Dolphins

I was out in Pamlico Sound Sunday on the Windfall II. We had been clamming and just enjoying the beautiful day and the warm water. On the way back to the harbor we spotted a small pod of dolphins just outside the "ditch" (the narrow channel that connects Silver Lake Harbor with Pamlico Sound). There were probably 5 - 6 dolphins, maybe a few more. They surfaced...then disappeared for a while. Suddenly one, then several, reappeared just off our port side.

It is not unusual to see dolphins off shore from the beach all winter long. And they frequent Pamlico Sound periodically. Every once in a while they even wander into Silver Lake Harbor. It is always a treat to see these playful and inspiring mammals.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Blackbeard's Anchor & Friday's Post

Just a couple of days ago I learned that marine archeologists have raised one of the large anchors from the ship believed to be Blackbeard's flagship, the Queeen Anne's Revenge. The QAR was a French slave ship called the Concorde which Blackbeard captured and renamed. It sank in Beaufort Inlet in 1718, just a few months before Blackbeard was killed at Ocracoke while in command of a smaller vessel, the Adventure.

You can read more of this story here: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2011-05-27-blackbeard-pirate-north-carolina_n.htm

Two more comments...about Friday's post --

The number of people who have endorsed the petition calling for no tolls on the Hatteras Inlet ferries has nearly doubled since I signed the petition and mentioned it in this blog. I like to think that our readers have contributed many of these signatures. If you have not already made your voice heard, and you agree, please support the petition here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/185/support-the-spear-amendment---help-the-citizens-friends-ocracoke/

When I posted the request to vote for Springer's Point and the NC Coastal Land Trust, Springer's Point was in 2nd place, trailing the leader by 63 votes. When I last checked the Land Trust was behind by only 26 votes. Again, I like to think that our readers have made much of this difference. If you have not already voted, please do so here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=question&id=10150173006097132

Many thanks to all of our faithful readers and lovers of Ocracoke Island! We appreciate all of your concern for Ocracoke.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Penny

Some months ago Penny Akahloun contacted me because of the following information she discovered on the Village Craftsmen web site:

"One memorable wreck on Portsmouth Island in 1903, the Vera Cruz, carried 22 crew members and 399 passengers. In this case, although a fresh northeaster and a strong ebb tide had forced the Vera Cruz into the breakers, the life saving crew was able to use their open surfboat. It took them 41 trips to bring everyone on shore. The people of Portsmouth village used four and a half barrels of flour to bake bread for the survivors, most of whom were smuggled Portuguese immigrants who spoke no English."

Penny's grandfather was one of the Portugese passengers from the Cape Verde Islands, bound for New Bedford, Massachusettes. Penny was so impressed with the hospitality of the Portsmouth Islanders (who fed and sheltered the survivors) that she made the trip to Ocracoke for the spring meeting of Friends of Portsmouth Island, where she spoke about her research and emotional connection with Portsmouth. She wanted to visit the village whose people, in 1903, went out of their way to care for her grandfather and other shipwreck victims from a foreign country.

Penny & Philip on the path into the village:



(Click on photo, by Jim Fineman, to view a larger image.)

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Ferries Again, & NC Coastal Land Trust

Today, we ask you to consider two simple actions -- first, please sign the following petition to keep the Hatteras Inlet ferries free (without more citizen protest the NC state legislature is likely to impose a toll):

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/185/support-the-spear-amendment---help-the-citizens-friends-ocracoke/

I also recently received the following information from the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, the stellar organization that saved Ocracoke's Springer's Point from development. This is a great opportunity to help the Land Trust secure needed grant money.

Please read below, and cast your vote today. It just takes a click of your mouse.



Great Outdoor Provision Company's VOTE FOR THE LAND Contest is live!



GOPC is running the Vote for the Land Contest through facebook this year, so now's the time to get all your facebook friends to vote for the NC Coastal Land Trust and help us pull off the sweep - winning for a fourth consecutive year! The winner receives a grant from GOPC and it's suppliers, so make your vote count!

Springer's Point Nature Preserve:



This year, we have brought out the heavyweight - putting our Springer's Point Preserve up against other projects across the state.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE! and make sure to tell all your facebook friends!

Many thanks!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Inevitable

I suppose it had to happen! Village Craftsmen is now on Facebook. Simply click on the link on the right to go directly to our new page. As an inaugural gesture we are offering a 10% discount on the latest OcraFolk Sampler CD, from now until June 6.

Look for more promotions and breaking island news in the days ahead.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Coming Events

This coming Saturday, May 28, marks the date of the sixth annual Ocracoke Firemen's Ball. The evening kicks off with a pig pickin', followed by a live and silent auction at 7 p.m. After the auction the Ocracoke Rockers, The Aaron Caswell Band, and the Dune Dogs will provide live music for your listening and dancing pleasure. For more information, click on the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department's web page: http://www.ocracokevfd.org/Firemansball.html.

Earlier on Saturday (3:00 - 4:30 pm), Books to be Red on School Road will be hosting a book signing by Jimmy Creech, former Ocracoke Methodist Church pastor, and author of "Adam's Gift." More information is available here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156372017763043

Coming up the following week, June 3, 4, & 5, is the 12th annual OcraFolk Festival, a full weekend of music and storytelling on Howard Street & School Road. The full schedule of events, information about musicians and storytellers, and other details is posted here:
http://www.ocrafolkfestival.org/.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Comments & Henry Piggot's House

First, a practical matter: I was unable to access the "comment" section of my blog Monday evening and most of the day yesterday. I knew there were a number of questions but I couldn't post replies. I took care of that last night...so if you posted a question, take a look back and you will see my answers.

For today I share a few Portsmouth Island photos taken Saturday by my friend Jim. Click on any photo to view a larger image. Enjoy!

Henry Pigott's Side Porch & House:



Front View of Henry's House:



View from Henry's House:



Another View from Henry's House:



Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frant Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Opening Clams

Just a few photos of me opening clams Sunday afternoon...and Amy cutting the bacon to make clams casino. (I'm probably not smiling because I'm concentrating so I don't cut myself...I didn't!)

(Photos by Jim Fineman. Click to enlarge.)

It doesn't get much better -- out in the sound for an hour or so, quiet and peaceful, raking clams...back home sitting in the yard opening clams and listening to the mockingbirds...then savoring the rewards of a fine day's work with family & friends.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

A Few Answers

I've been busy for the last several days -- Judgment Day party, Friday night poker, trip to Portsmouth, visiting with family & friends, clamming, cooking, playing with Lachlan -- and I haven't had time to reply to readers' questions these last few days. So I'll address them this morning:

Q: Is there an on going Oral History project ala Foxfire conducted by the high school journalism students? or a grant funded project by the Smithsonian documenting these events of the fabric of the island?

A: There is no large scale, or comprehensive ongoing project at the moment, although Doreen & I are planning to interview several older residents in the next few weeks & months with support from the Ocracoke Foundation. Similar projects have, over the years, been carried out by school students, the Preservation Society, local individuals, and off-island organizations. During the next month Courtney, a Duke graduate student, will be interviewing 70 islanders. I spoke with her for more than an hour yesterday afternoon...and she has scheduled time with Blanche early this week.

Q: Does OI have a recycling problem ---do people recycle ?

A: Yes. Ocracoke islanders and visitors are encouraged to recycle glass, paper, cardboard, and cans. Simply carry your recyclables to the "convenience center" (the "dump") and deposit them in the proper containers.

Q: How did the rowers [the US Life Savers] train ? Did they row together everyday? One would have to be very strong to row a boat with 14 people. Did any member of the friends of [Portsmouth Island] document the restoration project and if so have they posted digital images on the web page?

A: The life savers followed a regimented training schedule. Every day of the week was devoted to a particular aspect of life saving. They were well trained and fit when they were called to a rescue. The US life savers responded to more than 28,000 shipwrecks in the 44 years of their service, and saved the lives of more than 177,000 people (a success rate of more than 99%). I don't know if the restoration project was documented. Maybe one of our readers knows.

Q: "Cute as a bug's ear".....like it! Is this an Ocracoke saying?

A: I picked this up from Sammy Fortesque years ago. Sammy was a one-eyed Ocracoke carpenter who wore a black eye patch. He lost his eye as a youngster and was fitted with a glass eye. One Saturday night at a dance he had too much to drink and lost the glass eye. He never had it replaced. Sammy was one of many colorful characters who lived on the island in the 1970s. Sammy was smart, funny, and a talented carpenter (when sober). He died several years ago.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Portsmouth

Yesterday was a beautiful day to visit Portsmouth Island -- warm, sunny weather...hardly a mosquito (although there were a very few deer flies)...and an opportunity to step inside Henry Piggot's house. The organization, Friends of Portsmouth Island, has taken Henry's house as its current restoration project. The house is diminutive, with small rooms, tiny windows, low ceilings, almost-doll-sized front porch, and steep stair steps with incredibly narrow treads. And it is as cute as a bug's ear.

At the US Life Saving Station I had my first opportunity to see the new replica of a surf boat. At 26 feet long, designed to be rowed by eight surfmen, and capable of carrying fourteen people, it was an impressive example of the equipment used by the brave and courageous life savers who rescued so many victims of shipwrecks on our shores.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

Judgment Day!

According to religious leader, Harold Camping, and his followers, today is Judgment Day. A number of believers have sold or given away all of their worldly possessions in anticipation of this impending cosmic event. In case this day passes normally (as I expect it will), and we are still around tomorrow, I thought our readers would enjoy the following Ocracoke story:

Late in the night of New Year's Eve, 1929, Capt. Bill Gaskill's daughter, Nellie, and a friend walked out on the dock of Capt. Bill's Pamlico Inn to pump gasoline for a yacht tied up there. Someone was smoking a cigarette, and accidentally started a fire. The fire quickly escalated, spread down the dock and engulfed the tanks.

Before long a large gasoline tank exploded, sending tongues of fire and plumes of smoke billowing high into the early morning sky. Everyone nearby ran for cover as pieces of metal, hammers, wrenches, and other tools rained down around them. Even folks on the other side of the village were awakened by the explosion and conflagration.

Capt. Bill's sister-in-law, Sarah Ellen Gaskill, woke up and saw the sky aglow from the raging fire. She shook her husband awake. "Ben," she implored, "wake up. I think it's Judgment Day!"

"Sarah Ellen, go back to sleep," Ben reassured her. "It can't be Judgment Day. It's the middle of the night."

So...if today is not Judgment Day, and tomorrow dawns like any other day, at least all of the hype prompted me to share one more humorous story from Ocracoke Island. I hope you enjoyed it.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of island native, Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

May Newsletter

We've just published our latest Ocracoke Newsletter. This month I reprint the short autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher (1878-1971), Ocracoke island native, sailor, and preacher. It is a fascinating story of life at sea, shipwrecks, near mutiny, and a new life ashore...by an interesting island character. It was written in 1965. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052111.htm.

You can read a bit more about Frank Treat on a previous Ocracoke Newsletter:
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news120603.htm.

Village Thrift

My daughter, Amy, always stops at thrift stores when she is off the island. She buys most of her clothes there, as well as books for Lachlan, and the occassional toy or gift.

Amy also patronizes Ocracoke's very own Village Thrift Store which is located in the back of the Ocracoke Coffee Company. Village Thrift has been a major funding source for the Ocracoke Youth Center, and has provided activities and services for island youth and families since 1995.

Although the Youth Center is in hiatus because of a federally funded youth program at the school, the Board is still active and anticipates that it will resurrect the Youth Center when grant money runs out. In addition, summer programming is almost non-existent under the grant so there is discussion about reinstating some summer activities under the Youth Center umbrella.

Meanwhile, Village Thrift continues to help finance the Youth Center in anticipation of future needs. This year, the shop has grown into the space formerly occupied by The Blue Door Antiques so there is almost twice as much room to explore. Village Thrift is a great example of recycling. Almost everything finds a new home, saves the purchaser a lot of money, and sends that money back into our community. Please stop by to browse. And volunteer if you can -- all of the staff are volunteers. Also, grab a coffee or a smoothie from Village Thrift's very generous Ocracoke Coffee Company landlord.

Thrift Store hours are Tues-Fri 10-5 and Sat 11-5. Stop in, make a purchase, and help provide wholesome activities for Ocracoke's youth!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news.htm.

Friends of Portsmouth Island

Just across Ocracoke Inlet lies Portsmouth Island, a magical place with wide, undeveloped beaches and a village stranded in the last century. It has been almost 40 years since the last permanent residents moved away from Portsmouth. Today the island is administered by the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Portsmouth Island US Life Saving Station:

Click on photo to view a larger image.)

Still standing in Portsmouth Village, on the north end of the island, are the Methodist church, the schoolhouse, the post office, the US Life Saving Station, and a handful of once private dwellings.

Portsmouth Island Schoolhouse:

(Click on photo to view a larger image.)

In cooperation with the National Park Service, Friends of Portsmouth Island, a non-governmental non-profit organization, is dedicated to keeping the memory and legacy of Portsmouth islanders alive.

FPI’s spring meeting will be held Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. on Ocracoke at the NCCAT building (the former US Coast Guard Station). Events will include the following:

*Pat Kenney, Cape Lookout National Seashore's new Superintendent, will be introduced.

*There will be a report on the restoration of Henry Pigott's House, and memories of Henry from Rudy & Donald Austin.

Henry Pigott's House:

(Click on photo to view a larger image.)

*Penny Akahloun will talk about her recent discovery that her grandfather was a survivor of the sailing vessel “Vera Cruz” which wrecked at Portsmouth nearly a century ago.

*Jack Saylor, Beaufort artist, will share his plans for a series of Portsmouth paintings.

*FPI will be serving lunch on the porch to all who attend.

*After lunch there will be a boat trip to Portsmouth Island (there is a fee for this activity).

*Tours of the Ocracoke Working Waterman's Exhibit will be arranged.

Come out to the meeting to support the work of the Friends of Portsmouth Island, and to learn about the exciting projects being undertaken to protect and preserve this unique Outer Banks village.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Ocracoke Alive!

Calling all artists, musicians, actors, and assorted creative islanders! An old organization with a new name (formerly the Ocracoke Players...now Ocracoke Alive) has been revived. Originally conceived as a theater group (their productions included, "Oklahoma," "The Sound of Music," several melodramas, and our very own "A Tale of Blackbeard"), Ocracoke Alive will now take under its wing the OcraFolk Festival and the OcraFolk School, two highly successful endeavors.

As a newly reorganized venture Ocracoke Alive looks forward to wider community outreach...and the participation of more local artists, musicians, and other folks involved with the arts. Future projects may include art exhibits, workshops, community performances, plays, musicals, and festivals.

Ocracoke Alive's inaugural meeting is scheduled for 7:30 tonight at the Community Center. Come on out to learn more, to share your hopes and dreams for a more vibrant artistic presence on Ocracoke, and to get involved. Everyone is heartily invited. Snacks will be provided...along with videos and slide shows celebrating some early productions of the Ocracoke Players.

This is also your opportunity to learn about the Ocracoke Alive Logo Contest. The winner will receive an award of $250. Members & Non-members, islanders & mainlanders are all invited to submit designs. More information will be available soon at Ocracoke Alive's new web site: http://www.ocracokealive.org.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news.htm.

Ferries Again

Many of our readers know about the continuing battle re. proposed ferry tolls at Hatteras Inlet. If not, here is my post from March of this year:

http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/2011/03/ferries.html

Below is a blog briefly explaining the latest developments:

http://www.bluenc.com/ocracoke-ferry-toll-monster-brought-back-life%3F

And following is a link to a Facebook site dedicated to maintaining free access to Ocracoke Island for residents and visitors alike:

http://www.facebook.com/NOTOLL

For a more detailed discussion of this issue, click on this link:

http://saynotoocracoketolls.blogspot.com/

There is still work to be done. Please make your voice heard.

Island Connections

Peter Vankevich, Ocracoke Island home owner and one-time year-around resident, sent me the following link. I thought our readers would enjoy reading about this visit to Ocracoke Island by a school teacher from North Haven, Maine, one of fourteen unbridged islands in Penobscot Bay.

http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Island-Connections/14320/

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Satisfaction

Yesterday morning Rob & I departed from the dock in his boat just after 10 o'clock. We didn't go very far...just out into Pamlico Sound a ways...before we anchored and jumped overboard with our clam rakes. In an hour we had collected about 150 clams.

Back home I opened a dozen and a half larger quahogs. In the afternoon I made deviled clams, using an old island recipe. Friends came over at 6 with fried fish, rice, and beans. We opened a bottle of red wine. Dinner, as usual, was informal...we didn't even bother to get out dishes as we savored the clams. Of course, we needed dishes for the fish, rice, and beans.

After we had "run ashore" we repaired to the pizer. There we relaxed on rockers, steps, and the porch swing as we shared stories, news of the day, and thoughts about life. Lachlan, Gretchen, and Nicholas ran around & played in the yard and under the house until it got dark.

It was a simple day of gathering food, cooking, and visiting with family & friends...all in all a very satisfying way to spend a springtime Saturday on Ocracoke Island.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

100,000 Dollars!

Just in case you haven't heard -- Charles Temple walked away from the Jeopardy Teachers Tournament last night as the $100,000 winner. The crowd at Gaffer's pub erupted in wild celebration. It just so happened that the Ocracoke School prom was also last night. Everyone was bussed over to the pub from the prom to watch the contest. The principal even crowned the prom king and queen during a Jeopardy commercial break. What an exciting two weeks this has been. Congratulations, Charles!

Charles being congratulated by yours truly:

Click on photo to view a larger image.

Blogger

Blogger was shut down for a while for maintenance...thus no post this morning. And somehow yesterday's post and comments have disappeared. I don't know what happened.

Just a quick note this afternoon -- The annual British Cemetery Ceremony at 11 a.m. was impressive, as usual, and the ocean has been spectacular lately...gently rolling waves, a few dolphins, and water the color of the Caribbean. It is simply wonderful to be alive and to experience this magnificent world.

Tune in the Jeopardy tonight! We are all impressed with Charles' performance no matter what the final outcome.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111,htm.

Update & Story

Congratulations are in order for Charles. His performance last night was stellar!

I heard an interesting story about last night's show. You may have noticed that Charles let out a significant sigh immediately after he clinched the contest with his answer to Final Jeopardy. It seems the producers cut 20 minutes from the tape while the judges debated Charles' answer. He wrote "What is Dr. Zivago?" The correct spelling is "Zhivago." Charles' relief with the judges' decision was deserved. For the lack of an "h" he might have lost last night's competition.

Keep watching! Charles will be competing tonight and tomorrow night. Third place is guaranteed $25,000; second place, $50,000; and first place, $100,000. Charles and Jeopardy, as you might imagine, are the talk of the village!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news.htm.

Charles

As most of our readers know, Charles Temple, our high school English teacher (that's right...he is our one and only high school English teacher) is a semi-finalist on Jeopardy's very first Tournament of Teachers.

Last week Charles bested his competition, scoring more than $20,000 (these are actually points, not dollars...my understanding is that tournament contestants' winnings are computed differently). Tonight he battles two of the other high scorers for a chance at the grand prize.

Tune in this evening and follow Charles' progress along with the rest of Ocracoke village. We are all cheering him on.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

OPS Spring Membership Meeting

Tonight at 6 o'clock members and friends of Ocracoke Preservation Society will gather at the Community Center for our Spring Membership Meeting and Potluck Dinner. After dinner and a brief business meeting several islanders will share stories. James Barrie Gaskill and Rex O'Neal will tell the hilarious story about when they carried fresh Ocracoke oysters on the plane to Las Vegas. I will tell about the 1861 wreck of the Black Squall, the sailing vessel that was carrying a circus and menagerie of wild animals.

If you are on the island be sure to come on out, fill your plate with delicious home cooked dishes, enjoy the stories, and support OPS. You'll be glad you did.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

A Tangled Web

A few days ago Joyce Spencer and her two daughters, Joy & Roberta, stopped by the house for a visit. You may remember Joyce from my February 11 post (http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/2011/02/tilmon-elizabeth-oneal.html) about the new grave marker for our great-grandparents.

In the course of our conversation Joyce mentioned "Aunt Dark," a relative she had heard about, but whom she couldn't remember.

Here is what I discovered: "Aunt Dark" was Dorcas Williams Spencer Gaskins (b. 1858), Joyce's husband's great aunt. But she was also Joyce's second cousin, twice removed. There was another "Dark," (Dorcas Scarborough Williams, 1833-1921), who was Joyce's first cousin, three times removed. To further complicate matters, there was another Dorcas ("Dart"), 1893-1915 , Joyce's fifth cousin, twice removed. And that doesn't count Dorcas Williams Spencer (1805-1877), Joyce's great, great, great aunt, and her husband's great-great grandmother. There were other Dorcases on Ocracoke...but my head is spinning.

In the course of making elaborate genealogical charts on multiple sheets of paper taped together I was struck again by how entangled the old Ocracoke families are. Joyce is my secound cousin (through our O'Neal grandmothers)...but she is also my fourth cousin (through our Williams great grandfathers). Her children are my second cousins, once removed...but also my fourth cousins, twice removed through our common Howard ancestor.

I was reminded that my direct Ocracoke ancestors were also intermarried. I am my own sixth cousin through the Williams line...and my own sixth cousin, once removed, through the Howard line!

Thank goodness for the US Coast Guard (which, during WWII, brought off-island men to the island who married local girls), and work for island men in Philadelphia (where, in the early twentieth century, they married women of immigrant descent)!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Mainland Fire

Smoke hangs over Ocracoke village this evening as an uncontrolled forest fire rages in mainland Dare County. You can read more here: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/nc-fire-scorches-7000-acres-alligator-river-refuge.

A 10 mile section of route 264 on the mainland is closed because of smoke and fire. Travelers are advised to be prepared for smoke and detours.

Clam Chowder

I haven't been clamming yet this season (though I have heard about folks gathering a mess recently). But I did cook a big pot of clam chowder yesterday afternoon. I had two ziplock bags of frozen clams in the freezer. I opened the clams, chopped them up, added a half dozen potatoes, a very large onion, and fried salt pork...and cooked them for a couple of hours.

Amy, David, & Lachlan came over for supper. After dessert Amy & David talked about their day around the kitchen table. Lachlan and I sat on the pizer watching the day slip into night. We told stories, shared jokes (what kind of a dog does a scientist like best?...A lab), laughed, and watched our new neighbors move into the rental house across the lane.

Such a nice way to spend the early evening on a lovely springtime day in May.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Sand Dollars

My latest New Yorker magazine has an advertisement on the inside back cover from an "asset management" company. The photo shows a casually dressed, obviously affluent woman of indeterminate (but retirement) age, walking on the beach with her dog.

On the right hand side of the page are four dashes arranged in a column. Beside the lowest one are the words "earn dollars." Above that are "save dollars." Next come "invest dollars." Finally, at the top, we see "sand dollars."

Presumably, if we follow the advice of the asset management company, we can work hard, invest wisely, and retire "comfortably." Then we can stroll beaches looking for sand dollars.

When I saw the ad I immediately thought of the many excursions I took with Mr. Walter O'Neal in his jeep looking for sand dollars in the 1960s and 1970s. I was in my twenties. I decided then to enjoy life, even while earning a living and raising a family. I may not have as much retirement income as the woman in the advertisement (oh, I know she is just a paid model), but I have had a full and rewarding life living in this tight-knit community, surrounded by ocean, sound and sand dollars. And I didn't have to wait forty years to walk along the beach whenever I wanted to.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Soft Shells

Wednesday afternoon I was riding my bike around the village, and stopped to visit my old friend Wayne. He has an elaborate soft shell crab operation in his large outbuilding. It is quite impressive...with a dozen huge trays filled with recirculating and aerated seawater. Several hundred crabs were swimming about in the various trays as Wayne reached his gloved hand in to inspect them.

As soon as the "peelers" begin to shed he separates them to prevent the others from attacking and killing them. It is fascinating to watch the "busters" as they slowly emerge from their old hard shell. Finally, Wayne has what he is looking for...a soft shell crab. These he sells to local restaurants and residents.

As we chatted by the trays Wayne explained the life cycle of the blue crab...it's three year life span, mating, spawning, and travels from Ocracoke Inlet into the ocean, and back again. I wondered aloud how he had learned so much. Without missing a beat, Wayne shot back, "I played hooky a lot."

Consider ordering a soft shell crab sandwich on your next visit to a local restaurant. With the claws and paddles sticking out from between the bun, they look bizarre, but as O'cockers say, they're good some!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Tonight's the Night!

At the risk of overdoing these Jeopardy announcements, I just wanted to remind our readers one more time that Ocracoke's high school English teacher, Charles Temple, will be competing tonight in the TV game show's very first tournament of teachers.

To watch a short video of Charles on Jeopardy's web site click the following link, then click "Play Video" under Charles' photo: http://www.jeopardy.com/minisites/teachers-tournament/contestantvideos/

Go, Charles!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

A Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Decisions can be so difficult when you live on Ocracoke. This past Sunday afternoon I had planned to mess about with my skiff. It's not in the water yet, but I was looking forward to repairing the bow, painting the floor boards, and varnishing the spoked wheel my dad made many years ago.

That's when Rob called to ask me if I'd like to go with him to take his new teaching sailboat out into Pamlico Sound.

I figured my boat repairs could wait.

For more than two hours we sailed lazily down the ferry channel...then back home to Silver Lake. As you might be able to determine by looking at the photos below (click on either one to view a larger image), it was a totally relaxing afternoon.





Thanks to Ruth and Ken who just happened to be going by in their motorboat for the pictures.

You can learn more about Capt. Rob's new sailing school here: http://schoonerwindfall.blogspot.com/2011/03/come-to-ocracoke-and-learn-to-sail.html.

Out latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

Girl Scouts Walk for MS

On Saturday two Ocracoke Girl Scout troops traveled to Greenville, NC to participate in Walk MS, sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. At least three Ocracoke residents, including one 18 year old girl, have been diagnosed with MS. The walk helped raise funds for research leading to better medicines, and, we hope, someday a cure.

To date the Ocracoke Girl Scouts have raised more than $3,000.00. Donations in the name of island girl scouts are being accepted until June 1. To donate click on the link below, then click on an individual girl's name...then click on the "donate" button:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=16163&team_id=247243.

You can also donate by clicking on the following link:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/nct/donate/index.aspx.

Many thanks to our local girl scout troops for their superb fundraising efforts!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news42111.htm.

Jeopardy

Just a reminder: Today begins a two week battle of teachers' brains on the popular TV game show, Jeopardy. Ocracokers have a special interest in this contest because Charles Temple, our high school English teacher will be competing.

Even though Charles is not scheduled to appear on the show until Thursday, I thought our readers might want to follow the program all week (and perhaps next week as well).

You can read more about this tournament here: http://www.jeopardy.com/news/teacherstournament.php.

Charles has been tight-lipped about the outcome (the tournament was taped weeks ago, and he was sworn to secrecy by the producers), but we are all impressed with his wide range of sometimes useless knowledge, so we think he did OK!

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.

The Distemper

In February islander Kathy Ballance came down with a severe wintertime bug that had been circulating throughout the village. Fever, sore throat, coughing, and fatigue laid folks low for weeks at a time…and lingered for months.

Kathy called the Health Clinic and described her condition using an old-time island expression. “Jamie,” she told the receptionist, “I need to make an appointment. I’ve got the Distemper.”

Jamie is from the mainland of Hyde County and had never heard anyone refer to a bad cold as “the Distemper.” Curious, Jamie did some research to see if humans could really get distemper. When Kathy heard about Jamie searching the Internet re. the Distemper she thought it was hilarious. Kathy found it doubly funny that the doctor prescribed the same antibiotics that her son's dog was getting!

Just one more example of Ocracoke Islanders’ unique and quirky vocabulary!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news042111.htm.