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Ben Casey is a storyteller, photographer, and native of Pamlico County. He has documented the people and places of his beloved home. Tonight at 6:30p at the History Museum, Ben talks about his journey on the Neuse River from Raleigh to New Bern.

12:31p TownDock.net reached out to Commissioner Chris Moffat to see if he will be running again. From Commissioner Moffat:

9:49a A familiar face has signed up to run for Oriental Town Commissioner: Charlie Overcash.

Currently, there are five declared candidates for Oriental’s five Commissioner seats: Paul Jordon, Lou Ostendorff, Iris Cooper, Dan McGuire and now Charlie Overcash.

Sally Belangia is the only candidate for Mayor.

The Oriental History Museum’s Evening Summer Speaker series begin this evening with local photographer Ben Casey.

Tonight’s presentation features photography from Ben’s trip on the Neuse River from Raleigh to Pamlico Sound. Admission is free. Begins at 6:30p at the Oriental History Museum on Broad St.

9:44a At last night’s Oriental Town Board meeting, Commissioners passed a budget, appointed seven new members to the Tourism Board and one to the Planning Board, and detailed their meeting with a street paver and the next steps to make that happen.

A full report is coming.

They also increased the frequency of the town’s mosquito spraying. Spray trucks will be out this Friday, then begin spraying on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Spraying starts at 5:30a and runs until about 7:30a.

Want your property to be excluded from spraying? Contact Town Hall and ask to be added to the list. 252-249-0555

El Taco Loco is serving at Triton Yachts boatyard, starting at 11a.

11:36a Yesterday, 2.73 inches of rain fell on Oriental. There’s a slight chance of more this afternoon.

Temps in the low to mid 80s this afternoon, then back to 90-degree weather for the rest of the week.

Tonight is Oriental’s monthly Town Board Meeting. The Public Hearing on the 2026-27 fiscal year budget continues at tonight’s meeting.

Also on the agenda: CAMA asks for the Town’s response to an application by Fulcher’s Point Pride Seafood to build a dock parallel to the harbor jetty, extending several hundred feet.

Tonight’s agenda is here.

There have been no new applications for Mayor or Commissioner submitted to the Board of Elections since last week. The candidates so far are Sally Belangia, Lou Ostendorff, Iris Cooper, Don McGuire and Paul Jordan. The filing deadline is noon Friday.

7:08a It rained for a good part of the early morning. Nearly an inch and a half of so far. There’s more in the forecast for today and tomorrow.

Good news is the high temperature will be near 80, near 85 Tuesday.

Winds are east at 10-15 mph, gusts up to 25.

Both Mariposa and The Bean are open for rainy weather coffee contemplation.

Later this afternoon, the One-Off BookClub meets at the Perry Griffen house.

Nice thing is, you don’t have to read the book. You’re invited show up and enjoy the conversation.

They’re currently reading The Artist’s Rule by Christine Valtners Painter, supplemented with Seven Thousand Ways to Listen by Mark Nepo.

3:27p Filing is open for local elections. For Oriental, the following incumbents have signed up:

Sally Belangia (mayor)
Paul Jordan (commissioner)
Iris Cooper (commissioner)
Don McGuire (commissioner)
Lou Ostendorff (commissioner)

Last day to sign up is Friday, July 17 at noon.

Looking for last weekend’s Croaker Festival photos? Find them here.

There’s rain in the weekend forecast, with the highest chance (70%) hitting on Sunday. Temps will be near 90 Saturday and mid 80s Sunday.

Ken Belangia plays at the Brewery tonight, 6-8:30p and A Taste of Philly is serving, 5-8p. Down at the Red Rooster, Magazine Street Dave starts playing at 7p.

Catch a drum and win some cash Saturday during the Volunteer Fire Department’s 2026 Hooks & Ladders Drum Fishing Tournament, 6a-3p.

Get fresh produce, flowers and more at the Oriental Farmer’s Market Saturday morning on Hodges street until 11a. Stop by the Oriental History Museum for their new exhibition Rollin’ on the River.

Meet Broad Strokes’ July Artist Susan Cheatham Saturday, 2-p and explore July’s exhibition The Medicine of Beauty.

Stop by the Library to donate or pick up from the Pet Food Pantry, 10a-2p.

Head over to Station 19 to find out the Fishing Tournament winners, take a tour of the fire station, and meet some of your local firefighters. The Open House starts at 5p.

Jasmine Tasty Thai is at the Brewery, 4-8p and Brant Island Strings play in the Beer Garden, 6-8:30p.

Join OUMC for river side services at Lou Mac Park on Sunday at 8:30a. If it rains, everyone heads inside the sanctuary just down the street.

Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium is at the Brewery 2-6p. Dress up and join the Princess Bride trivia and costume contest at 3p.

Mariposa serves fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p. On offer this weekend: a selection of white wines and sangrias.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

6:10a Thursday morning, Mary Yount came across an elusive Oriental resident sunning on the town’s free dock. Take a look:

Need a little help feeding your pet? Or want to donate to a worthy cause?

4PAWS, Friends of the Library and Pamlico Animal Welfare Society have created the Pamlico Pet Food Pantry, for county residents in need of pet food or litter.

They’re open on the second Saturday of the month, at the Pamlico Library, 10a-2p. Find out more, including how to donate, here.

A heat advisory is still in effect today. Highs in the mid 90s, heat index up to 106. Winds are from the west at 5-10mph.

3:55p Pamlico County’s property tax reappraisals will have to wait a fiscal year to go into effect.

SB 474 was signed by Governor Josh Stein this past Tuesday. It adds Pamlico County back onto the original moratorium bill. That bill was passed, and it freezes the current revaluation rate. The County will have to use the last fiscal year’s rates for 2026.

Now that Pamlico County has been added back in, residents have time to get an appraisal and appeal their property revaluation.

The full text of SB 474 is here.

Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium is at the Brewery tonight, 4-8p. The Gathering is 6p at The Bean.

2:07p Federal and state elections are just a few months ahead: November 2026. Joining them on the ballot are Oriental’s races for mayor and commissioner.

A previous board made the controversial vote to move municipal elections to even years, coinciding with partisan state and federal elections.

The result is that current Commissioners are in the seventh month of their shortened, one-year term. If they want to stay in office, they must run again.

Filing is happening now at the Pamlico County courthouse. Interested parties have until Friday, July 17 at noon to submit their application and filing fee to the Pamlico Board of Elections.

All who have filed so far are incumbents. Here are the names:

Sally Belangia (mayor)
Paul Jordan (commissioner)
Iris Cooper (commissioner)
Don McGuire (commissioner)

Sign up to help a good cause – and maybe win $1,000.

Join 2026 Hooks & Ladders Drum Fishing Tournament on July 11, 6a-3p. Win cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Tournament details are here.

Tournament benefits the Southeast Pamlico VFD & EMS.

Awards happen that evening at the Station 19 Open House & Cookout fundraiser. You don’t have to go fishing to attend the Open House.

7:45a After a weekend of brutal heat, the rain may be heading our way. 50% chance of rain this afternoon, and a 70% chance Tuesday and Wednesday.

Despite the possibility of rain, highs are near 90 and heat index up to 107 today. Winds out of the southwest at 5mph, increasing to 10-15 this afternoon.

Visit Broad Strokes Gallery this morning and see the artists at work during their Open Studio hours, 9a-noon.

Typhoon Sailing happens at Bow to Stern this afternoon at 3 & 5p. Tonight at 7p, Pamlico County Commissioners hold the first of their two monthly meetings. Tonight’s agenda is here.

Views from this weekend’s CroakerFest are coming.

9:14a Happy Independence Day.

Today’s parade begins at 10a.

Floats line up along Ragan Rd and will follow a path down Broad Street, along Hodges to the Water front, past Lou Mac Park, and back to Ragan Rd. Your seat is anywhere along the route.

That heat advisory is still in effect – heat index up to 107. Take it easy out there.

The Oriental Bridge closes at 3p to traffic for the fireworks installation.

Fireworks start around 9:15p.

2:21p It’s Croaker Festival Weekend. A parade, fireworks. Even Mini Miss Minnow.

Opening ceremonies today at 4p, by Lou Mac park. The Pamlico Chorale, the Community Band. Norman Rockwell would be pleased.

Then there’s the Mini Miss Minnow Pageant, the Miss Minnow Pageant, the Croaker Queen Pageant. Live music. The detailed Croaker Festival Schedule is here.

Meanwhile Tanja’s German Street Food truck at the brewery, with Gary Lee & The Buttreys playing the beer garden tonight.

Saturday at the Croaker Festival, parade at 10a, fireworks 9:15p, and everything else in between. Two food trucks Saturday at New Village Brewery, and Hoff’n‘Finch play the beer garden.

Broad Strokes Gallery opens a special exhibit celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary: This Land, This Water. Opening reception July 4th, from 2-5p.

Sunday 8:30a at Lou Mac park, Oriental United Methodist Church has a riverside service.

It’s all in What’s Happening – and the Croaker Festival Guide.

6:42a At noon, South Avenue along Lou Mac Park and the river front shuts down to vehicle traffic for the Croaker Festival.

Today, vendor booths open at 9a. Opening ceremonies happen at Lou Mac Park at 4p followed by the Pamlico Chorale and Pamlico Community Band play.

Several contests are also happening today: the baking contest and the Miss Minnow, Mini Miss Minnow and Croaker Queen pageants. Southern Hellcats close out the night on the Main Stage.

The full schedule can be found here.

You may want to take precautions for the heat; the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for today, in effect noon – 8p.

Highs are forecast for the mid 90s, with a heat index up to 107. West winds will be around 5mph, becoming south this afternoon.

4:38p Four members of the Town’s Tourism Board resigned at the June 26 Special Town Board Meeting.

They write in explaining their decision.

This Saturday is the Croaker Festival fireworks.

Organizers say it will be one of the biggest fireworks displays the festival has ever had. That takes a little more money.

So far, they’ve raised $16,402 of the $20,000, to help cover the cost.

if you’d like to help out, you can stop by Marsha’s Cottage with your donation.

7:36a Registration for the second session of the Children’s Theater Summer Workshop is still open.

Session 2 runs July 13 – 24, and is for rising 4th & 5th and 9th-12th graders.

Students learn acting fundamentals and how to tell stories on stage. Registration closes July 10. Scholarships available.

More details, and registration information is here.

High today near 90, with winds from the southeast at 5-10 mph.

On the Neuse, winds are light, and will be south around 5 knots later this morning, then east later this afternoon.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental Weather Station

5:24p Highway 55 / Broad Street is closed off at Brantley’s‘s for a two car accident. Traffic stopped in both directions. EMS on scene.

11:03a Speed limits in Oriental are on the lower end: 35, 25 and even 15 mph. There’s good reason.

Cars, bikes, and golf carts aren’t the only ones using the road. Some traffic travels by foot.

Keep an eye out for pedestrians if you’re heading to El Taco Loco at Triton Yachts. The food truck is on site, serving lunch for the next few hours.

Tonight at 5p is the Wednesday Night Sail. At 7p, join the crowd at the Silos for Open Mic night.

Find the details in What’s Happening.

8:19a Freemason Street, between 1st Ave and South Ave, is closing today to set up the Croaker Festival main stage.

If you’re out and about this morning, you’ll notice it’s a bit cooler. 76 as of this writing, and a high near 90 today.

Temps will climb as we get closer to Saturday, up to 99 on Independence Day. Heat index values on Saturday will get up to 110.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

The heat index means more than just how hot it is. It’s heat, plus humidity, for how hot it feels.

The National Weather Services issues heat advisories along with common sense precautions like: stay out of the sun, wear light clothing, stay hydrated, get animals and young children out of the heat, stay in air conditioning or shade, and know the signs of heat illness – like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

1:57p Part of Croakerfest this weekend… is the Croakerfest Regatta. You can use your own boat, or rent one from Bow To Stern. It’s an event for smaller boats, including FJs, Sunfish, 420s – and this year adding Typhoons.

More regatta info here.

Life. Decisions. Just what should you do?

Your Salty Celeste horoscope has answers.

8:20a Town Hall is closed Tuesday. From Town Manager Diane Miller:

Every year, students from Duke University’s Global Health Institute visit Pamlico County to do research, and to help.

They’re part of the Duke-Pamlico Partnership for Health and they work closely with non-profits like Hope Clinic, HeartWorks, and the Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition.

This year, students are interviewing Pamlico County residents. They want to understand the social and emotional impacts of storms and hurricanes on residents, in order to provide better support for future events.

You can take the survey and sign up here.

3:34p Go drum fishing and you could win up to $1,000.

Southeast Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department and Oriental Deli present the 2026 Hooks & Ladders Drum Fishing Tournament on July 11, 6a-3p. Monetary prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Tournament details are here.

Tournament benefits the Southeast Pamlico VFD & EMS.

Afterwards, meet at Station 19 at 5p for an Open House & Cookout fundraiser, and to find out the winners.

You don’t have to go fishing to attend the Open House.

8:27a America has a birthday coming up. And it’s a big one. 250 years.

Every year, Pamlico County celebrates the nation’s birthday with a free event known as the Croaker Festival. That means two days of parades, pageants, baking contests, and fireworks.

Those fireworks are going to be twice as big. To do that, the folks at the Croaker Festival need your help.

The annual fireworks display from Oriental’s Bridge usually costs $10,000. Fireworks worthy of a quarter millennium celebration cost a little more. You can help make it happen by donating to the Croakerfest Fireworks Fund.

2:53p At this morning’s special meeting, Commissioners voted for an interim budget until the matter of SB 474 is settled by the General Assembly.

SB 474 would add Pamlico County to the list of counties that have been granted a moratorium on this year’s property tax reappraisals. It failed in a roll call vote on 6/23 (Senator Norm Sanderson, Senator for Pamlico County, voted against it).

The bill has been referred to Committee, where it may be advanced, rejected, or left to die if not scheduled for a hearing.

The request from CAMA for comment on the proposed dock in Oriental Harbor has been delayed. The original application was deemed incomplete and a new application – and comment period – will be forthcoming.

We may be in for some rain this weekend along with the heat: rain chance up to 70% and heat index values up to 105 Saturday, 107 Sunday.

Taqueria San Luis is at the Brewery tonight, 4-8p. Brant Island Strings plays 5-7p. George Bailey plays live down the road at the Red Rooster at 7p.

The Oriental Farmer’s Market is open on Hodges Street by the harbor, 8-11a.

Sign up for the USCG Auxiliary Boat America Class, at Riverside UMC in New Bern. Learn the legal requirements of boating, how to navigate the waterways and more. Many insurance companies also offer discounts on boat insurance for having completed this course.

Saturday is also the 9th Anniversary of New Village Brewery. To celebrate, the Brewery is hosting a BBQ potluck – Frank provides the BBQ, you bring the side dishes. Ken Belangia, Mark Tesh, Nottaband and others provide the music. Food served around 3p, music runs all day.

Saturday is the opening of The Oriental History Museum’s Newest Exhibit: Rollin’ on the River. Find out how the Neuse fueled the lives and economy of eastern North Carolina. Join the Opening Day Reception on Saturday, 1-4p.

Sunday, join Oriental UMC in Lou Mac Park for the Riverside Service at 8:30a. While there are usually plenty of chairs, you can bring your own, or listen from your golf cart, bike or car.

This is the last weekend to enjoy the artwork of Broad Strokes’ June artists Charlie and Susan Frye, before the July artists are announced. Broad Strokes Gallery is open all weekend.

Mariposa serves fresh baked goods Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

6:41a A Special Budget meeting happens this morning at 9a at Town Hall. Commissioners are attempting to pass a budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year, but have been held up by pending state legislation.

They’ll discuss the paths forward at this morning meeting. Also on the morning agenda: a request for the Town’s response to a CAMA permit for a 600’ dock in Oriental’s harbor, new auxiliary board appointees, and a proposed change to the Tourism ordinance.

Find the agenda and documents here.

8:13a The pecan tree in Lupton Park is coming down this morning.

The tree company is on site. If you’d like any of the wood, visit the park this morning to pick it up and haul it off.

Today is Game Day with Prime Time – they meet at the Fellowship Hall at the Oriental United Methodist Church, 2-4p. Taco Loco serves lunch at Triton Boat Yard starting at 11a.

This evening is the Wednesday Night Sail (at 5p) and Open Mic Night at the Silos (7p).

Find a lost pet and trying to find the owner? A new scanner at Town Hall might help.

There’s a chip scanner on the side of Town Hall, near the office door. To use, break the plastic tie holding the door closed, and follow the instructions inside.

If the pet has a chip, the scanner will provide the information. The box also has the information for contacting Pamlico County Animal Control.