Ocrafolk School and Fall Concert Activities

The Ocrafolk School had a successful run this last week on Ocracoke Island. This year's classes included Island Cooking with Debbie Wells, Pottery with Wes Lassiter and Rhonda Bates, the Ocrafolk Sampler with Philip Howard, David Senseney and Rob Temple, Making Ships in Bottles with Jim Goodwin, Island Photography with Ann Ehringhaus, and Songwriting with Marcy Brenner. Over thirty participants came from off of Ocracoke to participate in the food, music, and celebration of Coastal Heritage.

One of the special events in this year's retreat was a traditional Old Drum dinner hosted by Merle Davis. This meal consists of Red Drum fish, boiled and crumbled on a pile of potatoes with mixings of bacon, green onions, hard boiled eggs, and a hot vinegar sauce. After instructions by Merle Davis and John Ivey Wells, the Ocrafolk School commenced to feasting and then sat back to enjoy music from the Ocrafolk Opry. Molasses Creek, April Trueblood, Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro, Jamie Tunnell, Wes Lassiter, and Lachlan Howard all gave stellar performances.

The school finished up on Friday, October 30, and Halloween came quickly on its heels. Trick-or-treaters streamed down Lighthouse road to gather up goodies from the Down Pointers. Around 8:30 most of the ghouls had made their way home to duck out of the sites of roving bands of eggers (these youths mainly target each other). As the kids retired for the evening, adults emerged to participate in Halloween parties at Howard's Pub and Dajios.

Molasses Creek Performs at Public Radio East's 25th Anniversary Concert

On Sunday, November 9th, Molasses Creek joined Public Radio East host Finley Woolsten and friends in a benefit concert for Public Radio East at Orringer Auditorium on the campus of Craven Community College in New Bern. The roster of entertainers also included Down East Baroque, Andrea and Phil Owens, Lightnin Wells, and Margaret and Wayne Martin. The concert was a great success. Public Radio East is planning to play selections of the concert over the air and may release the concert as an upcoming podcast. Keep posted so that you can hear the "Dumb Jokes" Song with Finley and Molasses Creek. Not to be missed!