'Tis the Season

Island Holiday Events are already well underway.

Earlier this month local businesses and organizations hosted open houses, a gumbo & rice fundraiser, a women's Christmas potluck dinner, book signings, a cookie swap, OPS Wassail party and tree lighting, storytime for children, and other events.

Ocracoke Preservation Society organized another Holiday Historic Homes Tour (this year on Lighthouse Road & Creek Road) that was an unqualified success.  

And...there is more, of course. If you live on the island or are visiting be sure to take in the following events:

• Dec 11th: Santa at the Variety Store. 3 – 5pm. No donation or money needed. Come get your picture taken with Santa! Also Dec 11th is the Scholastic Book Fair Family Night at the Library at 6:30pm. The Scholastic Book Fair continues from Dec 11th – 16th, and is open weekdays 8am – 7pm and Saturday 9am – 1pm. 

• Dec 12-13th: Holiday Basketball Tournament at Ocracoke School. 

• Dec 13th: Community Christmas Concert, 7pm at Community Center. Performers of all ages! Let Sundae (921-0283) know if you'd like to be in the show. Free, though we are asking for donations of non-perishable food items for the food pantry. And Ocracoke School's 2nd grade will be having a bake sale. Sponsored by Ocracoke Civic & Business Association. 

• Dec 14th: Breakfast with Santa to benefit Ocracoke Child Care. 8 – 10am at Topless Oyster Restaurant. Also Dec. 14th is the Christmas program at Ocracoke Assembly of God Church, 7pm. Free. All are welcome. 

• Dec 17th: Christmas Caroling, meet at Methodist Church at 5pm. They are hosting the chili supper after the caroling. 

• Dec 18th: Ocracoke School Christmas program, 7pm in the gym. 

• Dec 19th: Choral Concert with the Joyful Band of Singers. 7:30 at the Methodist Church. Free. Donations to church accepted. Sponsored by Ocracoke Alive. 

• Dec 20th: Live Nativity at the Methodist Church, 6 – 7pm. Also Dec 20th is the Community Potluck and Dance with the Ocracoke Rockers at Topless Oyster Restaurant. 

• Dec 21st: Live Nativity at the Methodist Church, 5:30-6:30pm

• Dec 24th: Christmas Eve service at the Methodist Church, with the children's Christmas pageant. 7pm. 

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the seldom told story of the 1837 murder of Willis Williams by Jacob Gaskill. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112114.htm.