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.
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yes, it takes a much more tolerant individual to live on an island. It probably forces an individual to plan and be less spontaneous. If someone works on the mainland and inclemant weather forces them to miss work that day --what happens at the work place? others must pick up the slack I suppose. Oh, yes minor inconviences in the life of a working stiff on an island. How many communities can a person be considered a member of. As many as they participate, in I would think. Is there any difference between the sleepy exhausted commuter at my place of employment that works a 12 hour shift to then hop in his car and drive 50 miles on the interstate to go home? Well on the ferry he could sleep, read a book or have a bite to eat. wait --I see people drivin gcars doing those things too.
ReplyDeleteFor our readers who may not have visited Ocracoke...no one from the island makes a daily communte to the mainland...except the ferry crew, of course!
ReplyDeleteThe link to the teacher essay, published in the Maine newspaper has other interesting stories too. Perhaps there is a blogger on topic as you, Philip?
ReplyDeleteThe writer in the link attributes an OI population increase over the last decade due to an influx of Mexican immigration. Are the latest census figures with population heritage breakdowns available to substantiate this writers claims? Could there be a migration of Hispanic people from other cultures then Mexico. For a visitor to make such a statement astounds me. perhaps I am easily astounded. Are more OI residents earning spanish?
ReplyDeleteThe increase in Ocracoke's population, of course, comes not only from a sizable number of Hispanic families, but from other folks as well. Some people have moved here from Guatemala, Hondoras, Canada, Germany, and Ohio, as well as from Mexico! The island's population is now nearing 1,000.
ReplyDeleteWe've been hoping that Lachlan would pick up some Spanish...but it seems that all of the school children are absolutely fluent in English so he hears little Spanish among his peers.
Many of the island's Hispanic immigrants have told me that they have been cordially accepted by islanders. Just go by Eduardo's Taco Stand to see how many Ocracokers are waiting in line to buy their lunch.
Canada, Germany and Ohio? What?
ReplyDeleteIs Ohio the only state that folks have moved to the island from? Interesting you list several countries, then "and Ohio". :)
ReplyDeleteYes, tell us about Ohio. Interesting.
ReplyDeletePhilip-All this talk makes me wonder what % of population is related to the original islanders like yourself.
ReplyDeleteI added Ohio just as a joke. It just popped into my head...really, no rational explanation for it.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that about 50% of the island population was descended from long-time island families. I'm sure it's less than that now, but I don't have any figures.
Ocracoke Island has become a "melting pot".....makes life interesting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful educational idea to bring both "unbridged" communities together....similiar concept are "sister" towns and cities.
Enjoyable article with lots of future potential to keep the connection going. Very creative!