It's not unusual, but I have been more aware this winter of the changing nature of the ocean. Several days this month the surf has been so calm it seemed more like the sound -- small gentle waves lapping the beach, with hardly a sound.
Last week Amy, Lachlan, and I took an afternoon stroll around the Hammock Hills Nature Trail. As we started our walk we all noticed how loud the ocean was. Even walking down the path, on the other side of the dunes and in the woods, we could hear the roar of the Atlantic. It was as if a chained beast was howling to be set free. As irrational as it was, we even felt safer on ridges and hills! After our walk we wandered across the highway and over to the beach. Surprisingly, the waves were only moderate. But the atmosphere was thick and heavy. Maybe that (and the wind direction) contributed to the unusual roar.
Yesterday the surf was rough, but not very loud. A few surfers were out enjoying the rides. We just walked for a while, then settled down on a large log to soak up some sun.
In our latest Ocracoke Newsletter I share information about our many local cemeteries, with examples of some of our more interesting epitaphs. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Newsletter
I published a new monthly Ocracoke Newsletter on Saturday. It includes information about several of our island cemeteries, along with a few photos. I picked a number of interesting epitaphs and quoted them. Some are just practical, others inspirational, some heart warming, and a few humorous. Here's the link: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032809.htm. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into a corner of Ocracoke's history.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
WOVV
I just heard that Ocracoke's new radio station, WOVV, will be sponsoring a Spring Concert Festival Sat. April 25th at the Ocracoke Community Center from noon till 6:00pm with performances by local musicians, pig pickin', silent auction, cake walk, and a used CD and Vinyl sale/exchange.
For more information or to volunteer or donate, contact Robert Raborn at info@wovv.org or 945-0310.
More information about WOVV is available here: http://www.wovv.org/
In our latest Ocracoke Newsletter I share information about our many local cemeteries, with examples of some of our more interesting epitaphs. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
For more information or to volunteer or donate, contact Robert Raborn at info@wovv.org or 945-0310.
More information about WOVV is available here: http://www.wovv.org/
In our latest Ocracoke Newsletter I share information about our many local cemeteries, with examples of some of our more interesting epitaphs. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Earth Hour
Tonight, at 8:30, you can be a part of Earth Hour by switching off your lights for one hour. Besides being a reminder of how much fossil fuels we use, and how we could save energy and money through conservation, it will be an opportunity to enjoy a more natural night sky. Maybe you'll even be able to see the Milky Way!
More information is available here.
More information is available here.
Spring has Sprung
Friday, March 27, 2009
More Trivia
Visitors to the island sometimes ask about our source of drinking water. For most of Ocracoke's history water was collected in cisterns. In earliest times residents used barrels & lidded wooden troughs to collect rain water that ran off the roof. Later, large slatted wooden cylindrical cisterns, held together with steel bands and topped with conical roofs, were employed. Others built brick cisterns with vaulted tops. By the 1950s people were building rectangular concrete block cisterns and giving them double duty as porches.
By 1977 Ocracoke had a municipal water system with a deep well (over 600 feet deep) that taps into the Castle Hayne aquifer (click here to view a map). The sophisticated reverse osmosis treatment facility near the water tank now provides pure water to most island homes. A few residents have chosen to not hook up to city water, or live beyond the range of the present system. Many of these houses have new fiberglass cisterns.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
By 1977 Ocracoke had a municipal water system with a deep well (over 600 feet deep) that taps into the Castle Hayne aquifer (click here to view a map). The sophisticated reverse osmosis treatment facility near the water tank now provides pure water to most island homes. A few residents have chosen to not hook up to city water, or live beyond the range of the present system. Many of these houses have new fiberglass cisterns.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Back to Normal
It must have been my computer! When I sat down to write a blog this morning, every letter I typed showed up to the left of the previous letter, so to read what I wrote it was necessary to start at the bottom right and read backwards! To make the title of today's earlier post readable I had to start typing with the last letter and work backwards. MS Word behaved correctly, but then I discovered that Google did not. So I turned off my computer and restarted. Now everything works fine. I guess it wasn't Blogger -- just my browser.
More Ocracoke information tomorrow.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
More Ocracoke information tomorrow.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Backward Blogger Demons
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Island Trivia
Many visitors to Ocracoke, and even some residents, are unaware of how "recently" many services came to the island. An electric generator was installed on Ocracoke (where Kitty Hawk Kites is located today) in 1938. Dates prior to 1938 are often referred to by fishermen as B.I. (Before Ice), since the generator allowed for, not only electric lights, but also the production of ice, a valued commodity that before that time was brought to the island by boat. In fact, the building that housed the generator was called the Ice Plant.
Later on, Ocracoke was connected to mainland electrical utilities by power lines. Today a cable runs under water at Hatteras Inlet, and, at Oregon Inlet the cable is attached to the underside of the bridge.
In 1990 a new generator was installed on the Tideland EMC property behind the Island Inn. During prolonged power outages, and at times of extremely high usage this generator is employed to compensate for, or augment power from the mainland.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Later on, Ocracoke was connected to mainland electrical utilities by power lines. Today a cable runs under water at Hatteras Inlet, and, at Oregon Inlet the cable is attached to the underside of the bridge.
In 1990 a new generator was installed on the Tideland EMC property behind the Island Inn. During prolonged power outages, and at times of extremely high usage this generator is employed to compensate for, or augment power from the mainland.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Chilly
Normally I extol the virtues of Ocracoke -- sun, sand, surf, a wonderful community...and warm temperatures. Lately the temps haven't been so warm. I stepped outside this morning wondering if it would ever warm up. It's downright chilly again today. And breezy, too. I hung my hammock up last week, but haven't even been in it yet.
I did check the forecast a few minutes ago. It looks like we'll be getting up to the low sixties by the end of the week. I don't think anyone will be complaining.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
I did check the forecast a few minutes ago. It looks like we'll be getting up to the low sixties by the end of the week. I don't think anyone will be complaining.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Clothes
This morning, as I pulled on my 10 year old T-shirt, my flannel shirt with missing buttons & a rip down the front (how and when did I do that?), and my stained shoes with the frayed laces I thought of Don Wood, eccentric island resident who died several years ago. One of his family members commented once that Don was creative with ugly things. Don explained to me that he almost always painted new items (boat motors, bicycles, etc.) a nondescript brown color so no one would be tempted to walk off with them. He was totally unpretentious. Don generally wore soiled old coveralls (he was always involved in some project involving ropes, scrap lumber, or oil). He might be living in his house (power tools shared space with sofas and chairs in his living room), a school bus (often loaded with "stuff"), or out in the sound in his self-built houseboat.
Don, and individuals like him, give me one more reason to enjoy calling Ocracoke home. They add spice to life...and, as I go about my business today, I know that no one will care that my shirt is ripped, or my shoes are stained.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Don, and individuals like him, give me one more reason to enjoy calling Ocracoke home. They add spice to life...and, as I go about my business today, I know that no one will care that my shirt is ripped, or my shoes are stained.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Crabs
Linda & Ray stopped by yesterday afternoon with a bundle of teak stakes. I mentioned to them several weeks ago that Gael and I were hoping to locate a number of unmarked graves on the island and identify them with numbered stakes. Ray used to work in a boat yard, and has a pile of scrap teak wood. Since teak is resistant to rot we thought that was the wood to use.
While we were chatting in the living room Matt stopped by. He wanted to know if we wanted a nearly full bushel basket of steamed crabs. Of course, we did.
Linda & Ray came back at 6 o'clock with an armful of newspapers. We spread the paper on the table, and brought in the crabs (along with a couple of 5-gallon buckets for shells and claws). I melted some butter and set a nutcracker and knives on the table. Picking crabs is tedious work, but worth the effort. Backfin and claw meat are about the tastiest morsels on the planet.
When we had our fill of crab we topped the meal off with small bowls of sweet potato & ginger soup and homemade bread.
Clean up was easy -- wash three bowls, spoons, & knives, roll up the soggy newspaper, and put the beer bottles in the recycling bin. Another quintessential Ocracoke meal to remember.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
While we were chatting in the living room Matt stopped by. He wanted to know if we wanted a nearly full bushel basket of steamed crabs. Of course, we did.
Linda & Ray came back at 6 o'clock with an armful of newspapers. We spread the paper on the table, and brought in the crabs (along with a couple of 5-gallon buckets for shells and claws). I melted some butter and set a nutcracker and knives on the table. Picking crabs is tedious work, but worth the effort. Backfin and claw meat are about the tastiest morsels on the planet.
When we had our fill of crab we topped the meal off with small bowls of sweet potato & ginger soup and homemade bread.
Clean up was easy -- wash three bowls, spoons, & knives, roll up the soggy newspaper, and put the beer bottles in the recycling bin. Another quintessential Ocracoke meal to remember.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Line 42
My accountant just finished my 2008 federal tax forms, and I decided to look them over. Imagine my surprise when I came to line 42 (on form 1040): "If line 38 is over $119,975, or you provided housing to a Midwestern displaced individual, see page 36."
A Midwestern displaced individual? Provided housing? Maybe Lou Ann would count. She is from the Midwest, after all. And I provide her housing every summer.
But no, she doesn't count as displaced (by a weather-related disaster), so I can't count her. As much as I sympathize with genuinely displaced Midwesterners, I can't help but wonder why they are singled out. No wonder we need professionals to prepare our taxes!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
A Midwestern displaced individual? Provided housing? Maybe Lou Ann would count. She is from the Midwest, after all. And I provide her housing every summer.
But no, she doesn't count as displaced (by a weather-related disaster), so I can't count her. As much as I sympathize with genuinely displaced Midwesterners, I can't help but wonder why they are singled out. No wonder we need professionals to prepare our taxes!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Portsmouth, Horses, & Ocracoke
I was glancing through Dot Willis & Ben Salter's book, Portsmouth Island, Short Stories, History, and came across a chapter on Outer Banks ponies. Ben (born 1899) mentions bringing a horse over to Ocracoke by tying it alongside a boat. The horse would swim where necessary, or walk where the water was shallow. The Ocracoke boys, he says, wanted to race, and they had some fast ponies. Ben didn't think his horse would want to run after crossing the sound, but he says he "just let her go. [W]e left those boys far behind."
Ben rode all the way to Hatteras Inlet. By the time he got to the "great swash" (an area about half way up the island) the wind began to blow, and the tide was rising. When he got to the Coast Guard Station at the inlet he ended up staying for three days.
When he was ready to leave, he says, Willie Gaskins offered the prayer at breakfast. This is how Ben relates the story: "He said, 'Dear Lord, thanks for all of the food we have.' Then he named it all by name. At the close, he said, 'Lord, bless Ben and never let him come here again. Amen.' He made it all rhyme."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Ben rode all the way to Hatteras Inlet. By the time he got to the "great swash" (an area about half way up the island) the wind began to blow, and the tide was rising. When he got to the Coast Guard Station at the inlet he ended up staying for three days.
When he was ready to leave, he says, Willie Gaskins offered the prayer at breakfast. This is how Ben relates the story: "He said, 'Dear Lord, thanks for all of the food we have.' Then he named it all by name. At the close, he said, 'Lord, bless Ben and never let him come here again. Amen.' He made it all rhyme."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ferry Schedule Changes
On Tuesday, March 17 the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry Division announced a change in ferry schedules for several routes, including Cedar Island and Swan Quarter. The following is from their press release:
"Changes to the Pamlico Sound toll trips involve not adding in the extra summer runs. For the Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke routes, the winter schedule will remain in effect year-round.
"Departure times from Cedar Island and Ocracoke will remain: 7:30 a.m., 10:30, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Departure times from Swan Quarter will remain: 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Departure times from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter remain: 7 a.m. and 1 p.m."
Please keep this information in mind as you plan trips to and from Ocracoke Island. For more information please visit the Ferry Division's web site, www.ncferry.org or call 1-800-By Ferry.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
"Changes to the Pamlico Sound toll trips involve not adding in the extra summer runs. For the Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke routes, the winter schedule will remain in effect year-round.
"Departure times from Cedar Island and Ocracoke will remain: 7:30 a.m., 10:30, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Departure times from Swan Quarter will remain: 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Departure times from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter remain: 7 a.m. and 1 p.m."
Please keep this information in mind as you plan trips to and from Ocracoke Island. For more information please visit the Ferry Division's web site, www.ncferry.org or call 1-800-By Ferry.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Laundry
Want to save money? Help the environment? Check out this web site:
http://www.laundrylist.org/
My laundry early this morning:
Be sure to take a look at the top 10 reasons to air dry your clothes. (I enjoyed the positive proof of global warming, also!)
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
http://www.laundrylist.org/
My laundry early this morning:
Be sure to take a look at the top 10 reasons to air dry your clothes. (I enjoyed the positive proof of global warming, also!)
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Partrick's Day
I'm wearing my green shirt today, and all around me the world is green -- cedars and live oaks and yaupons outside my window. And green shoots (tulips) poking up through the ground around my fence.
Today would have been my mother's 95th birthday, and this is David's mother's birthday (her name is Pat, by the way). Happy birthday Pat! My grandmother, Aliph, was an O'Neal, so I reckon I'm at least 1/4 Irish. I leave you with three traditional Irish toasts:
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Today would have been my mother's 95th birthday, and this is David's mother's birthday (her name is Pat, by the way). Happy birthday Pat! My grandmother, Aliph, was an O'Neal, so I reckon I'm at least 1/4 Irish. I leave you with three traditional Irish toasts:
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Old Quawk's Day
This is March 16, a dangerous day to venture out of port along the Outer Banks. For today is Old Quawk's Day, a date that has been part of Ocracoke legend and history for 200 years. You can read more about this colorful story here:
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news040300.htm
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news040300.htm
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Oyster Sill & PRE
I received the following email recently, and thought that some of our readers would like to support this project:
"Public Radio East is celebrating its 25th anniversary by helping the NC Coastal Federation build an oyster sill [a horizontal layer of oyster shells] in the Swansboro area of the White Oak River.
"For every pledge received during the Spring Membership Drive March 12-20, Public Radio East will donate a bushel of oyster shells. In June, PRE staff and volunteers will help construct the oyster sills along the Jones Island shoreline in the White Oak River.
"Public Radio East is proud to be a part of the Eastern North Carolina region for the past 25 years and PRE listeners -- just like you -- understand that a major part of what makes this area so special is its natural resources. We thought the best way to celebrate our anniversary was to help preserve those resources for generations to come, but we need your help. Simply go to our
secure pledge page at http://www.publicradioeast.org/pledge.html, make a pledge...in any amount...for the future of great radio and our natural resources.
"According to the NC Coastal Federation, since the early 1900's North Carolina's Eastern Oyster population has declined an estimated 90 percent. Because of their tremendous value, oysters need to be restored. One healthy oyster reef can provide habitat for up to 300 different species including adult and juvenile fishes, shrimp, clams, and blue crabs. In addition, one adult oyster filters between 25-50 gallons of water per day, filtering out sediment, bacteria, and plankton. The final equation is very simple ... more oysters mean more habitats for aquatic species, more seafood for our kitchen tables, and cleaner water for everyone.
"Every pledge received during our Spring Membership Drive means a bushel of oyster shells for the Jones Island Oyster Reef Restoration Project. You can make a contribution to two worthy causes simultaneously by visiting http://www.publicradioeast.org/pledge.html. Approximately 700 bushels are required to create a 125-foot sill. I am confident that PRE listeners can join together to build an oyster sill in addition to supporting Public Radio East.
"Public Radio East also plans to participate in actually building the sill in June of this year. It is our hope that PRE listeners will volunteer to participate in this restoration project as a way of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the station.
"One more thing - Please forward this message and share our exciting news with all the people you know who are public radio listeners.
"Thank you so much,
"Kathy Beal, Executive Director"
You can read more about the NC Coastal Federation's Oyster Habitat Restoration Program here.
You can view a map of eastern North Carolina, showing the White Oak River & Swansboro, here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
"Public Radio East is celebrating its 25th anniversary by helping the NC Coastal Federation build an oyster sill [a horizontal layer of oyster shells] in the Swansboro area of the White Oak River.
"For every pledge received during the Spring Membership Drive March 12-20, Public Radio East will donate a bushel of oyster shells. In June, PRE staff and volunteers will help construct the oyster sills along the Jones Island shoreline in the White Oak River.
"Public Radio East is proud to be a part of the Eastern North Carolina region for the past 25 years and PRE listeners -- just like you -- understand that a major part of what makes this area so special is its natural resources. We thought the best way to celebrate our anniversary was to help preserve those resources for generations to come, but we need your help. Simply go to our
secure pledge page at http://www.publicradioeast.org/pledge.html, make a pledge...in any amount...for the future of great radio and our natural resources.
"According to the NC Coastal Federation, since the early 1900's North Carolina's Eastern Oyster population has declined an estimated 90 percent. Because of their tremendous value, oysters need to be restored. One healthy oyster reef can provide habitat for up to 300 different species including adult and juvenile fishes, shrimp, clams, and blue crabs. In addition, one adult oyster filters between 25-50 gallons of water per day, filtering out sediment, bacteria, and plankton. The final equation is very simple ... more oysters mean more habitats for aquatic species, more seafood for our kitchen tables, and cleaner water for everyone.
"Every pledge received during our Spring Membership Drive means a bushel of oyster shells for the Jones Island Oyster Reef Restoration Project. You can make a contribution to two worthy causes simultaneously by visiting http://www.publicradioeast.org/pledge.html. Approximately 700 bushels are required to create a 125-foot sill. I am confident that PRE listeners can join together to build an oyster sill in addition to supporting Public Radio East.
"Public Radio East also plans to participate in actually building the sill in June of this year. It is our hope that PRE listeners will volunteer to participate in this restoration project as a way of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the station.
"One more thing - Please forward this message and share our exciting news with all the people you know who are public radio listeners.
"Thank you so much,
"Kathy Beal, Executive Director"
You can read more about the NC Coastal Federation's Oyster Habitat Restoration Program here.
You can view a map of eastern North Carolina, showing the White Oak River & Swansboro, here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Off-Island
On Thursday Amy & I went "up the beach." I had a doctor's appointment at 11:30 in Kitty Hawk. We left on the 8 o'clock ferry (it was very windy and rough -- salt spray covered the car), and made a side trip into Manteo on the way there. Amy bought some material for a quilt and I browsed in the bookstore across the street.
We arrived at the doctor's office fifteen minutes early, so I had enough time to fill out a few forms before I was called in. Amy took the car and ran some errands. After the appointment we stopped for lunch, then did a bit of shopping (paint, corkboard, trash can, copper brads, a few grocery items). We got back to Hatteras Inlet at 6:30, so we made the 7 o'clock ferry, and were home at 8.
After a long day off island I thought, it may take 12 hours for us to make a routine doctor's visit (plus a little shopping), but it only takes five minutes to get to the beach! It's not such a bad trade off.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
We arrived at the doctor's office fifteen minutes early, so I had enough time to fill out a few forms before I was called in. Amy took the car and ran some errands. After the appointment we stopped for lunch, then did a bit of shopping (paint, corkboard, trash can, copper brads, a few grocery items). We got back to Hatteras Inlet at 6:30, so we made the 7 o'clock ferry, and were home at 8.
After a long day off island I thought, it may take 12 hours for us to make a routine doctor's visit (plus a little shopping), but it only takes five minutes to get to the beach! It's not such a bad trade off.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Public Education on Ocracoke
Last night Charles, Ocracoke's high school English teacher, joined us (David, Amy & Lachlan, David's parents, Pat & Steve, and me) for dinner. I baked two quiches and Amy & Pat put together a tasty salad. Much of the evening's talk centered around literature (Charles is extremely well read and a highly talented teacher). Shakespeare and Updike were mentioned, along with some others (including Neal Stephenson, whose almost 1200 page novel, Cryptonomicon, ranks among Charles' top three favorites, and which both David and I enjoyed [David more than I, however], but most of our conversation focused on David Foster Wallace. In case Wallace is unfamiliar to you, he wrote, among other things, Infinite Jest, a novel, and Consider the Lobster, a collection of essays. I have not read Infinite Jest, but his other writings are brilliant, although his extensive use of footnotes is quirky to say the least.
Just thought our readers would like to know that Ocracoke school boasts many excellent teachers, including Charles who always amazes me with his erudition, and with his ability to connect with students. And besides having Charles as a teacher, his students are also blessed with extremely small class sizes. How much better could public education get?
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Just thought our readers would like to know that Ocracoke school boasts many excellent teachers, including Charles who always amazes me with his erudition, and with his ability to connect with students. And besides having Charles as a teacher, his students are also blessed with extremely small class sizes. How much better could public education get?
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Open for the Season
We here at Village Craftsmen re-opened our doors on Howard Street this morning. We've rearranged our displays, opened up the main section of the gallery (remember, I tore down the old chimney several weeks ago), installed some additional shelves & tables, and added several new crafters to our list of suppliers, and new items to our inventory.
We are excited about the new, fresh look, and hope you will stop by on your next visit to the island.
For the rest of this month we will be open every day except Monday & Tuesday, 10-5. In April we will be open every day except Monday, 10-5. In May we will be open every day, 10-6.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
We are excited about the new, fresh look, and hope you will stop by on your next visit to the island.
For the rest of this month we will be open every day except Monday & Tuesday, 10-5. In April we will be open every day except Monday, 10-5. In May we will be open every day, 10-6.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Barefoot on the Beach
Yesterday was the perfect "spring" day. Everyone wanted to be outside -- working in the garden, fixing up a shed, washing the car, or just walking about. It was the first day this year that I could sit on my porch and eat lunch without a sweatshirt. I spent the morning making repairs on the Village Craftsmen porch wearing just a T-shirt. And Amy and I went for a barefoot stroll on the beach in the afternoon. Lachlan came along (sans shirt and shoes), and even splashed in the surf a bit. But I hear there might be some more "winter weather" coming our way this weekend. In the meanwhile we'll just enjoy what we have now.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Lillie F. Schmidt
"The weather was smoky with strong winds, flood tide, sea very high." So wrote Keeper J.W. Howard about the wreck of the schooner, Lillie F. Schmidt, on March 9, 1893. The ship stranded on the bar about 500 yards offshore at 6 am. She was ten miles from the Life Saving Station.
According to the keeper's log book, the distance was "long and laborious." After being alerted to the wreck just before 11 am, it took the station crew (with the help of mules) three and one half hours to pull the half ton "beach cart" loaded with their life saving gear to the schooner. By 3:30 in the afternoon all seven sailors had been brought safely ashore in four trips by breeches buoy.
Keeper Howard noted that "the men of wrecked schr were so worn out could not get them to station -- sent them up to the settlement and had them cared for the distance was so great that they could not travel." The life savers returned, with their beach cart, to the station at Hatteras Inlet.
There was no beach patrol that night. As keeper Howard recorded in his log, "up til 12, men was so tired and worn out after walking over twenty miles [the keeper's report is an understatement...remember they were also pulling and pushing a half ton cart with iron wheels over sand in strong winds and flood tide, plus rescuing seven seamen] I thought theys ought to rest."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
According to the keeper's log book, the distance was "long and laborious." After being alerted to the wreck just before 11 am, it took the station crew (with the help of mules) three and one half hours to pull the half ton "beach cart" loaded with their life saving gear to the schooner. By 3:30 in the afternoon all seven sailors had been brought safely ashore in four trips by breeches buoy.
Keeper Howard noted that "the men of wrecked schr were so worn out could not get them to station -- sent them up to the settlement and had them cared for the distance was so great that they could not travel." The life savers returned, with their beach cart, to the station at Hatteras Inlet.
There was no beach patrol that night. As keeper Howard recorded in his log, "up til 12, men was so tired and worn out after walking over twenty miles [the keeper's report is an understatement...remember they were also pulling and pushing a half ton cart with iron wheels over sand in strong winds and flood tide, plus rescuing seven seamen] I thought theys ought to rest."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Off-Island Friends
Early yesterday afternoon, as I was sitting in my side yard reading Newsweek and soaking up the sunshine, I got a call from my friend Jim who was on the island with friends. He'd come to Ocracoke from his home in Manteo just for the weekend. We were sitting on the pizer catching up on news of each other's lives when Dallie and her sister Lee stopped by. It was a great afternoon to relax and visit with friends and family.
After my visitors left I biked down to the Community Store for a few groceries, then set to work preparing my broccoli and cheese soup. Amy and Lachlan were on their way home after picking up David's parents, Pat & Steve, who will be on the island for several weeks. My soup was ready as they pulled into the driveway (with a bottle of red wine and bakery fresh bread).
It was a good day even if I never got my daily walk on the beach.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
After my visitors left I biked down to the Community Store for a few groceries, then set to work preparing my broccoli and cheese soup. Amy and Lachlan were on their way home after picking up David's parents, Pat & Steve, who will be on the island for several weeks. My soup was ready as they pulled into the driveway (with a bottle of red wine and bakery fresh bread).
It was a good day even if I never got my daily walk on the beach.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Friday Night Photos
Pickin' & Grinnin" continues at the Community Store on Friday evenings (6-8). I thought our readers might enjoy a couple of photos from yesterday. Many thanks to Rhonda Bates for providing the images.
You can click on the pictures to view larger images.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
You can click on the pictures to view larger images.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Theodore Mutro
Yesterday evening I carried a plate of food to Mabel's house. Mabel's daddy, Theodore Mutro, died suddenly on Monday. He was one of the last islanders who, as servicemen, had been assigned to Ocracoke during WWII. As a member of the US Coast Guard, Mutro was part of the force that put an end to the carnage inflicted on Allied shipping by German U boats in 1942. While on the island he fell in love and married a local woman, Ollie Styron. I'm told it was Ollie's cooking that clinched the deal!
I had only planned on staying for a a few minutes, just to offer my condolences. But Mabel and her family insisted that I sit down. We chatted about old times, remembered island characters long gone, and shared humorous stories. I was offered fried chicken and homemade potato salad (how could I resist?). Before I knew it, it was nearly nine o'clock. I'd been there almost two hours.
On the way home I thought about this preserved island tradition of bringing food and comfort to grieving neighbors. It takes a burden off the family, provides emotional support, and is one more opportunity to participate in genuine community.
A graveside service will be held this morning at 11 o'clock at the Community Cemetery.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
I had only planned on staying for a a few minutes, just to offer my condolences. But Mabel and her family insisted that I sit down. We chatted about old times, remembered island characters long gone, and shared humorous stories. I was offered fried chicken and homemade potato salad (how could I resist?). Before I knew it, it was nearly nine o'clock. I'd been there almost two hours.
On the way home I thought about this preserved island tradition of bringing food and comfort to grieving neighbors. It takes a burden off the family, provides emotional support, and is one more opportunity to participate in genuine community.
A graveside service will be held this morning at 11 o'clock at the Community Cemetery.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Book Recommendation
I am spending part of my time this winter reading several books about the Outer Banks that I have neglected far too long. Right now I am about half way through David Wright and David Zoby's Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers. It is the story of the only all-black Life Saving Station in the country, and so far it is a compelling tale. Appointed as the Service's first black keeper in 1879, Etheridge served with distinction for twenty years. There is little about Ocracoke in the book (the first station was established on Ocracoke in 1883), but Wright and Zoby share much fascinating history of the Life Saving Service, particularly the early stations that dotted the North Carolina Coast.
The book is widely available on the Outer Banks. If you are here now, or will be this coming season, consider checking the book out of our library, or purchasing a copy at one of our local book stores.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
The book is widely available on the Outer Banks. If you are here now, or will be this coming season, consider checking the book out of our library, or purchasing a copy at one of our local book stores.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Crunch
I can hear the ice crystals crunch under my feet as I walk the short path through the woods between my house and the Village Craftsmen. But the sky is clear, and sunlight and shadows dapple the trees, fences, and ground. The power went off for a couple of hours two nights ago, so I cranked up the gas log stove, and hunkered down under the covers. At least I haven't had any frozen water pipes these last several days, in spite of the unseasonable cold snap. The daffodils are hanging their heads this morning, but I think they'll make it. By the end of the week we're expecting real spring weather again.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
More Island Culture
Yesterday, as a powdery dusting of snow fell on Ocracoke, and the temperature started to plunge toward freezing, I was reminded of the coming evening's entertainment, Backyard Adventure, a play in one act written and directed by occasional island resident, Cynthia Mitchell. It would be a great way to spend a cold and dark winter night...much better than sitting home alone, trying to stay warm by the fire. And it was -- a great evening's entertainment, that is.
The play was produced by the Ocracoke Youth Center, and included six students (ranging in age from elementary school to high school), and one brave and talented adult. When I think of school age productions I remember so many performances where the actors just stood like statues and delivered their lines with hardly a nod to emotion. Not last night. All of the actors were animated and engaged. They knew how to project their voices, and spoke their lines with feeling and impressive stage presence.
The play was short, about thirty minutes, but the audience was drawn into the drama from the moment the first actor stepped on the stage. Many thanks to DJ, Chris, Deana, Phyllis, Eldon, Kevin, Caroline, Kitty, Cynthia, and all of the other folks who made this production a reality. It is remarkable what talent we have here on this tiny sliver of sand so far removed from the mainland.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
The play was produced by the Ocracoke Youth Center, and included six students (ranging in age from elementary school to high school), and one brave and talented adult. When I think of school age productions I remember so many performances where the actors just stood like statues and delivered their lines with hardly a nod to emotion. Not last night. All of the actors were animated and engaged. They knew how to project their voices, and spoke their lines with feeling and impressive stage presence.
The play was short, about thirty minutes, but the audience was drawn into the drama from the moment the first actor stepped on the stage. Many thanks to DJ, Chris, Deana, Phyllis, Eldon, Kevin, Caroline, Kitty, Cynthia, and all of the other folks who made this production a reality. It is remarkable what talent we have here on this tiny sliver of sand so far removed from the mainland.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
Monday, March 02, 2009
An Historical Note
It was 172 years ago yesterday that Justice of the Peace, Jacob Gaskill, and his cousin & local tavern owner, Willis Williams, were involved in an altercation on a foot bridge that spanned the "Ditch," the narrow channel that connects Cockle Creek (Silver Lake Harbor) with Pamlico Sound. When it was over Williams lay mortally wounded from a musket ball to his neck. Gaskill was tried on the mainland and convicted of "felonious slaying." His punishment was the letter "M" branded in the palm of his hand.
Many of the details of this event are lost to history, but one can't help but wonder what the dispute was about, why it escalated as it did, and what the jury learned that kept Jacob Gaskill from the gallows, convinced them to return a verdict of less than murder, and led them to impose a relatively light (light, considering the alternatives...but admittedly barbaric) punishment. We will probably never know.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island (which includes the story of the Jacob Gaskill & Willis Williams), please click here.
Many of the details of this event are lost to history, but one can't help but wonder what the dispute was about, why it escalated as it did, and what the jury learned that kept Jacob Gaskill from the gallows, convinced them to return a verdict of less than murder, and led them to impose a relatively light (light, considering the alternatives...but admittedly barbaric) punishment. We will probably never know.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island (which includes the story of the Jacob Gaskill & Willis Williams), please click here.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Variety Show
Last night the Ocracoke school gymnasium was packed for the revival of the old-time island Variety Show. It has been a number of years since the community has put on such a show. This time all proceeds went to funding the restoration of the Methodist Church Recreation Hall (one of the original WWII Navy buildings).
There was music, lots of music...folk, rock, and classical. There were guitars, violins, flutes, keyboard, and even a blues harmonica. Ocracokers performed several island favorites (Sweet Violets, The Map Song, & The Lighthouse), the newly formed "Gospel Choir" had the rafters ringing with their rousing number, I Go to the Rock, the youth band rocked, and Lulu Perez entertained with a remarkable dramatic recitation in Spanish. And there was more. There was even a slide show (of vintage island scenes) during intermission, and women of the church sold baked goods. It was a typical small town affair...with truly outstanding performances.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
There was music, lots of music...folk, rock, and classical. There were guitars, violins, flutes, keyboard, and even a blues harmonica. Ocracokers performed several island favorites (Sweet Violets, The Map Song, & The Lighthouse), the newly formed "Gospel Choir" had the rafters ringing with their rousing number, I Go to the Rock, the youth band rocked, and Lulu Perez entertained with a remarkable dramatic recitation in Spanish. And there was more. There was even a slide show (of vintage island scenes) during intermission, and women of the church sold baked goods. It was a typical small town affair...with truly outstanding performances.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's story of participating in the 2008 Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island. You can read it here.
To read about Philip's new book, Digging up Uncle Evans, History, Ghost Tales, & Stories from Ocracoke Island, please click here.
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