are coming so they can bring your records Island Trivia, 6-8 pm, 1718 Brewing Ocracoke. Proceeds to benefit Mercy Chefs efforts to feed victims of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
Thursday, Oct. 10 Ocracoke Planning Advisory Board, 5:30 to 7 pm. Ocracoke Community Center Ocracoke Decoy Carvers Guild meeting, 7 pm. Ocracoke Community Center
Friday, Oct. 11 Varsity volleyball game versus Washington Montessori at 4 pm. Outdoor artists show and sell their work from 3 to 6 p.m. at 31 Creek Rd.
Saturday, Oct. 12 Fried Fish fundraiser for John Simpson, 3 pm. Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. $20/plate, plus a bake sale and raffle. See graphic below.
Celebration of Life for Gail Umphlett, Ocracoke Coffee Shop, Back Road, 3 pm
Sunday, Oct. 13 Church services: Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am Stella Maris Chapel, 3:30 pm
This old live oak on the Ocracoke Preservation Society grounds has withstood the test of many storms. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Sarah Shellow
We mounted our bikes: hers, cotton-candy pink; mine, a scratched and dirty blue. She had on pedal pushers which showed her calves, tan and freckled and taut with effort. Her taffy strokes cut through the thick air. Left, right, left, right. How fast can you go on a one-speed?
We rode from the coffee shop down the narrow pavement which petered out in a dirt graveyard path lined with long grasses hissing with cicadas.
Her white toy poodle trotted next to her wheels. I kept my wheels a safe distance. She had just lost her other dog that morning. Put him to sleep, he was so sick. (I didn’t want to take any chances).
We arrived at her bungalow just as the air stilled in the last heat of the day. I saw her glide toward that tree, right foot in the right pedal, left leg arcing up and over the seat. For a moment, her thin ankles crossed, and she was floating. Then, both feet hit the ground with the lightest pat. We leaned the bikes against the old oak. The branches were fat arms reaching toward the house. The leaves were a sun umbrella that shaded quite nicely the small screened-in porch. We went inside and the screen door slapped shut.
She offered me sweet tea. We were neighbors, you know. My cottage was on the other side of the graveyard. I told her I felt comforted knowing the ancestors were nearby. She motioned for me to sit in a plastic rocking chair. Though the sun was warm through the screen, I think the oak was taking the brunt of it. We rocked back and forth, as slow as we had pedaled, the cicadas consuming the quiet space between us.
She told me she’d been coming to the island for fifty years. Fifty, she said. She sipped her drink from a chipped tumbler. She told me she had raised her kids with the island children. Babies of the sea, she called them when they came back to the bungalow brown and blond and crusted with salt.
Sally had blonde hair herself, shorn close to her head with just a little bit of length for the breeze. She wore a polka-dotted blouse without sleeves. Her arms were thin and strong. She sat for quite some time before she spoke again. When she did, she looked down. “See that rope?” she asked. I did. It was coiled like a snake under the table. She pointed in another direction. “And that one?” she asked. I looked. Yes. I did. And that one and that one and that one? I looked and looked and looked. We were surrounded by coils of rope the thickness of a finger or an umbilical cord. She rocked and rocked and smiled. She nodded, at the tree, I think. She told me when the hurricanes came, each rope was spoken for.
That one was Misty’s, she said laughing. She pointed to the old oak. She told me everyone had a special branch that was their own. When the winds came and the water rose, you were to pick up your rope and tie it around yourself as tight as you could manage. The first person ready was to find the ladder and prop it against the tree. There was a line to get up, of course. And when it was your turn, you lashed yourself to your branch. You sat in its crux, and you watched the water cover the roots, then the base, then part of the trunk. You hoped you were high enough. And you knew the tree was strong enough to hold your whole family like that in its massive basket of limbs. It was just she and I surrounded by ropes. It was quiet.
Did you really have to do that? I asked. I mean, climb into that tree with your whole family? No, she smiled. But we had fun with the drills.
It is hot. It is the cusp of September. The sky is clear today, almost an autumn blue. I am safe behind this computer typing a story that comes to me slowly, like eating taffy or riding a one-speed down an oyster-shell lane. I see the bungalow, a dirty cream. I see the bikes tossed on the lawn. I see the flapping screen porch door and the graveyard. I wonder, will she lash herself to the old oak tonight? Will she pray that the sea takes note: not too high, not too fierce; my arms are strong, but tired; my legs are thin and getting old.
“There’s never been a death on Ocracoke from a hurricane,” says Carol Pahl, who owns the antiques shop down the street. I am counting on the oak.
Hurricane Earl forced an evacuation of the Outer Banks on Labor Day weekend 2010.
Sarah Shelllow was a recent guest on WOVV, Ocracoke’s Village Voice. Photo: P. Vankevich
Sarah Shellow of Silver Spring, Md., was a visiting writing teacher on Ocracoke last year working with the high school seniors, holding creative writing workshops at the Ocracoke Community Library and working at Village Craftsmen in the summer. She has returned to do the same this fall.
Although the weather forecast for the next several days calls for sunny days and pleasant temperatures, Hurricane Kirk, well out to sea, may cause havoc along the Outer Banks.
The National Weather Service has reported that Kirk on Thursday night grew into a Category 4 storm with winds in excess of 145 mph. It is expected to weaken over the next couple of days. The projected path is north/northeast towards Europe.
The swell from this hurricane will impact the Outer Banks beginning Sunday and last into the week.
Dangerous rip currents and high surf are expected along with the potential of more overwash and possible beach erosion.
An update will be forthcoming as more information is gathered.
Hyde County Schools and the Hyde County Board of Commissioners have received a $36 million grant for the Mattamuskeet Rising project to revitalize the Mattamuskeet School campus.
The funding for Mattamuskeet Rising comes from the North Carolina Education Lottery and will be used to expand the school’s capabilities to as a hub for both students and the community, said Dr. Melanie Shaver, superintendent, in a press release.
“The comprehensive project includes upgrades to the school’s physical infrastructure, increased access to cutting-edge educational resources, and athletic facilities designed to foster economic, academic, and social development in now all of Hyde County as we recently opened a brand new campus for our school on Ocracoke Island,” she said.
Mattamuskeet School, situated on 44 acres along Highway 264, consists of 10 buildings dating back to the 1960s, with the most recent addition completed in 2024. This grant will consolidate the campus into three buildings; enhancing the safety and sense of community for our students and staff as well as protecting them from the elements.
Construction for the Mattamuskeet Rising Project is expected to begin in Spring 2025.
Shaver noted the assistance of several agencies, saying, “We are grateful to NCDPI, the NC General Assembly, and Superintendent Truitt for these funds to ensure that our facilities are in good repair, and a source of pride for our students, staff, and community. It was wonderful to partner with the Hyde County Board of Commissioners and our County Manager to provide the best for our community and students.”
Shaver said the Mattamuskeet Rising is more than just a building project; it’s a promise to our students, families, and the community. We are building a foundation for future success, where students can thrive in an environment designed for education, and a place for our community to unite.”
The Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble noted, “This investment is a testament to the strength of our partnership and the shared vision we have for the future of Hyde County.”
Bob Despo and Chief Albert O’Neal will deliver supplies to Ashe County
Editor’s note: Ocracoke has many friends in the western part of the state, and we are anxious to help our friends in need. We wish them well in this difficult time.
By Peter Vankevich
As the news on the massive damage and loss of many lives from Hurricane Helene in the western area of the state continues to unravel, Ocracoke islanders and those on Hyde County mainland have begun with sending support to what will be a long, massive rebuilding effort that includes everything from drones to mules.
Tuesday, the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office announced that in the coming days deputies from their agency will be heading to western NC to help with disaster recovery efforts. Anyone interested in donating supplies can drop them off at the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office, 1223 Main Street, Swan Quarter.
The Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department will be delivering supplies to Ashe County. Chief Albert O’Neal and Bob Despo will take the 7 a.m. Swan Quarter ferry Thursday, using the chief’s personal truck to take supplies collected from the community. A table was set up in the front of the station to accept only small items because of space limitations.
“So many out there helped us after Hurricane Dorian and now here is our opportunity to help them,” O’Neal said.
These supplies will be delivered to a volunteer fire department that OVFD has coordinated with. This is the first of several planned efforts to support those impacted, many who have lost their family members and homes.
The Ocracoke United Methodist Church is also taking quick action and has issued the following:
OUMC RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HELENE DEVESTATION IN WNC
Ocracoke United Methodist Church is mobilizing an effort to assist our brothers and sisters in need and in the western part of the state. This effort is four-fold.
1 – We are accepting donations both online and via mail. Online donations can be made through our website, www.ocracokeumc.com. Checks can be made out to OUMC with “WNC relief” in the memo and mailed to OUMC, PO Box 278, Ocracoke, NC 27960. We will also be collecting a special collection every Sunday through the end of the month.
2 – We are collecting supplies.
Water & Electric Deficient Supplies:
– Solar powered lanterns with charger ports
– Solar powered lights, chargers, etc.
– Steripen UV water purifier pens
Cleaning Supplies:
– Gloves, Masks, Tvek suits
– Bleach tablets, Concrobium, Benefect, Shockwave, White Vinegar, WD-40
– Hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, razors
Pet Supplies:
– Dry, wet food, and treats for cats and dogs
– Litter boxes & litter
3 – We are sending volunteers. If you would like to join a volunteer group, please email ocracokenccumc@gmail.com. We will also have a meeting Wednesday, October 2, at 6pm at OUMC for all who can attend. We will be sending out multiple teams if possible. Our pastor will be going out mid-October and we are organizing larger groups to leave the week before and week of Thanksgiving, and a youth trip on Spring Break.
4 – Prayer. We believe that there is power in prayer, and we are asking that people pick specific counties, towns, and communities and pray fervently over those people and circumstances. Pray that people are put there in the ways that are most needed, pray that those who are lost are found, pray that assistance comes rolling in stronger than the floods, and pray that all may be done for the glory of God.
Pastor Desirée Adams noted in a message: “As many of you know, Western North Carolina (WNC)is where I grew up. My family and friends are those who have been affected by this storm and so their recovery is very important to my heart, as it is to many of yours.
I believe Ocracoke is one of the strongest and most generous communities in the world. We understand what has happened, what the road to recovery will look like, and we have the skillset to be a real asset to these hurting communities. I am asking that we come together, all members of the community, to support WNC in whatever ways we can.
The first people who showed up to my door after Hurricane Dorian were from western North Carolina, the first supplies and checks as well. Let’s return the favor.
You are the salt of the earth—with the power to heal, preserve, and add flavor in the name of God’s steadfast love. Be love and stay salty.”
Photo courtesy of the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation
The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation’s Annual 5K race will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct.12, at Sun Realty in Avon. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.
The race has been renamed in honor of Donna Peele, a beloved founding member of the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation (HICF), who lost her own battle with breast cancer on Oct. 14, 2023. Wear your pinkest outfit to honor Donna.
The cost to join in the 5K is $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the race. Children 12 and under are $15. Children in strollers are free. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the Oct. 12 event at http://www.hicf.org.
Please join and feel free to walk, run, ride or stroll for a great cause!
Thomas O. Payne, age 75, passed away on September 21, 2024, in Ocracoke.
Born Sept. 23, 1949, he was a son of Parke and Martha Payne. Tom grew up in Arlington, Virginia, where he developed a love for travel, food, and culture.
A true jack of all trades, Tom embraced life with enthusiasm, living each day to the fullest. His sharp wit and generous spirit touched the lives of many, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Tom is survived by his three children, who carry on his legacy of adventure and joy.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
