News

FPI’s spring meeting will be held at the Ocracoke Community Center on Saturday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m.  Shuttle service will be available for those walking off and back on the Cedar Island/Swan Quarter ferries.  We will be serving a brunch before the meeting starts, so come hungry!  Special speakers for the meeting will be Glenn and Brenda White, Portsmouth volunteers who will share with us their stories and experiences while helping take care of the village.  The meeting is open to the public and we hope anyone visiting Ocracoke that weekend will join us!

Happy first birthday to FPI’s Facebook page!  Please click on the Facebook button to your right and help us celebrate by scrolling through and checking out our FB posts throughout the past year – full of Portsmouth photos and memories.  Happy birthday to us!

 

The FPI Board of Directors will be meeting on January 24 to begin planning for the next two years.  We would really appreciate your input as we work on membership meetings, Homecoming, projects, etc.  If you would like to get more involved in FPI, please contact Rosanne Penley at Rosanne.Penley@gmail.com or at 828-439-5424 (cell after 7:00 PM) or at 828-433-4458 (home after 7:00 PM), by mail at 3474 Crestwood Drive, Morganton, NC 28655 – or you may contact anyone on our board.  We would love to hear your ideas and suggestions to help us in our mission of preserving the history and heritage of Portsmouth.

Be sure to click on the tab at the right to check out our Facebook page for some wonderful pictures and information about Portsmouth and FPI.  And don’t forget to check out our photo gallery for some great pictures of Homecoming, meetings, etc.

Membership renewal forms were sent in the last issue of the Doctor’s Creek Journal.  Please remember to keep your membership up to date.  This helps us with postage so we don’t have to send reminder letters, and it also ensures that you receive the Doctor’s Creek Journal and don’t miss any issues.  Thank you!

Merry Christmas to all from the Friends of Portsmouth Island!  We appreciate your support and look forward to a great 2015.

 

Members should be receiving their Doctor’s Creek Journal this week. This goes only to members, so join today to be sure not to miss an issue!  Click on the “About” tab above for a printable membership form.

 

 

Waterfowl Weekend, held December 6-7 at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, was represented by FPI members who staffed our booth in the “Down East Communities” section of the museum.  Rain on Saturday and strong winds on Sunday did not keep visitors away.  A highlight of our display was the Portsmouth Christmas Tree complete with popcorn, candy canes, real candles and reproduction ornaments from Portsmouth.  Special thanks to Marjorie and Dallas Spruill, Rudy and Pat Austin, Hazel Arthur, and Richard Meissner who represented us.

If you plan to be Down East the first weekend in December, be sure to stop in to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum at Harkers Island and visit the FPI booth!  We will be located upstairs both days, December 6th and 7th.  Come by and meet our folks, learn more about FPI and Portsmouth, or just say hello!  Hope to see you there!

 

FPI would like to thank all our veterans, both past and present, for their service to our country.   We appreciate each of you and what you have done to keep us free and safe at home.  Bless you all!

 

 

The Friends of Portsmouth Island held our fall membership meeting on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the Sanitary Fish Market Restaurant in Morehead City.  We are happy to report a record attendance of 67 people, many of whom are descendents of Portsmouth families.  It was a great crowd!

Special guest Phyllis Gentry shared her memories of Portsmouth and provided photographs and scrapbooks containing lots of Portsmouth information.  Pat Kenney, Superintendent of Cape Lookout National Seashore, spoke to the group and introduced Steven Neshkoff, the new Volunteer Coordinator for CLNS.  Welcome Steven!

Officers for the next 2 years were elected as follows:  Rosanne Penley, President; Kathy McNeilly, Vice President; Jean Webber, Treasurer; Nancy White, Secretary; Board Members Frances Eubanks, Chester Lynn, Gregory Gilgo, Phelps Forrest, Rudy Austin, Jim White, and Richard Meissner, Immediate Past President.

Frances Eubanks presented a special plaque to Richard Meissner, outgoing president, for his service and dedication as president of FPI.

Drawings for door prizes were held, and many folks stayed to enjoy a Dutch treat lunch and to visit with each other.  Everyone had an opportunity to purchase t-shirts, books, notecards, homecoming pins, etc.  Thanks to all who attended, those who organized and worked at the meeting, our speakers, and to the Sanitary Fish Market.

Make plans to attend the spring membership meeting at Ocracoke on the third Saturday in May 2015!

The Homecoming edition of the Doctor’s Creek Journal has been published and mailed, so members need to check your mailboxes!  This issue contains homecoming photos and special interviews with FPI volunteers, visitors and descendants who were there on Homecoming day, as well as letters from the Superintendent of Cape Lookout National Seashore and the Bishop of the N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church.  If you are not a member of FPI and wish to receive future issues, click on our membership tab above and you will find a printable membership form to download and mail.  Thanks to editor Jim White for this expanded issue of the Doctor’s Creek Journal!