A Tale of Blackbeard returns to the boards

June 12, 2015

May 17 025 — Amelia Jordan, left, and Caroline Temple, rehearse “A Tale of Blackbeard” with Julie Howard, center, musical director and creator of the play.

By Connie Leinbach

The Ocracoke original play “A Tale of Blackbeard” will have some new twists when the production resumes at 8 p.m. June 29.

The musical, loosely based on the days prior to Blackbeard’s demise on the island in 1718, was written in the 1970s by Julie Howard. After a more than 20 year hiatus, this popular piece about island life was revived last year.

This year, it will be performed Mondays through Aug. 10 in the Ocracoke School gym where it will accommodate a bigger audience than last year when it was in the Ocracoke Community Center.

At least two thirds of the local actors are returning to the show this year though not all in the same roles, Howard said during a lull in a recent rehearsal.

Trish Davis and David Tweedie rehearse the Farthingham roles.

“There are more sailors, a different Blackbeard and a different energy,” Howard, who is the musical director, said.

This summer’s show is in partnership with the Ocracoke PTA, which will provide food concessions and receive a portion of the proceeds with remaining funds designated for Ocracoke Alive community programming.

Courtney Conner is the director with Desiree Ricker as choreographer/co-director.

Howard has revised the show a bit, in particular, adding another song for the sailors.

“It just popped into my head three years ago,” she explained, but since the show was only revived last year, it wasn’t added until this year. “I only finished refining it last month.”

Waylon Underwood, who was Richard, the young male lead last year and who is playing the part again this year, said the show is very different this year, although the way he plays his role is not so different.

A new Euphemia, proprietor of the boarding house, will be Megan Spencer.

“I’ve never been in a play before,” Spencer said about the new venture. “I fell in love with the play last year and wasn’t expecting such a big role.”

For cast and ticket information, visit the website here.

“A Tale of Blackbeard” logo.

La Familia Pérez recibe honores en carreras

June 11, 2015

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Karen, Kevin & Mom Lulu Perez 2015-04-25 09.48.33 — Karen, Kevin & Lulu Perez. Photo por Peter Vankevich

Por Peter Vankevich
Traducido por Alfredo (Freddy) Contreras

In English

La estudiante de segundo grado de preparatoria, Karen Pérez lidero al grupo de carreras de campo y pista en las competiciones regionales el pasado Mayo en el campamento Legeune.

Karen Perez. Photo by Lulu Perez — Karen Perez. Photo por Lulu Perez

Ella termino en primer lugar en los 600m y segundo lugar en los 800m. Sus mejores tiempos la llevaron a calificar y competir en High School Athletic Associacion Women’s State 1-A Campo y Pista de Carolina del Norte en Greensboro, también en Mayo, donde ella termino los 1600m en octava posición (5:50) y décima en los 800m (2:41)

Karen fue parte del primer equipo de Ocracoke en competir por primera vez una competición de campo y pista este año, y los entrenadores Denny Widener y Scott Macnally quedaron satisfechos con los resultados de esta temporada.

Justo después de tres competiciones, el equipo viajo a Manteo para el encuentro de conferencia. Cada miembro del equipo califico para regionales. En adición a Karen, otros miembros del equipo incluyendo Jordi Perez, Kyle Tillett, Kevin Perez, Evin Caswell y Dalton Kalna.

Una estudiante de honores de segundo grado de preparatoria, Perez corrió su primera carrera competitiva (la carrera de 5k de Ocracoke) cuando cursaba el quinto grado de primaria.

Lulu Perez 2015-04-25 08.19.45 — Lulu Perez. Photo por P. Vankevich

El correr es un talento de Familia. Su madre, Lulú, termino en primer lugar en la carrera femenil de 5k/10k llevada a cabo en Ocracoke este año (y termino quinta a nivel general). El hermano de Karen, Kevin, quién será en el último año de la escuela secundaria, termino primero a nivel varonil en los 5k y Karen segunda a nivel femenil en la misma.

Karen ha sido parte del equipo de basquetbol femenil Los Delfines, aunque

por el momento está tratando de decidir jugar los dos deportes o concentrarse en las carreras el próximo año.

Winner Kevin Perez . Photo by P. Vankevich — Kevin Perez . Photo por P. Vankevich

Perez family take running honors

June 11, 2015

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By Peter Vankevich

En español

Ocracoke sophomore Karen Perez led Ocracoke’s track-and-field team at the regional competition in May at Camp Lejeune.

She had a first-place finishing the 1600m (one mile) and a second-place finish in the 800m. Her strong finishes qualified her to compete in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Women’s State 1-A Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, also in May, where she placed eighth in the 1600m (5:50) and tenth in the 800m (2:41).

Karen was part of Ocracoke School’s first ever track and field team this year, and coaches Denny Widener and Scott MacNally were pleased with how well the season went. After just three competitions, the team went to Manteo for the conference track meet. Every member of the team qualified for the regionals.

In addition to Karen, team members include Jordi Perez, Kyle Tillett, Kevin Perez, Evin Caswell and Dalton Kalna.

A sophomore honor student, Perez ran her first competitive race (the Ocracoke 5K) when she was in the fifth grade.

Running is a family talent. Her mother, Lulu, took first place this year in the Ocracoke 5K/10K in the women’s 10K (and was fifth overall). Karen’s brother Kevin, who will be a senior in September, won the 5K and Karen placed second in the women’s 5K.

Karen has played on the Lady Dolphins basketball team, though she is deciding whether to play both sports or concentrate on running next year.

Ocracoke: where things get blown off course

June 11, 2015

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Beached boat near Southpoint. Photo by P. Vankevich.

By Peter Vankevich

Islanders are used to having the strange and unusual appear on Ocracoke.

Rare seashells, birds, fish and even a black bear on occasion have made appearances. During the bad weather turbulence in early May, a skiff appeared on the beach between the South Point and the airport. It had no identifiable marking and the washed out color was yellow. Speculation arose. Was it a boat possibly carrying refugees? Did the color indicate a particular country of origin?

The boat remained on the beach for only a few days. The National Park Service removed it due to safety concerns, according to Head Ranger Ed Fuller.

It was there long enough, however, for someone to mark it with a large pirate flag and a much smaller American flag.

Islander John Ivey Wells was one of those who did see it, and, based on the rigging in the interior, he suspected that it was a working boat for a larger entity. He pointed out how the stern was cut down to pull things over it easily, and there was a block and tackle chain and a heavy rope on board. He suspected that it was probably used for construction and or possibly for hauling crab or fish pots.

One thing we do know is that it came from the south. Attached to it were lots of gooseneck barnacles (Olepas anatifera).

Gooseneck barnacles. Photo by P. Vankevich — Goose neck barnacles. Photo by P. Vankevich

These filter-feeding crustaceans live in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide and can be found, attached by their flexible stalks to floating timber, the hulls of ships, piers, pilings, seaweed and various sorts of flotsam. They can be found in areas well beyond their normal distribution range, on marine debris carried by the Gulf Stream.

John Ivey has seen them on Ocracoke many times in the past on objects that have come up from the Caribbean. When Sargasso seaweed comes to shore, gooseneck barnacles are on them as well, he said.

In the days before it was realized that birds migrate, it was thought that Barnacle Geese, Branta leucopsis, developed from this crustacean, since these geese were never seen to nest.

This connection was prompted by the similarities in color and shape. Because they were often found on driftwood, it was assumed that the barnacles were latched onto branches before they fell in the water.

The Welsh monk Giraldus Cambrensis made this claim in his “Topographia Hiberniae,” an account on Ireland and it people written around 1188. Since barnacle geese were believed to be “neither flesh, nor born of flesh,” they were allowed to be eaten on days when eating meat was forbidden by religion.

This boat was reconfigured for some kind of work. Photo by P. Vankevich

Students honored for academic achievement

June 10, 2015

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By Peter Vankevich

Ocracoke School honored 37 students for their achievements May 28 at the annual Academic Excellence Banquet in the Ocracoke Community Center.

All of the students, from grades three through 12, made the honor roll for each academic period. Seven of them made all A’s.

Bill Jones, a retired minister and volunteer for the last three years at the school, was the guest speaker.

School volunteer Bill Jones. Photo by P. Vankevich

He recounted his experiences at his boarding school, Indian Springs School, located south of Birmingham, Ala., in the late 1950s, with some of the eccentric, yet caring teachers he still fondly remembers.

He compared Ocracoke School favorably with his experiences, noting that at both schools,” the teachers didn’t just teach math, English or science. They, most importantly, taught students.”

All A’s Honor Roll

Alyssa Morgan Bryan
Dylan Scott Esham
Maren Grace Donlon
Justin Cole Gilbert
Christian Stanley Stevens
Deana Joy Seitz
Julian Howard Bennink

All A’s and B’s Honor Roll

Ronald Kevin Contreras-Garcia
Daymon Scott Esham
Yuletzy Hernandez Ibarra
Elsie London Kattenburg
Dibanhi Rodriguez-Santiago
Alexis Villanueva Tellez
Max Owen Elicker
Frances Margaret Burruss Evans
Wyatt Luca Giagu
Katie Grace Kinnion
Chandler Russell O’Neal
Gisselle Perez
Lachlan Wesley Tweedie Howard
Edwin Perez-Benitez
Jackson Sydney Strange
Jayden Bradley West
Hannah Laura Grey Belch
Mason Daniel Fuller
Mackenzie Paige Novak
Milagro Raquel Ortiz
Colby Todd Austin
Julia Taylor Fuller
Mackenzie Lee O’Neal
Cody Lee Pinter
Kalai Jay Samick
Samantha Nicole Sutton
Liam O’Neal Caswell
Carson Farrow O’Neal
Jordi Perez
Karen Corona Perez
Arianna Trejo Contreras
Josie Anne Winstead
Hunter Raleigh Belch
Abigail Grace Morris
Kathryn Grace O’Neal
Lucy Louise O’Neal
Samantha Leigh Styron

Ocrafolk Festival: a festive event for audience and musicians

June 9, 2015

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The Blue Eyed Bettys were a new band at Ocrafolk Festival this weekend. Photo by C. Leinbach

By Connie Leinbach

Rob Sharer, leader of Craicdown, a mainstay band at the Ocrafolk Festival, thinks the weekend event is kind of miraculous.

“Everyone who is here—audience and musicians alike–had to go through a long journey to get here,” he said in an interview between performances. “So they want to be here. These are hard core music fans and that ratchets up the energy.”

Throughout the weekend, the musicians mix and mingle and create new sounds.

“So, you’ll get a blues solo on an Irish flute,” he said with a laugh.

This annual event presented by the nonprofit Ocracoke Alive is held the first full weekend in June along School Road and Howard Street.

Sidya Cissokho of Senegal, who was with the band Kaira Ba, a world rhythms band, gushed about their Saturday night show in Community Square.

Kaira Ba performs Friday night in Community Square. Photo by C. Leinbach

“That was the best show we ever did,” he said, noting the band has been playing for more than four years. “The love of the people, the food, the hospitality,” is what also contributed to the band’s good experience.

“They were one of my stand-out bands,” said B.J. Oeschlegel about the band.

Festival Director David Tweedie said the addition of the cultural groups, such as Kaira Ba and Los Tarascos de Michoacan from Mexico, added a new element and buzz.

“That was exciting,” he said, “along with the new, younger bands, such as The Blue-Eyed Bettys and the Yes Team.

Most festival-goers note that the smallness of the venues allow for a more intimate experience with the bands.

“Most festivals are out in a big field,” said Tom and Mary Whelan of Washington, N.C. “We can see everything.”

Along with storytelling and bands at several locations throughout the island, the festival has activities for children, such as fish painting, juggling with Jef the Mime, and a chance to witness Jim Alberti’s Flea Circus.

Jim Alberti wow kids and adults with his flea circus. Photo by C. Leinbach

“How many of you have fleas at home?” he asked a group of kids and adults at his introduced his “performers,” such as Paddy O’Reilly Shaunessy, who gets shot out of a cannon, and Dardanelle, the high diving flea.

More than 30 local and regional fine artists and crafters set up their shops and sell their art, jewelry, wood carvings and more.

“This is the best festival I’ve done in the last three years,” said Mattie Cordie of New Bern who was selling her hand-crafted jewelry. Cordie also had conducted an arts residency, also sponsored by Ocracoke Alive, for Ocracoke School students this winter. “Many of my students stopped by.”

What Karen Casey, a fused glass artist from Durham, likes about the festival is that everyone feels welcome.

“It’s just the right size,” she said. Customers and artists can interact. “People are really appreciative,” she said.

The Paperhand Puppet parade. Photo by C. Leinbach

Tweedie noted that a lot of volunteers step up to help out in all areas of the event.

“We appreciate everyone who helped make the weekend a success—the sponsors, the volunteers and the artists who donated pieces for the Friday night auction,” he said.

”

Donald Davis regales with stories of his youth. Photo by C. Leinbach

Robert Chestnut featured at Down Creek Gallery this week

June 8, 2015

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"Gemini," oil on board by Robert Chestnut — “Gemini,” oil on board by Robert Chestnut

Local artist Robert Chestnut will be the first June artist in Down Creek Gallery’s “Expose Yourself to Art” series from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (June 10).

A graduate of Jacksonville University with a degree in fine art, Chestnut concentrates in printmaking and oil painting.

“Anything with bright colors” is what he’s interested in creating. “Instead of black and white, I like blues, reds and greens to show contrast.”

He also likes a lot of texture and sometimes uses a palette knife or the end of his paint brush to produce a desired effect.

Since he grew up on Ocracoke, his work is influenced by island life, and the ocean is the central subject matter.

“With his printmaking, I am constantly trying new ways to create an image,” he said. Most of his prints are copper etchings, but he also uses woodcuts, screen-printing and linoleum cuts. DJ Tyler Jackson of Nags Head will provide music.

All are invited to meet and greet the artists and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, live music and adult beverages in the gallery at 270 Irvin Garrish Highway.

Ocrafolk schedule for Sunday (June 7)

June 7, 2015

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For further information about the Ocrafolk schedule, click here

Sunday, June 7

7:30 AM Tai chi/qi gong with Terrilynn Grace West at Lifeguard Beach (rain location Deepwater Theater)

Live Oak Stage

9:15 AM – Gospel Sing with hosts Gary Mitchell & Louis Allen

11:00 AM – Services at the Ocracoke Churches

12:00 PM – Kaira Ba

1:00 PM – Stories with Philip Howard & Capt. Rob Temple

2:00 PM – Outliers

3:00 PM – All Star Jam (Hosted by Jacob Johnson)

Deepwater Theater

1:00 PM – “Our Favorite Songs” w/Bob Zentz, Mipso and Friends

2:00 PM – “Growing up on Ocracoke” w/Rodney Kemp and friends

Ocrafolk Schedule for Saturday, June 6

June 6, 2015

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For further information about the Ocracoke Festival, click here

Saturday, June 6

Note: Admission buttons will be available at the tent/Festival table Saturday morning. $20 Adults/$5 Kids over five years old

(Festival grounds on School Road and Howard Street)
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM — Music, Stories, Artisans, & Food from Coastal Carolina and beyond!

Howard Street Stage
9:30 – 10:00 AM – Mahalo Jazz 2
10:15 – 10:45 AM – Donald Davis
11:00 AM – Mipso
12:00 PM – Victor & Penny
1:00 PM – Blue Eyed Bettys
2:00 PM – The Yes Team
3:00 PM – Los Tarascos de Michoacan
4:00 PM – The Outliers “A Brief History of Bluegrass”

Live Oak Stage
10:00 AM – Yes Team
11:00 AM – Blue Eyed Bettys
12:00 PM – Green Grass Cloggers with Rodney Kemp
1:00 PM – Martin Garrish & Friends
2:00 PM – Victor & Penny
3:00 PM – Mipso
4:00 PM – Donald Davis
5:00 PM – Molasses Creek

Deepwater Theater
10:00 AM – Painting Clyde Critters & Fish Print Ts
11:00 AM – Alberti’s Flea Circus
12:00 PM – Juggling with Jef the Mime
1:00 PM – Alberti’s Flea Circus
3:00 PM – Alberti’s Flea Circus

Workshop Stage
9:00 AM – “Sixties Folk Revival” Sing-a-long with Bob, Jeanne & Friends
10:00 AM – “The Big Squeeze” Accordions, harmonicas, melodicas, and everything in between with
Bob Zentz, David DiGuiseppe, and Alison Weiner
11:00 AM – “The Kora” with Diali Cissokho

12:00 PM – “Sweet Harmonies” The Yes Team & The Blue Eyed Bettys
1:00 PM – “String Band Jam” Mipso & the Outliers
2:00 PM – “Ocracoke’s Music History” with Martin Garrish & John Golden
3:00 PM – “UKElicious” Bring your uke and play along with Victor & Penny, and Bob & Jeanne
4:00 PM – “Meet Los Tarascos de Michoacan”

School Circle & Road
2:40 PM – Paperhand Puppets parade (meet at school circle)

Ocracoke Methodist Church
11:00 AM – Finley Woolston’s Joyful Band of Singers
2:00 PM – Finley Woolston’s Joyful Band of Singers

Saturday Evening Events
6:00 – 7:30 PM – Ocrafolk Festival Admiralty Dock Party aboard the Skipjack Wilma Lee with Bob Zentz, Jeanne McDougall & Craicdown. Limited ticket event. $75 per person, (Community Square Dock)

7:30 PM – Paperhand Puppets kid’s parade (Community Square)

8:00 – 9:00 PM — Traditional Ocracoke Square Dance with Philip Howard at the Ocracoke Community Square on the Harbor. Easy to learn and open to all!

8:00 – 9:15 PM — Donald Davis Storytelling Evening. RSVP ticket required due to limited seating. A number of these tickets are given to sponsors before the festival weekend. The remainder of these free tickets will be handed out first come/first serve at the info booth on Saturday during the day. If you’ve got to have one . . . follow this link to find out how you can become a Patron Level Sponsor! (Community Center)

9:15 – 10:30 PM – Kaira Ba (Community Square)

9:30 – 10:45 PM – Ocrachicks concert. Room for everyone this year! Want a reserved seat up front . . . become a Patron Level Sponsor! (Live Oak Stage)

9:45 – 11:30 – Los Tarascos De Michoacan (with Eduardo’s Mexican food & cold beer) (Community Center)

10:30 – 11:30 PM – Bluegrass Jam hosted by the Outliers (Community Store)

11:00 – Midnight – Jacob Johnson in concert (Deepwater Theater)

Here is what is happening on Ocracoke today (Friday, June 5)

June 5, 2015

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Ocrafolk Festival

Note: Admission buttons will be available at Fish Fry today and at the tent/Festival table beginning Saturday morning. $20 Adults/$5 Kids over five years old.

4 to 5 p.m. Stories with students from Donald Davis’s Storytelling Workshop. Deepwater Theater

5 to 7 p.m. Ocracoke Fish Fry, Catered by Pony Island Restaurant, $15. Special mac ‘n’ chees plate for children, $5. Ocracoke Preservation Society

7 to 8:30 p.m. Ocrafolk Festival Fundraising Art Auction, Berkley Manor, across from Ocracoke Preservation Society. Complimentary fig cake and cash wine/beer bar.Music provided by Maholo Jazz 2, 6 to 7 p.m.

9 to 10 p.m. World Music Jam, hosted by Craicdown, Live Oak stage at Books to be Red

10 to 11:30 p.m. The Donald Thompson Band, Community Center

Other musical entertainment on island

Jolly Roger: Willis Gupton 6 p.m.

Ocracoke Oyster Co: Martin Garrish 7 p.m.

Ocracoke Bar and Grille: Barefoot Wade 7:30 p.m.

Gaffer’s: Formula 10 p.m.

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