Ocracoke Alive winter activities have begun. To see the full schedule, click here.

Monday, Feb. 23:
Ocracoke Alive: Spanish/English Coffee hour, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Ocracoke Library, and every Monday through March 23

Ocracoke Alive: Self care workshop: Yoga for beginners, 5:30 pm. Ocracoke Island Yoga Studio.

Ocracoke Alive: Envisioning the future of Ocracoke, discussion-based, creative workshops about the island’s long-term future, with Hannah Aronson, a master of city planning student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will facilitate the sessions that will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, March 2, 9, 17 and 23, in the Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: English as a Second Language. 7 pm. Ocracoke Community Library

Tuesday, Feb 24:
Ocracoke Alive: Cooking/baking with Eduardo Chavez; OUMC Rec hall. 6 pm. To RSVP, click here.

Ocracoke Alive: Yoga in Spanish, 7:30 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Wednesday, Feb. 25:
Ocracoke Alive: Yoga in Spanish with Sarah Shellow, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Deepwater Theater

Ocracoke Alive: A Tale of Blackbeard sing-along with Julia Howard. 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Thursday, Feb. 26
Ocracoke Alive: 9:30am – 10:30am. Ukulele/Guitar with Lou Castro. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Creative Writing ~ Fiction with Sarah Shellow, 1 to 2:15 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Latin cardio class with Arturo, 6 pm Community Center.

Ocracoke Alive: Art: Perspective with Kitty Mitchell, 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Friday, Feb 27:
WOVV “What’s Happening on Ocracoke:” Host Peter Vankevich talks about the Occupancy Tax Board and grants with Bob Chestnut. 11:30 a.m. 90.1 FM.

Deepwater Theater: Potluck supper with Ocracoke Needle & Thread Club, 5:30 pm, followed by the short film “The Quilters” at 6:30. See flyer below.

Ocracoke Alive: Latin dance workshop 8 pm, followed by a dance at 9 pm. Community Center.

Saturday, Feb. 28:
Ocracoke Alive: Quilting workshop with Lori Millsap of Island Time Quilting. 2 to 5 pm. Deepwater Theater

Sunday, March 1:
Church services:
Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am
Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am
Stella Maris Chapel: Sunday Mass time at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Go to Masstimes.org and type in the zip code 27960 but refresh your browser for it to work properly.

Barbecue Sandwich Fundraiser at Jason’s to benefit Ocracoke School fifth grade field trip. 11:30 am. See flyer below.

Ocracoke Alive: Quilting workshop with Lori Millsap of Island Time Quilting. 2 to 5 pm. Deepwater Theater

Ocracoke Alive: Games/Puzzles for Families & All Ages, 3 to 5 pm. Ocracoke Library.

By Peter Vankevich

The Friends of Portsmouth Island have canceled this year’s Homecoming that was scheduled for April 25.

“As many of you know our Portsmouth Homecoming in April 2026 has been plagued with many obstacles and challenges,” said Connie Mason, FPI president, in a text message to members and posted on the FPI website. “These include Haul Over Dock badly damaged and no land transportation available for hauling equipment and people across the island.”

While the group worked closely with the Cape Lookout National Seashore, who made effort to make the event happen, she said their budgets and lack of equipment and manpower have been hampered by Mother Nature and “other outside forces.”

So, for safety reasons, the Friends board canceled this year’s event.

Acting Cape Lookout National Seashore Superintendent Catherine Cushinberry was asked for comments but had not responded by the time this was posted.

Portsmouth Island Homecoming is a biennial event held every two years in late April.

Organized by the nonprofit Friends of Portsmouth Island and Cape Lookout National Seashore, the FPI mission is to reunite descendants, preserve history and celebrate the island’s abandoned village.

In the past years, FPI volunteers have been active, working with the Seashore staff to repair damaged buildings in the village.

Homecoming originated as informal family gatherings in the late 1970s. It became official in the early 1980s under the National Park Service.

This is the second time in recent years that it was canceled. The other time was in 2020 due to post-Hurricane Dorian which in September 2019 ravaged the village followed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event resumed in 2022 with the resilient theme “Portsmouth Rises.”

Homecoming 2024 drew more than 400 attendees. Most arrive from Ocracoke taking the 20-minute boat ride across Ocracoke Inlet in one of the flotilla of shuttling boats from Ocracoke.

Activities include a hymn sing in the Methodist Church, and an opportunity to visit the remaining homes, including that of Henry Pigott, the school, the Life-Saving Station and the post office.

Cape Lookout staff and FPI volunteers play the role as greeters and docents providing historical background.

Melissa Garrish Sharber, on assignment from Ocracoke’s post office, and Hatteras post office Postmaster Vivian Barnett have processed post cards and envelopes with the Portsmouth Island cancellation stamp in the past events.

A ceremony under a tent with remarks by dignitaries and a history of the island concludes with the traditional Roll Call of the Families that had descendants who are present briefly stand when their families were named. At its conclusion is a potluck luncheon.

Friends of Portsmouth Island (FPI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in late 1989 under the Carteret County Historical Society to promote preservation of Portsmouth.

Ocracoke Alive winter activities have begun. To see the full schedule, click here.

Monday, Feb. 16:
Ocracoke Alive: Spanish/English Coffee hour, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Ocracoke Library. Then every Monday through March 23

Ocracoke Alive: Self Care Workshop: Restorative Yoga and sound bath meditation with Savana Harwood. %:30 to 6:45 pm. Ocracoke Island Yoga Studio, Back Road.

Ocracoke Civic & Business Association meeting. 6 pm in the Community Center. The Ocracoke Access Alliance will talk about their visit to the N.C. Legislature and discuss challenges regarding long-term ferry funding sustainability.

Ocracoke Alive: Ocracoke ESL Spanish/English, 7 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Tuesday, Feb 17:
Ocracoke United Methodist Church Mardi Gras Pancake Dinner, 5 pm. Rec hall. See flyer below.

Ocracoke Alive: Yoga in Spanish. 6 pm. Deepwater Theater

Wednesday, Feb. 18:
Ocracoke Alive: Yoga in Spanish with Sarah Shellow, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Deepwater Theater.

Roanoke Island Animal Clinic sees patients in the Community Center. Call 252-473-3117 for an appointment.

Ocracoke Alive: Workshop: Play reading with Karen Dundore-Gulotta (Session 1—practice; assign parts), 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Waterways Commission meeting. 6:30 pm. Community Center.

Thursday, Feb. 19
Early voting for the March 3 primary; 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department

Ocracoke Alive: 9:30am – 10:30am. Ukulele/Guitar with Lou Castro. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Creative Writing: Fiction with Sarah Shellow, 1 to 2:15pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Planning Advisory Board with Hyde County will hold a public workshop for input on updating the Hyde County Land Use Plan, 5:30 pm. Community Center. 

Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD) meeting, Those wanting to become a volunteer are welcome, fire house, 822 Irvin Garrish Hwy, 6 pm.

Ocracoke Alive: Art: Shading with Kitty Mitchell, 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Friday, Feb 20:
Early voting for the March 3 primary; 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department

Greg Baker, IT analyst in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies at Duke University, will join on “What’s Happening on Ocracoke” to talk about what AI can do now and what might be coming next. 90.1 FM on the island and wovv.org

Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority meets. 9 am. Community Center.
Ocracoke Alive: Latin cardio dance class with Arturo. 6 pm. Community Center

Ocracoke Alive Workshop: Play reading with Karen Dundore-Gulotta (Session 2—run through & performance for audience), 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Saturday, Feb. 21:
The Wave youth gathering for K to 12. 5:30 to 8 pm. Life Saving Church

Sunday, Feb. 22:
Church services:
Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am

Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am

Stella Maris Chapel: Sunday Mass time at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Go to Masstimes.org and type in the zip code 27960 but refresh your browser for it to work properly.

Ocracoke Alive: Our Stories Tell Us Who We Are: Storytelling by Donald Davis, 3 pm. Ocracoke Library.

Previously reported: Coming soon to Ocracoke: Big help to lower your energy bills

From our news services

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Energy Saver North Carolina program is now available in all 100 North Carolina counties, empowering eligible households to lower their energy bills.

Residents can now check eligibility and apply for rebates to lower their electricity costs by making their homes more energy efficient. More than $200 million is available for home efficiency upgrades. 

An eligible household can receive up to $16,000 in rebates for energy efficiency improvements such as heat pump heating and cooling systems and insulation, and initial estimates show a household could achieve nearly $1,000 in energy savings over the course of a year. Additional rebates of up to $14,000 are available for high efficiency electrical appliances such as water heaters and electric cooktops. 

“Electricity bills are too high, and I am committed to doing everything I can to lower your costs,” said Gov. Josh Stein.“North Carolina is expanding Energy Saver NC to all 100 counties. Now, eligible families across the state will be able to lower their energy bills about $1,000 a year on average and improve the comfort and safety of their homes. These upgrades also strengthen our energy system, help our environment, and support good-paying jobs in communities statewide.”

“North Carolina is the first state in the nation to fully launch the Energy Saver program,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “Now that the program is available across the state, eligible North Carolina families can lower their utility bills by up to $80 per month, and their homes will be more comfortable. These energy-saving steps will also reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality while supporting more than 2,000 jobs for the contractors doing the installations. That’s a win all the way around for North Carolina.”

“The DEQ State Energy Office (SEO) is committed to ensuring a sustainable energy future for North Carolinians, and in just a year, we’ve met a critical goal to make that happen: Energy Saver NC is operating in all NC counties,” said Julie Woosley, SEO Director. “This program makes energy efficiency accessible to North Carolinians who need it most, helping to lower their energy costs and make their homes more comfortable while also increasing our state’s resilience and energy independence. Although we’ve reached this milestone, we still have a lot of work to do, and we look forward to signing up more families and watching the benefits flow from this program.” 

Last January, DEQ launched Energy Saver NC in a limited number of counties and added more counties throughout the year.

The last two counties added were Wake and Mecklenburg, so now the rebates are available in all 100 counties.

Since launch, initial estimates show Energy Saver NC has installed $777,000 worth of rebate-eligible projects in 51 households. However, the program is receiving and approving applications every day. Energy Saver NC has received more than 4,800 applications, with more than 1,700 applications approved and working through the rebate reservation process.  

The funding for Energy Saver NC comes from two U.S Department of Energy rebate programs designed to help families make their homes more energy-efficient and make their utility bills more affordable:    

• Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings (HOMES) – Offers eligible households up to $16,000 for home efficiency upgrades, such as air sealing or energy-efficient HVAC units. 
• Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) – Provides up to $14,000 for high-efficiency electrical appliances such as heat pump water heaters and electric stoves. 

North Carolina is the first state in the nation to fully launch both rebate types at the same time and now celebrates making both available in all 100 counties in one year.   

Why it matters 

By helping eligible families improve their homes with energy-efficient upgrades, the program:  

• Reduces power bills – Initial estimates show households will realize approximately $945 in energy savings over the course of a year. 
• Reduces household energy usage – Energy Saver NC generated an estimated 293,000 kWH in annual energy savings for households in 2025.     
• Supports resilience and safety – Upgrades make homes resilient and improve home comfort and safety, especially during extreme weather. 
• Strengthens grid reliability – Reduced household energy usage supports the reliability of our state’s power grid by reducing energy demand and strain on the grid. 
• Supports local jobs that keep investing in the community – The program has more than 50 approved and trusted contractors, with more being added every day. 

Who is eligible?  

Rebates are based on household income and projected energy savings. Rebates include: 

• Full Rebates – Up to 100% of project costs covered by the rebate up to a certain amount. Available for single-family homeowners or renters earning less than 80% of their Area Median Income (AMI) as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  
• Partial Rebates – Up to 50% of project costs covered by the rebate up to a certain amount. Available for moderate-income homeowners or renters earning 80% to 150% of the AMI. 

For a breakdown of income eligibility, visit the AMI Income Summary. 

Rebates also depend on project type and can be for amounts up to: 

• $8,000 for a space heating and cooling heat pump. 
• $4,000 for an electric load service center (electric panel). 
• $2,500 for electric wiring. 
• $1,750 for a heat pump water heater. 
• $1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation. 
• $840 for a heat pump clothes dryer and/or electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven. 

The rebate amount is paid to the contractor after the project is complete. Residents are responsible only for any remaining costs after rebate amounts are applied. 

What to expect 

Once income eligibility is confirmed, households applying for rebates will receive a free home energy assessment. During the visit, a certified assessor will evaluate a home’s energy use and recommend improvements that will save families the most money. 

All upgrades must be completed by an Energy Saver NC-approved contractor. Contractors are registered, licensed professionals specially trained in energy-efficiency installations. These partnerships not only ensure quality work but also create new business opportunities, local jobs, and economic growth within North Carolina. 

After reviewing contractor quotes, households approve the projects and pricing with the rebate applied. Once the Energy Saver NC program team gives final approval, contractors complete the work, helping families start saving on their energy bills right away. 

To learn more about Energy Saver NC, visit energysavernc.org. 

Ocracoke Alive winter activities have begun. To see the full schedule, click here.

Monday, Feb. 9:
Ocracoke Alive: Spanish/English Coffee hour, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Ocracoke Library. Then every Monday through March 23

Ocracoke Middle School girls and boys basketball at home versus Mattamuskeet. Games will be rebroadcast by WOVV, 90.1 FM on the island and wovv.org, first game begins at 4 pm

Ocracoke Alive: Envisioning the future of Ocracoke, the first of eight discussion-based, creative workshops about the island’s long-term future, with Hannah Aronson, a master of city planning student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will facilitate the sessions that will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 23, March 2, 9, 17 and 23, in the Deepwater Theater.

The Monday, Feb. 16, session will be combined with the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association meeting at 6 pm in the Community Center where the Ocracoke Access Alliance will talk about their January visit to the N.C. Legislature and discuss challenges regarding long-term ferry sustainability.

Tuesday, Feb 10:
Ocracoke School basketball: Varsity teams play @ Mattamuskeet. 

Ocracoke Alive: Cooking/baking Cajun cooking; OUMC Rec hall. 6 pm. To RSVP, click here.

Wednesday, Feb. 11:
Ocracoke Alive: Yoga in Spanish with Sarah Shellow, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Deepwater Theater. Starting Feb. 17, Yoga in Spanish will be Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 pm in the Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Workshop: Make a breakthrough in 2026 with Claudia Horwitz. Noon to 1:30 pm. Deepwater Theater. away

Ocracoke School basketball: Tentative: Varsity girls play @ Columbia.

Ocracoke Planning Advisory Board meeting. 5:30 pm. Community Center.

Thursday, Feb. 12:
Ocracoke Alive: 9:30am – 10:30am. Ukulele/Guitar with Lou Castro. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Creative Writing ~ Poetry with Sarah Shellow, 1 to 2:15pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Art: Positive and negative space with Kitty Mitchell, 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Latin cardio dance class with Arturo, 6 pm. Community Center.

Friday, Feb 13:
WOVV “What’s Happening on Ocracoke:” Host Peter Vankevich talks to members of the Ocracoke School Future Business Leaders of America club. 11 a.m. 90.1 FM.

Ocracoke School basketball: Last Varsity home games versus Mattamuskeet. Games will be broadcast by WOVV, 90.1 FM on the island and wovv.org. Tipoff: 4 pm.

Ocracoke Alive: Improv theater class for adults with Ella Ralston, 6 to 7:30 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Saturday, Feb. 14:

The NC Coastal Land Trust is leading six special hikes across the region to celebrate the places we all love and the friends and supporters who help protect them. Join Jessica Blake, Coastal Land Trust’s associate director and islander Peter Vankevich who will lead a bird walk.
Meet at the entrance to Springer’s Point Preserve at 10:30 am.

Ocracoke School Future Business Leaders of America fundraising bake sale, 11 am to 3 pm. Variety Store porch.
Ocracoke Alive: Hand building pottery angels with Marty Freeman. 10 people maximum. 1 to 3 pm. Deepwater Theater

Ocracoke Alive: Latino/English dinner exchange.

Sunday, Feb. 15:
Church services:
Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am

Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am

Stella Maris Chapel: Sunday Mass time at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Go to Masstimes.org and type in the zip code 27960 but refresh your browser for it to work properly.

The Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale fundraiser to benefit the Island Inn Commons, 11 am to 2 pm, Jason’s Restaurant. See flyer below.

Ocracoke Alive: Games/Puzzles for Families & All Ages, 3 to 5 pm. Ocracoke Library.

Ocracoke Alive: Presentation on Hildago, Mexico, culture. 6 pm. Deepwater Theater. Will include a slide presentation and regional food tastings.