Stopping to smell the flowers of fall
These last two weeks Ocracoke residents have been enjoying an Indian summer here on the island. The temperatures have stayed in the 70s during the day, dropping to the 50s in the evening. The beaches are scattered with shells and surf-fisherfolk casting their lot to the cooling waters. A few beachgoers dare to swim in the ocean, knowing that the brisk water temperatures will soon be too cold to enjoy until next May.
In the evenings, the pole lights of flounder-giggers can be seen bobbing their way along the soundside banks of the island. They illuminate the outlines of crafty flounder (waiting for unsuspecting prey) embedded under thin mists of sand. Island residents start to breathe deeper as many businesses take inventory and tighten down the hatches for another winter season. Winter projects long dreamed of awake to reality. Potlucks, wine tastings, movie nights, painting, writing, scheming, reading . . . all the wonderful joys of a relaxed life unattainable during the summer are now possible!
On Ocracoke Island
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Ocracoke Village Hosts 2nd Annual Village Days
Works by Ocracoke Artists Joko showing at Deepwater Theater
The weekend of November 4-6 Ocracoke Village hosted its second annual Ocracoke Village Days. On Friday evening, the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department hosted a fundraiser “Quizo” evening. As you might have guessed, “Quizo” is the Ocracoke equivalent of Bingo with players competing for prizes donated by island businesses. The name change occurred several years ago when it was illegal in hold a gambling event on Ocracoke, even if the proceeds were designated to a non-profit. By changing the name of the game from Bingo to “Quizo,” and by asking a question to the person who first filled their “Quizo” card correctly (ie, “What is the color of your hair?”) the game was able to circumnavigate the gambling laws. To this day, we still play “Quizo” at the Fire Hall during the season. The Bingo cards even have the B-I-N-G-O crossed out and replaced by Q-U-I-Z-O.
Friday evening Philip Howard hosted a Ghost and History Walk. The walk featured many of the spookily historic Ocracoke tales that Philip has been collecting from island residents over the years.
A sunset beach by Kitty Mitchell
The island offered plenty of activities for visitors and residents on Saturday. An Ocracoke Village Artist Tour featured the works of local photographers, painters, woodworkers, jewelers, potters, carvers, musicians, and quilters. Two shuttle buses took travelers to over 21 locations throughout the Ocracoke. During the early afternoon, National Park Service Interpreter, Gail Fox, opened the Ocracoke lighthouse for viewing. Participants also caught live music at Deepwater Pottery and lined up to have their books and Cds signed by local authors and musicians. The Ocracoke Preservation Museum featured local quilts of the past and present and Philip Howard hosted another round of Ocracoke Stories on the front porch of the Village Craftsmen on Howard Street.
Lou Castro, Marcy Brenner, Fiddler Dave, Jule Garrish,
and Gary Mitchell picking at Deepwater Pottery
Saturday evening, the young musicians of Ocracoke let it all hang out at the Flat Cat Café at the Ocracoke Community Center. A traditional Ocracoke square dance was soon to follow with calling by Philip Howard, and music by Marcy and Lou Castro of Coyote, Kitty Mitchell of Molasses Creek, and other special guests. The weekend rounded out on Sunday morning with a Flea Market on the lawn of the Island Inn.
Authors Pat Garber and Ann Ehringhaus signing books
This year’s “Village Days” was sponsored by the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Beaufort Arts Council, Hyde County Transit, and the Ocracoke Youth Center. If you are interested in attending next year’s Ocracoke Village Days, you can keep up with details at the Ocracoke Village Website at www.ocracokevillage.com.
Ocracoke Preservation Society Holds Fall Membership Meeting
On Tuesday, November 8th, the Ocracoke Preservation Society held its annual fall membership meeting/potluck at the Ocracoke Community Center. Frank Brown opened the meeting after dinner, and was joined by president Pat Garber, manager Julie Howard, and other members at large who summed up the year’s activities.
The OPS awarded Philip Howard the 2005 Historic House Award for his restoration of the Bragg Howard House on Lawton Lane. This year’s quilt raffle winner was Sharon Krause of Charlottesville, VA. The membership voted in a new board of directors, and the evening concluded with a presentation on Purple Martins and their presence on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
New York Times Features Ocracoke in Travel Section
November 11, 2005 the New York Times featured an article on Ocracoke in the off-season by Cindy Price. Mentioned in the article are Philip Howard and Fiddler Dave and Amy Howard’s son Lachlan as well as other island residents. To read more go to http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/travel/11ocracoke.html
Off Island
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Gary and Dave at Environmental Conference
Guitar Gary and Fiddler Dave traveled to the 4-H retreat center west of Columbia, NC to perform at the annual NC Environmental Educator’s Conference. Teachers and environmental professionals from all over North Carolina gathered for four days of workshops, food, and fellowship culminating in an evening of fund-raising, music, and contra-dancing on Saturday night.
Molasses Creek, Coyote, and Noah Paley prepare for Arts Market
On Saturday Molasses Creek, Coyote, and Noah Paley will convene on High Point, NC for the Bi-annual NC Arts Council Arts Market. In addition to attending workshops and meeting with presenters from across the region, the crew will be showcasing the “Ocrafolk Opry on Tour” on Monday morning at the High Point Theater. Although this is a private event, we hope it will result in many bookings in your neighborhoods!
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