MAYOR HIGH PRESENTS CONSTITUTION WEEK PROCLAMATION TO DAR
Edenton Town Council meeting at a glance
Electric Department, Board Appointments and Harbor Repairs Discussed
September 8, 2026
- Electric Department property: Council continued discussing the possible acquisition of land for a future Electric Department site near Hubley Drive. No action was taken. Staff is still working through access and right-of-way issues and discussed substantial buffers between the proposed site and nearby residential areas. Development of the property, if it moves forward, would likely be phased over several years.
- Board of Adjustment appointments: Council appointed John Woodand Anne-Marie Sparks to regular seats on the Board of Adjustment. Hal Murray was subsequently appointed as an alternate member.
- Edenton Harbor repairs: Council approved a resolution supporting the town's application for a Boating Infrastructure Grant for additional harbor and breakwater repairs. The proposed project totals $296,480, with an estimated $222,360 in federal grant fundingand a $74,120 local match. The grant would address four remaining breakwater repair locations and other related waterfront infrastructure needs.
- Filbert's Creek flooding project: Council selected The Wooten Company as the most-qualified engineering firm for the next phase of the Filbert's Creek Restoration project and authorized contract negotiations. The engineering work will examine flooding, the existing constructed wetlands, possible expansion, greenway improvements and other nature-based drainage solutions. The engineering/design phase is expected to be covered through grant funding.
- Constitution Week: Mayor Hackney High proclaimed September 17–23, 2026, Constitution Week in Edenton, recognizing the Constitution and the role of Edenton-area figures in its creation and ratification.
- Public safety concern:Residents raised concerns about an August 22 shooting on West Freemason Street, where a stray bullet struck a residence. Council acknowledged the concern and discussed the difficulty police face when witnesses are unwilling to provide information.
- Town website improvements: The town manager reported that agenda packets for the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board and Board of Adjustment are now being placed online, with the intention of posting them when packets are distributed before meetings.
- East Queen Street trees: The town manager said removal of several crape myrtles resulted from a miscommunication. The trees had been intended for pruning rather than removal and will be replanted.
- Main Street Edenton: A public update on Main Street Edenton's activities and use of town-supported economic-development funding is expected in October, with the organization working on a twice-yearly public report.
- Long-delayed development projects: Council expressed growing frustration over delays involving the Beechwood development and downtown Hinton Hotel project and asked that both matters return to the council agenda for further updates. Staff reported that hotel construction plans have been submitted for review, but financing remains an issue.
- Natural gas and internet: Council asked staff to continue discussions with NCDOT and Piedmont Natural Gas about the possibility of extending natural gas infrastructure in conjunction with a future bridge project. Council also requested follow-up regarding promised internet connections in town parks.
TOWN NEWS
Chowan Senior Center Month
September is Senior Center Month, a fitting time to recognize the important role the Chowan Senior Center plays in keeping area seniors active, connected and engaged in their community.
Under the guidance of Chowan Senior Center Program Director & Coordinator Sandra Taylor and her staff, the center at 204 E. Church Street has become far more than a place to stop by for an occasional activity. A North Carolina Certified Senior Center of Excellence, its mission is to enhance the quality of life for senior adults — something reflected in a September calendar filled with opportunities for fitness, friendship, education, recreation and even adventure.
One of September’s particularly valuable additions is a beginner-friendly self-defense class designed for senior adults. Taught by Rommel Cortezano, classes are scheduled Sept. 11 and 25 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., as well as every Monday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. The program offers seniors an opportunity to learn practical personal-safety skills while also building confidence and remaining physically active.
Historic Edenton Trivia Night
How well do you know Edenton’s fascinating history? Friends of State Historic Sites–Edenton will host “Pour Me a Fact: Historic Edenton Trivia” on Thursday, September 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Edenton Bay Trading Company.
Gather a team, brush up on your local history and prepare for a fun evening of trivia, laughs and a little friendly competition. “Period dress” is encouraged, but certainly not required.
Admission is just $2 per person, with prizes awarded for first and second place as well as best team name.
Proceeds benefit the Historic Edenton State Historic Site. For more information, contact eventsfoshse@gmail.com or (703) 887-4476.
Friday Food Finds Begins, Sept. 18
Food trucks, music and downtown shopping will come together for an early evening of fun on South Broad Street.
Downtown Edenton will be the place to kick off the weekend on Friday, September 18, as Friday Foods & Finds returns with food, music, friends and an opportunity to enjoy everything downtown has to offer.
The event begins at 4 p.m. at 325 S. Broad Street and brings together food trucks, live music and activities in a casual outdoor setting designed for the entire family.
Friday Foods & Finds offers residents and visitors an opportunity to grab something to eat, enjoy the entertainment and then spend some time exploring Edenton's downtown businesses.
The September gathering continues the community atmosphere that has made downtown events popular — neighbors catching up with one another, children enjoying activities and visitors discovering some of the shops, restaurants and businesses that make downtown Edenton special.
The event is presented with the support of Main Street Edenton, Visit Edenton and Surf, Wind and Fire, with the goal of bringing people downtown and encouraging them to spend the evening enjoying local businesses.
And with September bringing slightly cooler evenings, it should be a great time to gather with friends and enjoy downtown.
Friday Foods & Finds
Friday, September 18, 2026
Beginning at 4 p.m.
325 S. Broad Street, Edenton
Food Trucks • Music • Downtown Businesses
For vendor, food truck or volunteer information, contact Events@mainstreetedenton.com.
Community Pig Pickin'
Bayside Bakery & (Belton's) Board
The Edenton Farmers Market has always been about much more than buying fresh produce. It is about neighbors supporting neighbors, local farmers and artisans sharing what they produce, and volunteers giving their time to create a welcoming gathering place for the community.
On Saturday, September 19, that spirit of giving will be on full display when the Farmers Market hosts a free Community Pig Pickin’ during its regular Saturday market.
Under the leadership of Edenton Farmers Market President Mary Wolfe, volunteers and market vendors work throughout the season to keep the market thriving. For this special Saturday, many are going a step further, volunteering their time and bringing side dishes to accompany the pork being prepared by Lee’s Hill Top Farm.
Food will be served free to the community from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. There is no charge for anyone who would like to stop by and enjoy a meal.
The Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with vendors offering the locally grown and produced goods shoppers have come to expect, including fresh produce, baked goods, seafood and artisan items.
Events such as the Community Pig Pickin’ demonstrate just how much Wolfe, the market’s volunteers and its vendors contribute to Edenton. Week after week, their efforts provide a place for local growers and makers to sell their products while creating a gathering spot where residents can visit with friends, meet their neighbors and support local businesses.
The special community meal is made possible with funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The Edenton Farmers Market extends its appreciation to the sponsors, Lee's Hill Top Farm, participating vendors and the many volunteers whose generosity makes the day possible.
Come hungry, shop local and enjoy a Saturday with your neighbors — September 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Edenton Farmers Market.
Bayside Bakery & (Belton's) Board
Bayside Bakery & (Belton's) Board
Bayside Bakery & (Belton's) Board
Bayside Bakery & Boards could now be considered the gateway to one of town's busiest of blocks. Wednesday through Sunday morning, the corner in front of the bakery is bustling with residents enjoying freshly baked scones, evenly dusted jelly filled doughnuts, both raspberry and lemon varieties and a selection of baked goods worthy of tasteful praise. Steps past and a few bites into a fresh baked of choice, Greybeard's is the town's place for cigars and indulgence. Not usually open at early morning doughnut time, however, as evening sets in the crowd appears.
The recently opened Broad Street Butcher is adding to the block's popularity as owner Kris Bateman takes to his Facebook connection regularly.
Edenton Bay Trading Company has long been the block's flagship store and Malcolm King is definitely considered the Mayor of the Block. On any given day Malcolm can be seen assisting customers with purchases, sorting a Sonoma worthy selection of fine wines and a brew Meisters' paradise along the shelves of the Edenton Bay Trading Company. Malcolm and Edenton Bay Trading are also recognized as the town's Trivia, Vinyl Night and Music Bingo hosts. Edenton Bay is considered by many as the unofficial welcoming center.
Downtown Roots, known for its large sandwiches and outdoor dining is another crowd please.
Dog Eared Books is the newest shop on the block and is already gaining popularity.
The Edenton Tea Company with it's massive display windows occupies one of the town's most historic buildings, The Josephine Leary Building. The building and the Tea Company, highlighting the foundation of the town's history, tea, are a perfect fit. It is a must stop in shop.
If it's just before 5 p.m. the line outside Waterman's is waiting for Brian Robert's to open the door. Waterman's has anchored the South Broad St. block for 26 years and counting. Known for fresh seafood and a friendly staff, Waterman's is an Edenton institution.
Finally, The Style Palette is the last retail stop on S. Broad St. One of the town's favorite women's retail fashion boutiques, The Style Palette is a sure stop before heading to the Barker House, the town's official welcome center.
Kayaking Offers a Different View
Bayside Bakery & (Belton's) Board
Bayside Bakery & (Belton's) Board
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Edenton’s waterfront, but perhaps one of the best is from the seat of a kayak.
Visitors and locals don’t even need to own one. The Town of Edenton offers kayaks, canoes and paddleboards for rent at the harbor, providing an inexpensive and easy way to get out on the water and see Edenton from an entirely different perspective. The Town says the equipment is available daily from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
And the price makes it an outing almost anyone can enjoy. A single kayak rents for just $5 an hour, while a two-person kayak is $7. Canoes are $10 an hour and paddleboards $5. For those looking for a longer adventure, all-day and overnight canoe and kayak options are also available.
Launching from the waterfront puts paddlers alongside some of Edenton’s most familiar landmarks. From the water, the Roanoke River Lighthouse, historic waterfront and shoreline take on a completely different appearance. The Town Harbor specifically promotes the rentals as a way for people to explore both the harbor and neighboring creeks.
One of those waterways is Pembroke Creek, where another kayaking experience awaits.
Pembroke Creek Park, at 716 West Queen Street, includes a boardwalk and dedicated kayak and canoe launch and is open from dawn until dusk. The Pembroke Creek paddling trail winds through several miles of water bordered by mature trees and offers access toward Edenton Bay. It is rated for beginner/intermediate paddlers with an easy-to-moderate difficulty level.
Wednesday evenings have also become a chance for local kayakers to simply get together and enjoy the creek. Last Wednesday, paddlers in bright green kayaks could be seen making their way along Pembroke Creek, enjoying the quieter water, the scenery and one another’s company.
It is an easygoing reminder that kayaking doesn’t have to be a major expedition. Sometimes it is simply an opportunity to get outdoors with friends and spend an hour or two enjoying one of Edenton’s greatest natural assets.
We walk beside the water, dine overlooking it and photograph its sunsets.
Every once in a while, it’s worth picking up a paddle and actually getting out on it.
The Rivals of Amziah King...89 on Rotten Tomatoes
By Darryl Adachi
Until I committed myself to earnestly studying and memorizing the title of The Rivals of Amziah King, I kept referring to it simply as “the Matt McConaughey movie.” The title gives you no clue as to what the film is about. However, with the movie having been generally well reviewed—and boasting an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes—I was persuaded to check it out at the Taylor.
It’s difficult to get a handle on exactly what kind of movie The Rivals of Amziah King is. Is it a character study? A documentary about bees? A musical? A buddy movie? A heist caper? A revenge thriller? The film is unique, to say the least. It meanders through its first hour, setting up a story about a beekeeper/musician, his former foster daughter, and his musical band. The early part of the movie plays almost like a music video, featuring a lot of foot-stompin’ bluegrass songs performed by Amziah and his friends. From there, the movie moves into what seems more like a family drama, coupled with some good larnin’ about the secret life of bees. Mixed in with all of that are a couple of sequences that are, at the same time, funny and decidedly unpleasant—and, I might add, seemingly irrelevant to the rest of the film.
McConaughey plays Amziah King, an Oklahoma beekeeper who spends his days tending to his hives and his nights playing bluegrass music with his friends wherever they happen to gather—at a fast-food place, a church potluck dinner, or someone’s home. Amziah is the hub of his social circle, its spiritual anchor. It is while stopping at a local diner that Amziah becomes reacquainted with Kateri, played to great effect by newcomer Angelina LookingGlass. As a young girl, Kateri spent two years in foster care with Amziah and his then-wife. The two reconnect, and a bond begins to develop between them.
Amziah persuades Kateri to work with him on his bee farm, where she becomes his apprentice—and where she is subjected to various long-winded pontifications on bees, life, and other earthy and spiritual topics. McConaughey’s folksy preacher/philosopher persona also comes through as Amziah shares life lessons with friends who seem to hang on his every word. It is to McConaughey’s credit that his long-established laid-back personality allows him to credibly portray Amziah. His performance is one of the movie’s strong points.
One is not quite sure where the story is headed during the first half of the film. However, an episode involving the theft of Amziah’s colony of bees occurs at the end of the first hour and acts as a catalyst for the remainder of the film, completely altering its direction and driving it toward its finale. At this point, it becomes Kateri’s story, as the film takes on the qualities of a noirish revenge drama. LookingGlass gives a solid performance as the film evolves into a crime thriller, albeit not a particularly hard-boiled one, thanks to some implausible plot developments and an ending that seems somewhat rushed.
All that said, the audience that saw the film with me seemed, on the whole, satisfied with it. There were questions about the overall direction of the film, the need for certain sequences, and, not least of all, Kateri’s true character, which seems to take a complete about-face in the latter half of the movie. Viewers are asked to believe that Kateri can be excused for some of her highly questionable actions because she looks so angelic. It might be best to see the film without any preconceived expectations and simply let it slowly develop and take you to its conclusion. One family who attended my showing was watching the film for the third time. If that isn’t a recommendation, I wouldn’t know what is.
CAC HOSTS POTTERY EXHIBIT
Edenton is graced with a number of talented potters and ceramic artisans from town and around. Renowned Edenton potter Richard Heiser organized the lastest Chowan Arts Council event last Friday evening and pottery took center stage.
There is something about pottery that invites you to look a little closer. A bowl or teapot may begin as an everyday object, but in the hands of an artist, clay can become something altogether different — colorful, imaginative and often, especially in Heiser’s case, whimsical fun.
The spirit of clay was on display at the event were on display.
Visitors gathered at the gallery to enjoy an extensive collection ranging from functional pottery to imaginative sculptural pieces. Whimsical birds, animals and other characters shared space with beautifully glazed bowls, pitchers, vessels and serving pieces, demonstrating just how varied an artist's approach to clay can be.
Among the most eye-catching works were pieces that seemed to have personalities of their own. Birds perched atop colorful creations, a cheerful ceramic figure held a tiny banner spelling out “GROW,” and an oversized sea turtle demonstrated the possibilities of clay as sculpture. Other works relied on texture, glaze and form rather than humor, offering visitors a very different interpretation of the medium.
Town folk turned out to support Heiser, other artists and the council’s gallery. The exhibit also provided an opportunity for guests to spend time together, talk with artists and fellow art lovers and appreciate the depth of creative talent found in Edenton and the surrounding region.
Works by other area potters were represented as well, including Frank Miglori, whose pottery combines functionality with distinctive hand-painted designs. Miglori, who has spent much of his life involved in education and the arts, taught philosophy and art in higher education for 42 years. His work is well known throughout the Edenton area.
Merry Hill artists Lisa Roll of Willow Hill Pottery was also on hand to answer questions. Lisa has many pieces on display at the council.
The gathering was also another reminder of the important role the Chowan Arts Council plays in providing local and regional artists with a place to exhibit their work while giving residents and visitors an opportunity to experience original art close to home.
Weather Sept. 3- Sept. 10
Historic Edenton, North Carolina
Weather Outlook — September 3–10, 2026
Thursday, September 3
☀️ Hot and humid
High: 97°F • Low: 76°F
A very hot start to the period. Mostly sunny conditions with dangerous afternoon heat. A Heat Advisory is in effect through 8 p.m., and the heat index could reach roughly 106°.
Friday, September 4
🌤️⛈️ Very hot and humid; afternoon storm possible
High: 99°F • Low: 78°F
Potentially the hottest day of the period. Sunshine and clouds with a stray afternoon thunderstorm possible. The heat index may again become dangerous.
Saturday, September 5
⛈️ Warm and humid with afternoon thunderstorms
High: 90°F • Low: 71°F
A cold front begins changing the weather pattern. Afternoon thunderstorms are likely, with locally heavy rain and gusty winds possible. The NWS currently puts the precipitation chance around 70%.
Sunday, September 6
🌤️ Turning cooler and less humid
High: 84°F • Low: 67°F
A dramatic improvement following Saturday's storms. Clouds give way to sunshine with noticeably lower humidity.
Monday, September 7 — Labor Day
☀️ Mostly sunny and pleasant
High: 82°F • Low: 64°F
Beautiful early-September weather. Sunshine, much lower humidity and a refreshingly cool night make this one of the week's best outdoor days.
Tuesday, September 8
🌤️ Sun and clouds, comfortable
High: 83°F • Low: 64°F
Another pleasant day with a mixture of sunshine and clouds and temperatures remaining in the lower 80s.
Wednesday, September 9
🌤️ Warmer with some high clouds
High: 90°F • Low: 70°F
Temperatures begin climbing again as warmer, more humid air returns.
Thursday, September 10
☀️ Very warm with sunshine and a few clouds
High: 92°F • Low: 70°F
Summer isn't finished yet. Mostly sunny skies accompany another return to the lower 90s.
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