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7:53a Lots going on in and around Oriental today.

At 9a, Commissioners meet at Town Hall for budget meeting #2. At 10a, Prime Time hosts a card making class at OUMC.

The county wide Rabies & Microchip Clinic starts at 3p at Grantsboro Town Hall.

Sailors meet on the water at 5:30p for the Wednesday Night Sail, and musicians gather at the Silos at 7p for Open Mic Night.

The details for Wednesday’s events are all in What’s Happening.

3:46p Commissioners meet this evening at 6p for the monthly Town Board Meeting.

Tonight’s agenda is here.

Wednesday morning, Commissioners meet at 9a at Town Hall for the second Budget discussion.

One of the topics they’ll need to discuss: hiring several new employees. Since March, Oriental has lost two employees, with two more on the way out.

Public Works Director and Water Plant ORC Andrew Cox left in March. He’d been with town for 11 years. Tammy Cox, Deputy Finance Director, who has also been with the town 11 years, will leave in June when school ends.

Thomas Jones’ last day was April 19. He was with town for 5 years.

Demetrius Green’s last day is this Friday, May 10. He has been with Oriental for 18 years.

There are now two employees left in Public Works: Daniel Early (8 years) and Joshua Gibson (25 years).

Since 2021, Public Works has had a staff of five. Before then, it was six.

11:12a Free plants. Games, old and new. Furniture for your home, and your pet.

It was all at Saturday’s annual Town Wide Yard Sale.

Partly sunny today, with southwest winds at 10-15mph. High in the mid 80s with a 50% chance of rain.

9:23a Summer – it has arrived. Near 90 degree temps coming this week. Take a look:

Two Board Meetings happening this week:

• Pamlico County Board of Commissioners meets tonight at 7p in Bayboro
• Oriental Commissioners meet Tuesday night at 6p at Town Hall

Coming later this week: a rabies / microchip clinics for your pets, live music from The Foreign Landers at The Old Theater, a creative card making class, the Wednesday night sail, and The Hope Regala.

10:55a Helt Oncale is coming to the Old Theater, today @ 3p. Have a listen:

More about the show here.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar

7:55a The 2024 TownWide Yard Sale is underway. Be brave and plunder. Here’s the yard sale map.

Cloudy this morning, then the sun should appear in the afternoon.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

Tonight at the Silos/Red Rooster is an Ol’ Front Porch fundraiser. Tonight’s performance is free (as is the October festival).

Here’s a musical reminder why donating to Ol’ Front Porch pays big village dividends. It’s the Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, from their October 2022 performance in Oriental. Lead vocalist Rebekka Nilsson’s voice lures you in…

Yappy dog vocalists in background, names unknown.

2:30p On tap this weekend: Tonight karaoke meets marachi – Pamlico Arts presents Lip Synco de Mayo, starting at 7 @ the Red Rooster (Silos). At New Village Brewery tonight Hoff ‘n’ Finch at 6p, Tanja’s Hella Fat Food Truck from 5-8p.

Saturday is Oriental’s annual Town Wide Yard Sale, starting at 7a. The yard sale map is here. You know you need a 3 in 1 exercise machine with built in PEZ dispenser. On yard sale day, it’s probably out there. The Farmer’s Market runs Saturday 8a-11 on Hodges near the harbor. Also on Hodges St OWC has their annual plant sale 8a-12p.

Saturday night it’s an Ol’ Front Porch Fundraiser starting 5p at the Red Rooster, Southern Hellcats play. Saturday night at the brewery a Grateful Dead Tribute at 6p, teamed with community potluck dinner.

Sunday is the Arlington Place Arts & Crafts Fair, 10a – 3p. Sunday at the Old Theater Helt Oncale @ 3p. Oncale is an award winning singer/songwriter serving up rhythm & blues, bluegrass & Cajun.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

9:22a The Town Wide Yard Sale starts at 7a Saturday morning.

Most are in town, but there are yards full of treasure on Kershaw Rd, and out in Dolphin Point.

You’ll need a map to find those sales. The map is here.

Nautical Wheeler’s’ Oriental location is closing early today – at 3p. Staff are heading to the New Bern location for the New Bern Bear Unveiling at 4p.

You’re invited to come along.

3:17p Lou Mac Park. It’s a shady spot to rest, read a book, or watch the river.

Lou Mac’s oak trees were planted in 1929; there were six originally. Only two remain: a low, spreading live oak and a tall, leaning water oak.

Oriental’s Tree Board has determined the water oak will have to come down; it “is decayed and has other structural defects that makes it a high-risk tree for a public park.”

Not all shade will be lost with the removal of the water oak. The Tree Board has been planting other trees in the park as insurance against future tree – and shade – loss.

There’s no date yet on when the old oak will be removed. Read the full press release here.

8:52a There’s still a few tickets left for the $10k Golden Ticket Raffle Drawing. Hope Clinic Director Yolanda Cristiani writes in:

The Hope Regala is May 10 & 11.

10:29a This Friday, Nautical Wheelers receives an honor over a year in the making.

But you’ll have to visit their New Bern location to see it – a New Bern bear statue.

There are over 50 bear statues throughout New Bern, adopted and cared for by the city’s businesses. Each is painted by a local artist.

This is not the Nautical Wheelers’ bear – theirs will be unveiled in front of the Nautical Wheelers’ New Bern store Friday at 4p.

You’re invited to 202 A Craven Street to help them celebrate and to see the newest New Bern Bear in person.

10:11a The Town Wide Yard Sale. It’s happening this Saturday.

One day every year, the town and surrounding communities bring out their treasures, ready to send them off to new homes.

Sales start at 7a. The Yard Sale map will be posted here later this week.

Happening the same Saturday: the annual shred event.

Unburden yourself of up to 75 pounds of documents for free. All you have to do is drop them off at the Shred-It truck behind the Bayboro Court House between 9 and noon on Saturday.

Tomorrow night – Tuesday, April 30 – you’re invited to 401 Freemason Street for the King Blues Jam. Hear Big Jim Kohler, Bernard Purdie, Helt Oncale and more from 5:30 – 8:30p.

Bring a chair, your own snacks, and a donation for the musicians.

7:05a High near 80 today. Low 80s Monday. And the next day. And the day after that.

It’s all lovely and warm for you warm summer people. Or a too hot summer warning for how come it can’t be perpetual spring & autumn temps people.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

There’s a lot of music in river city this weekend.

Tonight at The Red Rooster (Silos) Mike Bramble plays starting at 7. Over at New Village Brewery, Island Fyah and Helt Oncale & Friends, 6-8 p in the beer garden.

The Oriental Farmer’s Market has a full slate of vendors, running 8a – 11a on Hodges St near the harbor. Saturday morning in New Bern go for a walk and support the fight against Parkinsons. Steps n’ Sips starts at 9a.

ODC PHRF races continue Saturday, race starts at 1p on the Neuse.

Saturday afternoon Gospel, Blues & BBQ revs up at 3:30p, running til 9p. You’ll hear gospel, blues & rockabilly… it’s a free performance sponsored by the Pamlico Arts Council.

The Old Theater hosts Alex Williams on Saturday, shows at 3p and 7:30p. Williams background includes playing for Kool and the Gang.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

Saturday sunny and a high near 70, Sunday highs near 80. You just might have to smile.

On the Neuse east winds 5-15 Saturday, Sunday south 5-10 knots.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

10:01a The long jump. Track and field. The softball throw. They’re all part of the Special Olympics Spring Games happening Friday morning at Pamlico County High School.

You’re invited to watch and cheer on 50 athletes from 5 area schools. Registration is at 8a, opening ceremonies are at 9a. Free to attend.

Last weekend collegiate sailors descended on Oriental to compete in the SailPack Oriental Intercollegiate Regatta. Over two days, the Neuse River treated them to changing weather conditions: from light winds and a sunny Saturday, to a rainy Sunday with a small-craft-advisory-warning.

See the SailPack Regatta sailors in action here.

8:28a It’s Wednesday, and Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly has new weekly specials.

Here are the Piglet deals for April 24-30.

4:38p The Joe Brown Band. If you’ve been to Silospalooza or Gospel, Blues & Rockin’ BBQs before, you’ve probably heard them.

Joe and his band are headlining Saturday’s Gospel, Blues & Rockin’ BBQ.

Wednesday morning at 8a, the Board of Commissioners hold their first budget meeting. They’re discussing revenues and staffing. The meeting is open to the public.

3:22p Recent town meetings have been long. Sometimes, really long.

The April meeting was 2 hours, March clocked in at 3 1/2 hours. It’s municipal endurance that hopefully won’t become the norm this year (in the past, a bit over an hour was more common).

Unfortunately, long meetings have led to long meeting reports.

Here are two most recent:

• Rezonings Denied, SUP Review Coming – April 2024

• Rumors Addressed, Questions Answered – March 2024

10:14a Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival favorite The Gospel Ensemble is one of four groups performing at this weekend’s Gospel, Blues & Rockin’ BBQ.

Check them out:

Hear them live, along with Jill & Shane, John Brown, and The Southern Hellcats starting at 3:30p Saturday.

This Tuesday and Thursday, from 5:30 to 7:30p, Darla Bolon teaches self-defense for women at Pamlico Community College. $25 for both classes, and pre-registration is required.

Cool temps are back. Partly sunny today and cool temps again. High near 60, lows tonight near 40.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
• Weather Radar
• HarborCam