Robert Michial Hornung, 92, of Swansboro and formerly of Ocracoke, died January 4, 2026.
Born March 31, 1933, in Nyack, New York, Bob was a son of Edward Hornung and Elizabeth Smith.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Kathleen (Kay), brother Edward and twin sister Marilyn.
Bob attended Congers High School in New York. He was a track and field and cross-country athlete, earning the Varsity Championship Shield in cross country.
He graduated in 1951 and went to work at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, NY. He served in the Army from 1953-1955, then returned to New York and Lederle Laboratories, where he worked as a machinist until 1983.
He met Kay in 1955. They married on November 2, 1958, and moved to Monroe, NY, where they raised their three children.
Bob and Kay discovered Ocracoke Island in the summer of 1972 and purchased land there shortly thereafter.
Bob built a home largely with his own hands on the island and the couple moved there permanently in 1983.
He worked various construction jobs on Ocracoke and made many great friends on the island. He enjoyed boating, fishing, riding on the beach and tinkering in his garage.
Bob remained on Ocracoke after Kay’s passing in 2022, moving to Swansboro in 2024.
Bob is survived by children Nora Blythe (Mark) of Wilmington, Delaware, Robert Hornung (Donna) of Hubert, NC, and Daniel Hornung (Kathy) of Creedmoor, NC, and many grand- and great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at a later date.
To honor Bob’s love of cats, donations may be sent to Ocracats, P.O. Box 993, Ocracoke, NC 27960.
Donations may also be sent in Bob’s memory to the Ocracoke Life Saving Church, PO Box 68, Ocracoke, NC 27960.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for Beaufort and Hyde counties and must be submitted by Feb. 16.
The awards program, created by the office of the governor in 1979, recognizes North Carolina’s most dedicated volunteers.
Through the years the award has been bestowed on thousands of North Carolinians who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by volunteering in their local community.
Each county selects up to 10 individuals, businesses, groups or teams and one paid director of volunteers to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities.
One of the nominees will be nominated for the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service, which is awarded to the top 20 volunteers in the state. A local committee evaluates the nominations.
The nomination form can be completed electronically or can be printed and mailed/emailed to the Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children.
Nominations can be made online or by downloading the nomination form in Word. The online nomination forms are available in español in MS Word. If using the nomination form, send the form to the county award coordinator. Online nominations will be sent to the county award coordinators. Please return the completed forms to Kris Bowen, Beaufort and Hyde County Award Coordinator, at kris@bhckids.org or mail to Kris Bowen at Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children, 979 Washington Square Mall, Washington, NC 27889 no later than February 16, 2026. For more information, please call 252-975-4647.
A wonderful husband, father, son, minister, teacher and friend, Richard will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Born on March 18, 1974, in High Point, North Carolina, Richard was a beloved son of Roger Garland Bryant and Bettie Jo Kidd Bryant.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 14 years, Mary Helen (née Purifoy); and their children, Amber Leigh Cruzate (Ruben), David Bryan “Chip” Novak III (Kathryn), Donald Brandon Novak, Jordan Elizabeth Yeatts (Corey), Caroline Brooke Novak, and Mackenzie Paige Novak. He was a devoted grandfather to Gabriel, Lilly, Bethany, Kinsley, Harlan, Delaney, Rhett and Cecil.
Richard attended Trinity High School in Trinity North Carolina, where he was a member of the debate team.
He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, a testament to his dedication and leadership. Richard was also a skilled musician who played several instruments, most notably the piano.
He took weekly piano lessons throughout his childhood. While still in high school, Richard worked part-time at a local radio station, where he was known as “Rick Spence” during his nighttime oldies program. While living on Ocracoke Island, he hosted a weekly radio show on WOVV that he thoroughly enjoyed.
Richard had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. A voracious reader and avid consumer of news, he was a videophile who loved film and television of all kinds. He was a gifted speaker and storyteller who performed at events all over the world.
He wrote thousands of essays, sermons, articles and books. Even though some objected, Richard always stood up for truth and for those less fortunate, guided by a deep sense of justice and compassion.
Richard earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, and most recently, a master’s degree in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from Greensboro College.
He also pursued studies at Harvard University and Yale University. Shortly before his passing, Richard had applied to the Ph.D program in Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Richard served in the Peace Corps, traveling to Togo, West Africa.
Following his graduation from Duke Divinity School, Richard served as an ordained minister with the United Methodist Church.
He held appointments at churches in Leeds, England; Raleigh, North Carolina; Marshallberg, North Carolina; Strabane, Northern Ireland; Ocracoke, North Carolina; Burgaw, North Carolina, and Hillsborough, North Carolina.
He also worked for UMC Global Ministries in Moscow, Russia, for two years. Richard went on several mission trips to Armenia as well and fell in love with the people and their culture.
In 2023, Richard stepped away from the ministry and began working as an English as a Second Language Instructor at Davidson-Davie Community College in Mocksville, North Carolina.
He also taught at Davidson Correctional Center in Lexington, North Carolina. Richard formed close bonds with all his students and genuinely loved teaching.
He said: “Dying alone is not simply a matter of having people around us when the end comes. It is about living a life rich in connection and purpose, where solitude and companionship are not at odds but are two sides of the same coin.” You can find this essay and more from Richard at https://richardlbryant.substack.com/.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 17, at Memorial United Methodist Church, 101 Randolph St., Thomasville.
An additional service will be held later in the Spring in Marshallberg, North Carolina. Details will be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Methodist Home for Children, 1041 Washington Street Raleigh, NC 27605-1259.
South Point marsh. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
Monday, Jan. 5: Hyde County Board of Commissioners meeting, 6 pm. See agenda below.
Wednesday, Jan. 7: Ocracoke School varsity basketball teams play at Hatteras.
Thursday, Jan. 8: Ocracoke School middle school basketball teams play at home vs. Hatteras. Girls: 5 pm; boys at 6:15 pm.
Friday, Jan. 9: Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority meets, 9 am. Community Center. The meeting will also be streamed live via Facebook and available on Zoom. Board Packet Contents: – Agenda for January 9, 2026 – Draft minutes from the October 24, 2025 OTTDA Board Meeting – 2% Occupancy Tax Collections Summary (July–November 2025) and FY 2025/2026 Projection – FY 2025–2026 Budget-to-Actual (as of November 30, 2025) – Fund Balance / Accumulated Net Earnings (as of June 30, 2025) – FY 2025–2026 Board Discretionary Pool summary (as of November 30, 2025) – Executive Director’s Report (January 2026) Please find the link to the board packet here:
Ocracoke School varsity boys basketball team plays at Columbia.
Sunday, Jan. 11 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.
All year long, people gather at the NPS boat launch area to watch the sunset on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
A new year begins on Ocracoke and we reflect on some of the notable island events that took place in 2025.
January Ocracoke Island’s first appreciable snowfall since the last one in 2018. Snowfall on Jan. 22 measured 8.3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Noting how winter is a quiet time on the island, Ocracoke Alive began an experiment by sponsoring a series of free cultural activities to the community in art, music, dance, memoir writing, Spanish/English coffee chats at the community library, yoga, wellness and cooking classes, as well as films, concerts and presentations.
“Part of our mission is to bring entertaining things to the island,” said Dave Tweedie, the nonprofit’s executive director. “While everyone is busy during the tourist season, if you don’t travel (like many islanders do in the winter) “doing creative things is a way you can travel in your mind.” It turned out to be so popular, it will resume again in this year from mid-January through the end of March.
Dave Tweedie teaches how to make Basque cheesecake during Ocracoke Alive’s cultural activities offerings. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
February The Ocracoke Dolphins boys’ basketball team had a strong 2024-25 season, finishing 15-4 overall and 10-0 in conference play (1A Atlantic) to earn a state tournament playoff berth. They defeated KIPP Pride Panthers 60-43 in their first 1A playoff game which was at home and lost to the Camp Lejeune Devil Pups, 66-45, in the second round. It was the last year for retiring coach Frank Brown.
March Passengers from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter on the M/V Silver Lake had their travel plans crushed on March 6 when the boat got stuck in Big Foot Slough just outside Ocracoke for more than 12 hours. Ocracoke’s Assistant Fire Chief Doshier braved the cold dark waters in the evening and delivered pizzas to the stranded. The boat was finally freed by Ferry Division tugboat Wanchese and passengers made it safely back to Ocracoke at 3:30 am.
The NC Shell Club held their spring meeting on Ocracoke. Weather-permitting, a trip to Portsmouth Island takes place in search of rare shells. This year’s “Find of the Day” was a Giant Eastern Murex, which was found by Maria Lloyd.
April The Second Annual Earth Day Weekend Celebration took place with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that included nature walks, history talks, nature crafts, live music, stargazing, a beach litter pick-up, and informative discussions on sustainability and environmental solutions.
One of the Earth Day talks focused on how Ocracoke residents got water before the establishment of a municipal water system. This photo shows one of the many old cisterns islanders used to capture water. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
The Ocracoke Waterfowl Festival celebrating local and regional decoy carvers took place at Ocracoke School This popular event is produced by the Ocracoke Island Decoy Carvers Guild, The recently deceased islander Mark Justice was honored as the featured carver.
Islanders joined an estimated 1,400 communities at the National “Hands Off” protest. The group walked from Irvin Garrish Highway to the lighthouse
May Members of the Rolls Royce Owners Club in their vintage cars turned heads as they traveled through Ocracoke featuring cars built before 1939.
This 83rd British Cemetery Memorial Ceremony honors WWII British and Canadian sailors who lost their lives when the HMS Bedfordhire was sunk by a German U-Boat off the island’s coast. This year’s event will be May 8.
The Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD) held its annual Firemen’s Ball at the Berkley Barn. This is department’s biggest fundraiser. One of the island’s biggest social events, the event includes barbeque dinners that can be taken home and two auctions followed by live music by the Ocracoke Rockers and the Dune Dogs.
Every year, Donald Davis, the renowned Ocracoke Island-based storyteller and author, offers two weeklong storytelling workshops on the island. Selected participants get to present their stories at the Ocracoke Preservation Society and under the cedar trees at Books to Be Red.
June The three-day Ocrafolk Festival features local and regional musicians, storytellers, artisans and characters on the Manor Berkley Manor grounds.
Shrimp trawl ban: Ocracoke islanders joined hundreds of men and women who make their livelihood in commercial fishing who converged on the North Carolina General Assembly June 25 to protest House Bill 442, which would have banned shrimp trawling. Dubbed by wags as “Shrimpgate,” the protest included a truck caravan that continuously circled the legislative complex with horns loudly blaring for lawmakers to hear. It worked, the legislation did not pass.
July Ocracoke celebrated July 4 with a variety of activities over several days including fireworks, which in 2025 were canceled due to the threat of a storm that night, an old-fashioned Ocracoke Square dance July 3, and Sand Sculpture Contest and parade on July 4. The tradition dates back to 1914 as the Wilmington Morning Star published a news story: “OCRACOKE BREAKS INTO THE LIMELIGHT ON THE 4TH Little Banks Village Celebrates Independence Day First Time.”
August The Fig Festival Cake Bake-off competitions in the Berkley Barn drew many competitors and those waiting to taste the submissions after judging at the Berkley Manor Barn. Special guest, Dean Neff, owner of Zora’s Seafood & Kitchen, Wilmington’s oldest seafood market, prepared the annual Savory Fig Dinner.
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners declared a State of Emergency and mandatory evacuation for Ocracoke Island due to the anticipated flooding impacts from Hurricane Erin Aug. 17 and potential impacts to NC Highway 12. The storm caused significant inundation and overwash, shutting down NC 12, suspending Hatteras Inlet ferry service and a lot of beach erosion.
Coyotes: Evidence of coyotes were spotted on Ocracoke’s beach and in a collaborative effort by the NPS, three coyotes were caught and killed in August by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Ocracoke ponies: The NPS said in 2024 that it was conducting a study on how best to breed them (per the wishes of the community), but due to the crisis of uncovered underground fuel tanks in Buxton and numerous collapsed houses along that area of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (from ocean erosion) and then the government shutdown, that study has not been done.
The Ocracoke Health Center held its fourth Seafood Festival fundraising benefit at the Berkley Barn with live music and silent and live auctions.
September A Clam Chowder Cook-off to benefit pool association took place Sept. 20 in the Community Center when it was announced that the pool association had secured land for building the pool.
October After several months’ suspension, the Bread of Life Food Pantry at the Life Saving Church on Lighthouse Road reopened and reestablished its partnership with the Food Bank of the Albemarle and the Ocracoke United Methodist Church.
Working Watermen’s Festival took place at the Community Square docks.
Scene from the Working Watermen’s Festival, Oct. 18, 2025. From left, Adam Lavigne, John Lea, Danny Bradley and Dave Tweedie. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
Health Fair and Touch a Truck at the OVFD firehouse drew awareness to the Ocracoke Health Center and the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department
No Kings protest took place at corner of Irvin Garrish Highway and Lighthouse Road.
Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree featured historian Kevin Duffus who gave a presentation on what happened to Blackbeard’s head.
November Ocracoke’s Mexican community invited all to experience one of their culture’s signature remembrances, Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, in the Community Center.
The altar honoring the departed at the Nov. 9 Dia de los Muertos event in the Ocracoke Community Center. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
December Ocracoke Island celebrates Christmas with holiday lights that can be seen on houses throughout the village.
North end conditions: Continue to plague island access via Hatteras. The Ferry Division presented four possible scenarios about what to do about South Dock, and Ocracoke Islanders overwhelmingly voted for continued stabilization of the dock in its current location at the north end. UNC-Chapel Hill researchers presented findings on possible solutions to dealing with the overwash area on NC12.
Formation of Ocracoke Access Alliance to pay for lobbying for Ocracoke’s transportation concerns.
Business: The Silver Lake Motel property was sold to ABC Family LCC, a property management company, located in Greenville. Renovations began on the motel, now called Silver Lake Hotel, as well as rebuilding of the Jolly Roger Restaurant, which had been devastated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Howard’s Pub was sold in May to Nags Head restaurateur Colin Wiseman.
Work continued on Plum Pointe Kitchen’s new location in the former Breeze, across the road from 1718 Brewing Ocracoke.
Other businesses changing hands include the Thurston House B&B and The Castle B&B. After more than 40 years in business, Oscar’s House Bed and Breakfast closed. Eduardo’s Taco Truck closed in November as did the Sweet Tooth/Fig Tree Deli.
Politics: The NC Legislature approved a new Congressional district map they hope will help maintain the GOP’s hold on the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections. The new proposed map would put the Outer Banks counties in the same district, while at the same time trying to flip a seat currently held by a Democrat.
In October, our lives were forever changed when Gary suffered a heart attack at our home on Ocracoke. What could have been a tragedy became a powerful reminder of what this village truly is.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to Ocracoke EMS, the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, and the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office. Their quick response, skill, and compassion saved Gary’s life. We are also profoundly thankful for our neighbors and friends who showed up without hesitation, helped in every way imaginable, and reminded us that no one stands alone here.
Ocracoke is often described as special, but words only go so far. What we experienced was a village of kindness in action. People stepped forward instinctively, calmly, and selflessly, simply because that is who they are.
We will carry that day with us forever, not just for the fear we felt, but for the overwhelming goodness we witnessed. Thank you, Ocracoke, for being the remarkable, caring community that you are.
American Oystercatcher nesting on Ocracoke Island. Photo P. Vankevich
By Peter Vankevich
This story has been corrected: Cape Hatteras National seashore produced a total of 21 American Oystercatcher fledglings: 18 on Ocracoke, 2 Hatteras (Cape Point) and 1 on Bodie Island.
Here is a 2025 nesting overview for the region.
Except for one notable bright spot, 2025 proved another tough breeding season for beach‑nesting birds across the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
According to the National Park Service’s Resource Management Field Summary, only 36 colonial waterbird chicks fledged in the Seashore, all Least Terns. Eight of those were on Ocracoke with 12 fledglings at Cape Point and 16 elsewhere on Hatteras Island. Ocracoke’s South Point also had two fledged Wilson’s Plovers.
Least Tern. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
Common Terns have declined nearly 80% since coast-wide surveys began in the late 1970s.
Common Tern. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
As in recent years, nest failure was driven by two familiar forces: predators and weather.
A single storm tide or a period of sustained heavy rain can destroy the nests. Mammalian predators—coyotes, opossums, mink, raccoons and feral cats—take a substantial toll on eggs and chicks.
On Ocracoke, a single coyote was suspected in many of the recent South Point losses. In August, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff, at the National Park Service’s request, removed three coyotes from the island and no signs of them have been noted since.
There was encouraging news for American Oystercatchers here and elsewhere.
Ocracoke produced 18 fledglings while Hatteras Island (Cape Point) had 2 and Bodie island (1) for a total of 21 for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a bird that relies on scraping nests in exposed sand and shell near the waterline, such numbers stand out.
Just south of Ocracoke Island, the Cape Lookout National Seashore had 128 American Oystercatcher nests from 70 pairs and 30 fledged chicks, according to Jon Altman, its chief of Natural Resource Management. The North Core Banks produced most of these check as the South Core Banks continue to have heavy predation by coyotes. Only two nest on Shackleford Banks, nest quickly lost to probable coyote predation.
Nesting birds generally fare better on islands in the Pamlico Sound where mammals are scarce or absent. There the predators are mostly ghost crabs, Black‑crowned Night‑Herons and gulls that target hatchlings and exposed eggs.
“If there’s no disturbance from people, dogs, kites from kiteboarders, etc., the adult birds are better able to protect their eggs and chicks from these predators since they are not forced to leave vulnerable eggs or chicks in an effort to drive away or distract what they see as a potential threat,” said Carmen Johnson, a wildlife biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). “Predators take advantage of disturbance to grab unattended eggs or chicks. This is why it’s so important to give nesting birds space and remain outside of posted areas.”
A survey this summer by NCWRC of Big Foot Island—a dredge‑spoil island about a mile off Ocracoke visible from the long-route ferries—found a diverse colony.
Nests: 77 Black Skimmer, 10 Common Terns, 34 Gull‑billed Terns and two American Oystercatcher pairs that fledged two chicks.
Other nesters observed, but not counted: Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Brown Pelicans, Black‑crowned Night‑Herons, Great Black‑backed Gulls, American Herring Gulls and Great Egrets.
To reduce disturbance, NCWRC primarily tallies such colonies during the coastwide colonial waterbird survey held every three years. Historically, Big Foot’s largest nesting populations have been Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns and Brown Pelicans.
Beacon and Castle Islands, roughly a mile off Portsmouth Island in the Pamlico Sound, are owned and managed by Audubon North Carolina.
Audubon’s Coastal biologist Lindsay Addison reported a surprising shift this year on Beacon.
“No Brown Pelicans nesting there,” she wrote in an email. “We don’t know why. It’s not any lower or marshier than it has been in the past few years when there were several hundred pairs nesting there, but this year they all decided to be on Big Foot Island.”
Despite the absence of pelicans, Addison reported that there was a nice mixed-species wading bird colony on the island with Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons and Glossy Ibis.
“The glossies were a new addition as they haven’t been there in the recent past,” she said. “There were also some Laughing Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls with nests, and as usual there were two pairs of oystercatchers that hatched and may have fledged chicks.”
Close by, tiny Shell Castle, a sliver of its former self from days gone past, hosted two pairs of nesting American Oystercatchers; one pair raised two chicks that likely fledged.
“I didn’t get to visit them after their estimated fledge date, so I can’t confirm, but when we banded them, they were doing well and close to fledging,” Addison said.
In addition to the nesting successes of the oystercatchers in the Cape Lookout National Seashore, Altman said there were a total of 35 colonial waterbird sites consisting of Black Skimmers, Gull-Billed Terns, Common Terns, and Least Terns. Old Drum Flats, Evergreen Inlet and Ophelia Inlet spit having larger numbers and chick productivity.
He noted that the South Core Banks continue to have heavy predation by coyotes. Only two colonial waterbird nest site were on Shackleford Banks, but quickly lost to probable coyote predation.
Reported were Piping Plover with 28 pairs that fledged 8 chicks, all on North Core Banks.
Wilson’s Plover had a total of 75 pairs taken during the June census evenly distributed throughout the seashore. Fledgling numbers were not available.
The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge staff and its partners monitor nesting of Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers, and Piping Plovers on the refuge, said Sarah Toner, acting Refuge Manager, Pocosin Lakes NWR and the Visitor Services Manager.
She provided the following information.
Least Terns: The annual colony walk-through in early June recorded 119 nests and 1631 nests under construction (scrapes). A pair can have multiple scrapes before they settle down to one nest site. Because this annual walk-through provides only a snapshot in time, the numbers are not comparable with sites that count nests throughout the summer. So, no fledging numbers are available.
Black Skimmer: No nesting attempts this year.
American Oystercatcher: 6 pairs, of which 5 pairs produced a total of 14 nests. 1 nest hatched and had 1 fledgling. Nest losses were either unconfirmed (7) or coyote predation (7). Unconfirmed is usually due to a lack of sign to confirm what took the nest, such as weather conditions erasing the tracks of a predator. No nests were lost to storm events such as wind-blown sand or overwash.
Piping Plover: one pair produced a nest scrape but did not lay eggs.
Coyote predation was the primary cause of nesting failures, said Toner in an email communication, highlighting ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable shorebird populations on the refuge.
Ocracoke Bird Notes
Karen Rhodes, Ocracoke’s superb photographer, ventures throughout the island on an almost daily basis. Many of her photographs can be seen on the Birds of Ocracoke Facebook page.
Blue Grosbeak. Photo by Karen Rhodes
“As for the smaller birds this spring, it was pretty typical with nesting Orchard Orioles and Blue Grosbeaks,” she said. “But fall brought some nice rarities including a Western Kingbird and a Clay-colored Sparrow spotted at the pony pens.
Western Kingbird. Photo by Karen Rhodes
Also, a Blue-winged Warbler in the Hammock Hills area. Matt Janson found an American Golden Plover on the beach, Nov. 21.”
Blue-winged warbler. Photo by Karen Rhodes
Unfortunately, Ocracoke’s two fall raptor migration spotters, Jann and Gil Randell, were unable to make it to the island this fall.
On a high dune, north of the Pony Pasture, they have been counting and reporting on the birds of prey, i.e., hawks, falcons, eagles, ospreys and vultures, for many years, documenting the amazingly high number of these birds that pass through.
Ocracoke’s Silver Lake harbor. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
Monday, Dec. 29 Ocracoke Oyster Company: Ray Murray
Tuesday, Dec. 30: Ocracoke Oyster Company: Shane Thomas
Wednesday, Dec. 31: Christmas Bird Count on Ocracoke. To participate, contact Peter Vankevich at petevankevich@gmail.com, Facebook message, cell/text 202 468-2871.
Ocracoke Oyster Company: New Year’s Eve party with Ray & Company, 9:30 pm
Thursday, Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Polar plunge off Ramp 70, 11:30 a.m.
Canceled due to weather:Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. To participate, contact Peter Vankevich at petevankevich@gmail.com, Facebook message, cell/text 202 468-2871.
Sunday, Jan. 4 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.
Aerial view of Ocracoke Island. Photo: C. Leinbach
By Amy Howard
A common belief is that people who live on Ocracoke are rich.
We aren’t.
We are industrious and work hard to be able to afford to live here.
Some of us have families who go back for generations and struggle to find housing, working three jobs to make it come together.
A common argument against funding the ferries is that if some people in the state never use the ferries, then the ferries are not important.
I could argue that about a myriad of places/roads in North Carolina.
I could ask why my taxpayer dollars should fund dozens of bridges, overpasses, tunnels, stop lights, snow removal, parks, museums, and sanctuaries that I will never use?
The answer is because they are all valued as a part of our state serving people of all walks of life who contribute greatly to this state.
This is the same reason we pay taxes for public schools even if we don’t have a child enrolled: it’s for the overall benefit of our community and society.
We hear: Why do you people live in such a dangerous place? You know the road will get washed out.
Can everyone live in a “safe” place?
The mountains of N.C.? They got flooded by a hurricane last year.
Eastern N.C. mainland? They got flooded by a hurricane. Central N.C.? They got flooded by a hurricane.
How many millions of dollars went into aiding those areas after disasters?
Am I unhappy they got aid after these devastating storms? Absolutely not.
Do I think they should move somewhere “safer?” Absolutely not.
(The ferries) are literally a part of NC12 and should be treated with no less care or interest and with no judgment…the same way we don’t judge the hundreds of other miles of road in N.C. that serve ALL residents.
How much money does NCDOT spend maintaining and fixing roads, putting up signs and guardrails, cleaning medians, etc., in backroad rural areas that aren’t generating any noticeable revenue for the state, that aren’t attracting visitors from other states and countries to spend tourist dollars there?
Ocracoke and the greater Outer Banks host hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world yearly and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and yet we are constantly having to defend our existence.
On Ocracoke, we have one guy (thank you, Shanon!) scraping sand off the north end of NC12.
Almost none of our roads in the village have been marked with lines for years now.
We have no stoplights and a few dozen street signs and traffic signs that generally last for years or decades without having to be changed out.
The ferries are a literal lifeline for people who live on Ocracoke.
They are literally a part of NC12 and should be treated with no less care or interest and with no judgment on why they need to be fixed–the same way we don’t judge the hundreds of other miles of road in N.C. that need to be built and maintained to serve ALL residents.
Groceries, medicine, pet supplies, vets, doctors/EMS, gas vendors, etc., all use our ferries and roads to serve the people of N.C. and our visitors for the ultimate benefit of the greater state.
The rich history that is here, the novelty of riding a ferry, the lighthouse, the stories of the sea, including those of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Lifesaving Service, the unspoiled beach, the fishing and hunting–all this and more draw thousands of visitors to Ocracoke.
Is there an issue with the long-term status of our road? Absolutely.
Do we need to come up with a viable plan? Absolutely.
Can we effectively do that while being attacked for living here and while fighting for crumbs because we are deemed not worthy? Absolutely not.
The narrative needs to change.
We are not sitting around eating bonbons while holding our hands out for “stolen” dollars.
We are actively working to enrich the state of North Carolina while living here and generating millions of dollars that go directly into the state coffers.
Ocracoke is one of the many beautiful and remote towns in this state that is home to hard-working passionate residents who love sharing where we live.
We promote not just our town and area, but the rest of the state as well.
We are ambassadors for the state.
Why do we have to always be on the defensive when it comes to having consistent and reliable access to where we live?
I can’t think of any other town/area in the state of NC that has to fight so hard to maintain the road (and our ferry is part of the road system) that allows them to have access to basic necessities.
Amy Howard is a lifelong Ocracoke Island resident, business manager of Village Craftsmen gallery, and active community leader with deep family roots tracing back generations on the island.
Hyde County is looking to raise money with an increase in the sales tax and voters will have the chance to weigh in during the March 3 primary.
The Board of Commissioners at their Nov. 3 meeting passed a resolution to place on the ballot for voters to approve a quarter of a one-quarter cent increase.
However, this tax would not be on everything.
North Carolina General Statute 105 Article 46 allows counties to levy this tax and under which they can exempt some items.
Hyde County would exempt “unprepared foods” (groceries), gas and prescription medications.
If approved, the sales tax rate on all other items would go to 7%, up from the current rate of 6.75%.
This question was on the November 2024 ballot but was defeated.
“We’re going for this a second time, which is not unusual,” said Hyde County Manager Kris Noble at the November meeting.
Randal Mathews, chair of the board of commissioners, said in an interview that enacting this tax will help the county’s revenue problem without raising property taxes.
Property taxes are paid only by property owners, but everyone would pay this local tax when they purchase goods in the county.
“This would give us a little relief,” he said, noting that Ocracoke property owners pay about 40% of the total amount garnered from property taxes. “Ocracoke costs more, too—to haul trash, to have two EMS crews, which islanders wanted, and law enforcement.”
To date, 47 other counties in the state have voted to levy this tax.
