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At left, Sylvia “Ms. Sil” and Brantley Norman, in a 2005 photo. In 2005 they had just celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary. At right, Ms. Sil with one of her trademark pies. Sylvia Norman passed away Tuesday morning, age 87 (Brantley Norman departed in 2018). Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the folks at Brantley’s and the Norman family. (TownDock file photos)

7:38p Results: 545 ballots cast. It’s an all new board.

Paul Jordan, Chris Moffat, Iris Cooper, Lou Ostendorff and Don McGuire elected. Incumbents Crosser and Price distantly trailed.

Paul Jordan: 380 votes
Chris Moffat: 375 votes
Iris Cooper: 308 votes
Lou Ostendorff: 285 votes
Don McGuire: 268 votes

Paul Fairbank 260 / Greg Bohmert 151 / Mary Ellen Ham 139 / Bonnie Crosser 123 / Allen Price 106 / Bob Maxbauer 52

Mayor Sally Belangia, unopposed, was re-elected.

More election info here.

5:30p Polls close at 7:30p (you can still vote until then). TownDock will have results online as soon as possible after that.

The last town election (2023) we were able to publish results within 10 minutes of polls closing. It will depend on how quickly election workers are able to process results.

There are indications we may have a record voter turnout. We’ll know after the polls close. Results coming tonight after 7:30p.

3:16p George Beckwith passed away in early October, while working on his farm in Virginia.

A celebration of George’s life is tomorrow at 1p at Christ Church, 320 Pollock Street, New Bern.

It will be followed by a reception in his honor at Copper Ridge on the Neuse, 2706 Old Cherry Point Rd, New Bern.

10:33a It is happily autumn out there. Sunny & mid 60s today, 70 Wednesday.

Today is election day, polls open til 7:30p. Results will be posted on TownDock.net tonight after the polls close.

Campaign signs dot the village… pics from a morning bike ride:

Saturday is the re-scheduled Oriental Cup Regatta. The day has an ideal 10-15 knot forecast.

9:16a No early voting this year. There is one day to vote… election day: tomorrow, Tuesday Nov 4.

In Oriental you vote at Fire Station 19 on Straight Rd. The polls will be open in North Carolina from 6:30a to 7:30p.

Here is a sample ballot for this election.

Re the town board elections, a couple links:

• Meet the 2025 Town Board Candidates

• Oriental Candidates Forum 2025

7:55a The workforce is now less challenged:

Back to the normal two boat schedule.

5:35a Ya gotta give the the Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach Ferry folks kudos for candor:

We are on an amended schedule due to workforce challenges.

Departing Cherry Branch 5:00a, 5:45a, 6:45a, 7:45a, 9:00a, 10:00a, 11:00a, 12:00p, 1:30p, 2:30p, 3:30p, 4:30p, 5:30p, 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:30p, 10:00p.
Departing Minnesott Beach 5:25a, 6:15a, 7:15a, 8:30a, 9:30a, 10:30a, 11:30a, 12:30p, 2:00p, 3:00p, 4:00p, 5:00p, 6:00p, 7:00p, 8:00p, 9:00p, 11:00p.

4:04p The witches are ditching the paddle & row:

12:55p Paddle, with witches. Be brave. It’s today at 4:30p.

9:17a You’ll get brighter mornings. And darker evenings.

But you do need to remember to set the clock back an hour on your microwave.

There’s a chance (30%) of rain this afternoon.

Happy Sunday.

1:31p For you, dear erudite reader, three Halloween quotes:

12:21p Halloween tonight? Witches Crawl, Brewery costume party, Ghost Walk… scroll down for details.

There are a couple of non-Halloween events this weekend too. Oriental Recreation Park hosts it’s Fall Festival Saturday. Broad Strokes Gallery After Dark Gala is Saturday night. More in What’s Happening.

November begins tomorrow, which means it’s almost December. Dang if it don’t happen every year.

The second weekend in December is Spirit Of Christmas in Oriental, Dec 11-13.

Luminaria glow. Businesses open houses (a lotta food). A lighted flotilla… and there is the Spirit Of Christmas Parade Saturday. The parade happens because creative folk like you step up with parade entries.

You can enter the parade with this online form.

Coming sooner: Election Day. It’s Tuesday Nov 4. Several letters have come in on that subject.

That’s it for what has been the year’s most powerful hurricane… it is now Post-Tropical Cyclone Melissa.

8:50a Hurricane Melissa is 600 miles east of Beaufort, just north of Bermuda. Not bothering us.

The storm is moving fast into colder Atlantic waters, and is expected to become “extratropical” later today.

• Hurricane Melissa Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Center

Sunny & mid 60s today, lower 60s Saturday. West winds (we don’t get these often) on the Neuse.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

6:28a Halloween… ie All Hallows’ Eve.

For your spooky social calendar: Tonight (and again Friday), join the Ghost Walk, at both 8p & 10p, beginning in front of the Provision Company.

Friday, Hoff’n‘Finch have a Howl-o-ween party & costume contest at New Village Brewery. The Silverbrooke Witches perform their Witche’s Crawl at 6 and 7p, at the corner of King & First Streets (there are ‘Little Witches’ too).

Sunday, The Silverbrooke Witches invite you for a sunset paddle on the creeks, 4:30p. It starts at the Wildlife Ramp.

11:18a TownDock welcomes a new daily feature today, and with that, a new staffer.

In an uncertain world, sometimes you need some celestial guidance.

Introducing Salty Celeste’s Daily Horoscopes.

11:10a Hurricane Melissa is now north of Cuba, 100 mph winds. The storm is forecast to move rapidly northeast over the Atlantic, passing on or near Bermuda, and reaching Newfoundland by Saturday.

• Hurricane Melissa Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Center

7:20a The Bean is open.

6:14a Water levels are still high (1.76 ft), but they are down enough that the ferries are back in action.

Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly rolls out new weekly specials every Wednesday.

Here are the Piglet deals for Oct 29 – Nov 4.

11:10a Hurricane Melissa is about to make landfall at Jamaica. The storm is now 185 mph.

• Hurricane Melissa Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Melissa Public Advisory
• Hurricane Melissa Forecaster’s Discussion & Computer Models
• Hurricane Center

10:42a More Letters to the Editor have been sent in, adding to the ongoing conversation on local elections.

Read the most recent by clicking on the links below:

• Gregory Bohmert
• Former Finance Director Tammy Cox
• Carol Small, second letter
• Butch Rasmussen, second letter
• Gregory Bohmert, second letter

9:37a There were about 300 chili tasters at Saturday’s Chili Cookoff. TownDock crew braved the scene.

6:42a No Cherry Branch / Minnesott Beach Ferry this morning…. high water levels are the culprit.

And high they are:

On the Neuse, a GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT.

Today northeast winds 25 – 35 knots, gusts to 40. Tonight again northeast, slightly down to 25 To 30, gusts to 35 knots.

No high water relief until Thursday, when winds become southerly.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

The morning view on Hodges St:

(Joe Clark photo)

1:28p At The Chili CookOff there is a first place Judge’s Award, and a People’s Choice. They usually are not the same outcome.

This year, one chili was victorious in both categories: Gretchen’s Bistro, 1st Place People’s Choice, 1st Place Judge’s Award. Congratulations and kudos to Gretchen’s.

• 1st Place: Gretchen’s Bistro
• 2nd Place: Larry Summers / DAV
• 3rd Place: Toucan Grill

• 1st Place: Gretchen’s Bistro
• 2nd Place: Larry Summers / DAV
• 3rd Place: Mariposa Wine Bar & Bakery

• 1st Place: St. Thomas Episcopal
• 2nd Place: Mariposa Wine Bar & Bakery
• 3rd Place: Marine Corp League

3:27p Oriental had an event last night that most small towns don’t get to experience: a forum with nine town board candidates, responding to questions about the office they seek.

The 2025 Candidates’ Forum was sponsored by TownDock.net and The Pamlico News, with the venue provided by the Old Theater.

It was a packed theater. Here’s the report.

12:40p There are almost as many events this weekend as there are Oriental residents. OK, a little exaggeration… but that’s the point. Just a little.

Tonight is a ‘Work In Progress’ screening of Mavericks & Multihulls, 6p, Old Theater. La Cocina del Coqui (try and say that) food truck 4-8p at the brewery, with Brant Island Strings in the beer garden. George Bailey plays the Red Rooster (Silos) starting at 7. October artist of the month at Broad Strokes Gallery is Jonathan Burger. The Oriental Ghost Walk is Fri & Sat nights, 8p, meet at the Provision Company.

Saturday get to know six of the commissioner candidates at a Candidate Meet & Greet, 10a at the Oriental Woman’s Club. Farmers’ Market on. Hodges near the harbor, 8a-11. Mariposa Wine Bar & Bakery is open Sat-Sun-Mon. The bakery (w morning coffee) open 7a-10, wine bar 3p-8. The 17th Annual Chili Cook-off has hot stuff 11a – 1p at the Oriental Marina & Inn. Ten bucks gets you in, and $ all go to the Old Theater.

More Saturday: Nautical Wheelers’ has wine tastings at 2 & 3p. Andy Woolgar presents INZUZO Wines. New Village Brewery hosts at Taqueria San Luis food truck, TerraTones play the beer garden.

Sunday morning church service at Lou Mac Park. Classical meets contemporary: Vision Duo at the River Dunes Harbor Club, Sunday 4:30p.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

9:35a Thank you for a packed Candidates’ Forum last night in Oriental. Every seat was taken, and a few folks were standing at the back to take it all in.

There are eleven candidates for commissioner in Oriental, nine participated in last night’s forum. TownDock will have a report online today, including audio from all the candidate’s there.

11:10a Duke Power has recently been trimming trees in Oriental. They have the legal right to trim trees near power lines.

That said, the recent work hasn’t been pretty. Some trees have not been trimmed so much as hacked & assaulted.

The Tree Board and Town Hall have reached out to Duke with complaints about this, and as of this morning Duke has agreed to “pulling out of Oriental until they can get some supervision in there.”

Adult supervision is a beautiful thing.

9:27a Tonight is the Candidates’ Forum, 6p at the Old Theater. Doors open at 5:30p.

There are eleven candidates for Oriental town board, all have been invited.

You’re invited too. Pamlico Community College President Zac Schnell will moderate. The candidates will be seated on stage.

If you’re coming, be a thoughtful guest. No signs, just watch & listen. The audience will be asked to hold applause until the end of the event.

After the election, we will still all be neighbors in our great little town. Doug Sligh writes in on that thought.

4:03p October’s monthly Town Meeting saw the return of Robert’s Rules of Order, and some speculation on the limits of the Oriental Officer’s jurisdiction.

The meeting report is live.

9:51a A small coastal town collects stories over the decades. Some of them might be described as ghost stories. Dale Montgomery has made it his mission to collect odd stories of Oriental’s past.

Dale’s Ghost Walk is back, this Fri & Sat, Oct 24 & 25, and again on Oct 30 & 31.

The Ghost Walk is about 90 minutes, starting and ending at the Provision Company. Arrive 15 minutes early. Flashlights are provided. This weekend the Ghost Walk is at 8p, Halloween week they are at 8 and 10p.

The Ghost Walk is a fundraiser for Oriental’s History Museum. Cash (and check) donations accepted.

A while back TownDock did a story about Dale’s Ghost Walk. Read on…

It’s Wednesday, and Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly has new weekly specials.

Here are the Piglet deals for Oct 22 – 28.

4:37p Election day in Oriental is Tuesday Nov 4. Would you like to learn more about the candidates seeking the 5 seats on Oriental’s Town Board?

The Pamlico News and TownDock.net host a candidates’ forum Thursday, October 23, 6p at the Old Theater. Admission is free. All eleven candidates have been invited to take part, nine have accepted.

The candidates will have the opportunity to respond to questions about Oriental. The questions will be the same for all.

12:14p Tropical Storm Melissa has been declared, south of Haiti & Jamaica in the Caribbean.

Melissa is forecast to have an odd course north, bringing hurricane conditions to Haiti, and then head northeast and out to sea. Not a probable visitor to our town.

• Tropical Storm Melissa Tracking Chart
• Tropical Storm Melissa Forecaster’s Discussion & Computer Models
• Hurricane Center

10:07a How Will Pamlico County Property Taxes be Assessed in 2026?

That’s on the agenda tonight at the Pamlico County Board Meeting, 7p. This is an opportunity for the public to comment on the “2026 Schedule of Values” – a rating system to be used for property tax assessment. Oriental Town Manager Diane Miller told the town board at the October town board meeting: “You should be aware. It is going to change your property values.”

Tonight’s Public Hearing at the county board meeting is the only opportunity to comment on this system.

The “Schedule of Values” already exists, this is just the latest version. Ideally, this is what it does:

Does it actually do that? That may come up at the public hearing tonight.

The proposed “Schedule of Values 2026” is 367 pages long. For you dedicated readers, here it is.

The agenda for tonight’s meeting is here. It’s less scary – only one page.

2:31p Sunshine & dry returns for the weekend, temps near 70 Saturday, 80 Sunday.

At the brewery Taqueria San Luis food truck 4-8p today, with Shawn Aldridge & Kim Brookshire playing the beer garden. Tonight at the Red Rooster, Hoff n Finch.

Like cool boats? It’s the B&B Yachts Messabout, this weekend at B&B just a few miles outside of Bayboro. Village farmers will have their wares at the Farmer’s Market Saturday morning near the harbor. Pamlico County Heritage Day is Saturday at the Pamlico County Museum and Heritage Center in Grantsboro.

More Saturday: The Grand Opening of Carolina Vintage Vibe, a new store in Oriental on Broad St. The OUMC Wing & A Prayer Chicken Dinner and Bake Sale starts at 4:30p. Get yer chicken plate for $15. All About Churros food truck at New Village Brewery, with Mac McWilliams jammin’ the beer garden.

Great weather for Sunday morning church services riverside at Lou Mac Park at 8:30a. The Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra performs two shows in Oriental, Sunday & Monday. Both are SOLD OUT. Yes, Hayde really is that good.

Find it all in What’s Happening.

12:12p Oriental’s reputation as a sailing town was born in the 60’s & 70s, as folks (primarily from the Raleigh area) discovered a little town with great sailing conditions.

It’s what inspired boat yards to launch in Oriental. Deaton’s (now Zimmermans) began in 1979, Sailcraft opened even a few years earlier.

This sailing thing also brought in… sailmakers. The History of Sailmaking in Oriental… read it here.

9:25p It was cloudy all day yesterday, and then suddenly just before sunset… all clear.

Walking by the harbor at dusk:

5:27a The Minnesott Beach/Cherry Branch Ferry is back in action with the regular two boat schedule.

It must be autumn… sunny & mid 60s today & Friday. Saturday warms up to 70, Sunday might get to 80.

• Oriental NC Forecast

Water levels are creeping down, now at 1.7 ft. Remaining flood waters should totally go away this weekend… Saturday evening winds become from the south. The south winds will take the waters away, as well as deliver some warmer air.

• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

Storm Lorenzo has become a remnant low. The mid October message from the National Hurricane Center this morning is a simple one:

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

1:55p There are municipal elections coming up on Nov 4 – Oriental will be electing a mayor and 5 commissioners.

With 11 candidates on the ballot for town commissioner, TownDock.net asked the candidates to write in with an introduction and their vision for Oriental.

10:14a We’re sad about the loss of George Beckwith. From time to time, George would visit with TownDock staff and talk about fishing. We are fortunate to have archived some of those talks.

In September 2019 George sat with us on the side deck of The Bean. He shared his knowledge about Drum, Speckled Trout… and just fishing in general.

George Beckwith, Jr passed away Oct 6.

Multiple Oriental residents (and even an ex resident) have written in regarding the upcoming town board elections. Their letters are here.

5:40a Now one of the boats is misbehaving. From the Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach Ferry:

We are currently operating an amended schedule due to mechanical issues.
Departing Cherry Branch 5:00a, 5:45a, 6:45a, 7:45a, 9:00a, 10:00a, 11:00a, 12:00p, 1:30p, 2:30p, 3:30p, 4:30p, 5:30p, 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:30p, 10:00p
Departing Minnesott Beach 5:25a, 6:15a, 7:15a, 8:30a, 9:30a, 10:30a, 11:30a, 12:30p, 2:00p, 3:00p, 4:00p, 5:00p, 6:00p, 7:00p, 8:00p, 9:00p, 11:00p