Ocracoke Observer

Local Press Release:

The Ocracoke Observer is under new ownership.

Islanders Connie Leinbach and Peter Vankevich purchased and will now run this newspaper effective March 12. Ruth Fordon will continue as editor. This print monthly newspaper is a free publication made available throughout Ocracoke Island and connecting points and areas in Hyde and Dare counties.

The new owners, while looking to enhance the web presence of the paper, believe in the worth of print newspapers and the special niche this monthly has for Ocracoke Island.

Founded in 1999, the paper covers news and culture primarily relating to Ocracoke Island.  Future plans for the paper include creating an online presence and making past articles available online.Connie Leinbach has an extensive industry background as a daily news reporter, free-lance writer, publicist and newspaper publisher. She has also worked in arts management as a theater company manager and arts agency executive director.

Peter Vankevich worked in the U.S. Copyright Office at the Library of Congress including being head of the Copyright Information Section for 16 years, and has been a freelance writer for the Hill Rag. He has a radio show called Theme Tunes on the Ocracoke community radio station WOVV 90.1 FM and online, and he serves as a volunteer fireman. 

The new co-owners live full-time on the island and have written for the Observer for several years.

 

For more information, contact the owners at ocracokeobserver@gmail.com, or 252-928-1811.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.