
GRAND OPENING SEASON BEGINS...
You may have noticed dough was recently rising along with fresh baked aromas once again at the corner of South Broad St. and East King St. as Bayside Bakery and Boards opened their pastry cases to rave reviews at the new bakery's grand opening on Wednesday.
Town officials, business leaders, pastry loving supporters and chamber members joined Edenton Chowan Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Creed in welcoming the new owners of Bayside Bakery.
Heather Sexton was in need of a location to knead and bake and jumped at the corner location.
“For our initial weeks, we’ll offer freshly baked breads, cupcakes, gooey almond bars, bagels, including a protein variety, assorted cookies, Tiramisu, and dog treats,” said Heather. “We will also feature several items named after favorite customers.”
Heather plans on adding new items as the season progresses. Fresh grab-and-go floral bouquets and eucalyptus will also be available.
“Our shop will feature artwork from local artists and photographers available for purchase, as well as hand-stamped jewelry by Diana Ross,” said Heather. “We are also planning to host community events such as “Paint and Pastries”, children classes, and game nights.Charcuterie boards will be added as we establish ourselves in the community.”
“My middle son, Bryant Sexton owner of Northern Roots Construction and husband, Patrick were instrumental in preparing the building. This venture would not have been possible without the dedication, love, encouragement and support from my family and friends,”said Heather.
The shop will be staffed by Heather, Gabi Bates, and Heather’s husband Patrick.
“Our goal is to provide a welcoming space for the community,” said Heather. “We look forward to meeting our neighbors and sharing our.”
Bayside Bakery and Boards opened Wednesday. The bakery’s hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. These are subject to change as the demand grows and weather improves. Unbeknownst to most, Mayor Hackney High was celebrating his birthday- at a bakery- and was surprised by wife Martha with a birthday Key Lime pie.










Clerk to the County Board, Susan Stallings administered the Oath of Office to Timmy Turner and Karen Churman as new Tourist Development Authority board members last week. Timmy is the Events Coordinator for Main Street Edenton and Karen is the new manager at the Hampton Inn. The ceremony took place prior to the January TDA Board meeting. The TDA is also known as ‘Visit Edenton’ and works closely with Main Street Edenton in coordinating activities and promoting Edenton/Chowan county.

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Snowy days
It looks like winter is upon us in Edenton. Some may hate that fluffy white stuff but for others it brings joy. Kids and dogs frolicked in the snow this weekend, taking advantage of the opportunity that Edenton seldom experiences. Moms drag out the boots and warm jackets as kids eagerly await making snow men and snow angels.
For most of us, it’s a welcome time to catch up on things at home or enjoy finishing that favorite book that has sat idle far too long. Snowy days are the perfect opportunity to enjoy one of the many historical books available at the Barker House. The selection ranges from stories on Edenton’s American History, antique furniture, the Cupola House, North Carolina’s history during the Revolutionary war and favorites on the life of Harriet Jacobs. They also have a wonderful selection of children’s books for those little ones that would prefer to stay indoors.

Our February issue focuses on features around town and the stories reaching far beyond. It will be available in Edenton on Saturday. However, if you send us your email we'll put you on the exclusive online edition list. Enjoy...

Edenton is gaining notoriety across the country for its historic preservation efforts. Much has been written about the historical figures and buildings throughout Edenton as the first Colonial Capital from 1722 until 1743. One such individual is resident Michael L. Marshall who is an avid researcher and writer about local history, the decorative arts and material culture of the northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
“I have published some 15 paper since 2014 on the website of the Edenton Historical Commission under their Decorative Arts link,” said Michael.
After retiring from full time work in 2005, Michael found time for his real love: genealogy and history research. He is the author of four published books on the history of his hometown of Kernersville, North Carolina. Over the years, he has also served on the a number of historical and preservation societies.
“I have now launched my own website for publication called Edenton Journal of Material Culture" said Michael. “I'll be publishing my work on the site and I expect other authors will do so as well. I currently have four papers online that deal with Edenton-related history.”
The next four pieces he will be posting will cover the three earliest owners of Hayes, before Samuel Johnston bought it in 1765. One of those owners is the one that actually gave the plantation the name Hayes and the story will detail how that came about.
More on Micheals L. Marshall in the spring print issue of Edenton Social Light.

Down East Preservation (DEP) owner Dawson Tyler and DEP interior designer Bailey Young presented an updated overview of the progress being made at the Hinton Hotel on East King Street at the January Town Council meeting.
“The target date for starting construction is July, 2026,” said Dawson during the presentation.He presented a positive message that strong progress continues to be made on the project. Bailey presented a number of slides that illustrated room designs. The hotel was built in 1926 during the DECO design period which the hotel will accurately reflect.
“As a nod to Edenton and Down East Preservation's historic preservation efforts we decided to take the hotel back to the 1920s styles", said Bailey. “In the 1920s, there was an increase of geometric shapes, rich colors, decorative motifs, and functional furniture styles with an emphasis on craftsmanship. Each room will showcase these unique qualities, expressed through a distinct design tailored to its layout.”
The DEP team will continue to give updates quarterly to the Town Council as the project evolves. Construction is estimated at 12 to 18 months.
The cold weather is upon us and as we look towards spring, Russell James claims the freeze is here for another 10 days. While we are all experiencing the chill, dogs, cats, and other pets also react adversely to cold. Don't forget about them. Hree are a few tips on keeping your pets comfortable during these ice forming days.
1).Bring them indoors: Dogs who are kept outdoors and “outdoor cats”—like those featured in Breaking the Chain a documentary produced by Oscar winner Anjelica Huston—often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care. Animals who are left outdoors in the cold can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and dogs who are kept tethered can become tangled and die when they’re unable to reach food, water, or shelter.
2). Gear up: Coats will keep dogs comfortable in cold weather (just be sure to remove wet jackets the moment dogs return home), secure harnesses can help prevent them from getting loose on walks, and booties will protect their sensitive paw pads from the frozen ground. Keep walks short in cold weather, especially for shorthaired dogs.
3). Don’t forget birds: During extreme winter weather, provide birds and other wild animals with access to an emergency water supply by filling a heavy nonmetal water bowl (tongues can freeze to metal) and breaking the surface ice at least twice a day.
4). Don't forget the walkers- After a long walk make sure to bring those wonderful companions home, feed them, make sure they have plenty of water, turn the heat up and walk down to Waterman's, The Herringbone or Carrozza and enjoy a warm meal and a drink, pets are a lot of enjoyable work. The rewards come in many forms.

The New Year brings new opportunities especially for restaurant owners and employees to look back over the past year and at the same time plan ahead with some fine tune changes for the future. As creative types. chefs are continuously fine tuning their concepts and their menus to please their customers and feed their team’s creativity at the same time.
For Chef Gavin Holter and Carrozza the Italian Trattoria on S. Broad, February brings entrees to the table. The restaurant now offers full dinner service. For those who have grown fond of the Carrozza crew’s menu, you will notice some new additions and some of the favorites, bringing you back, remain.
“We really strive to listen to the community and adjust to feedback,” said Holter. “It’s important that we serve food the community likes in the way that they like it.”
One of the most immediate changes you’ll notice - you won’t be eating there for lunch. Holter decided to fully focus on dinner service, expanding the menu and the wine selection.
Some of Holter’s most popular dishes remain and the chef added a selection of appetizers, a Caesar Salad and a new entree, Pesce del Giorno, featuring a fish of the day selection, served with lemon herb risotto, carrots, and a burro bianco sauce. Partnering with Nixon’s Fishery assures the very freshest fish to serve.
Holter has also added Mussels as an appetizer, along with Polpette, Holter’s meatball selection.
“I’m most excited about our meatballs, which people are loving. They can be added to any pasta dish,” said Chef Gavin. “This menu has added more than we’ve taken away, and we really think we’ll have a dish to suit everyone’s needs and tastes.”
Customers can still order food to-go which has been very popular since Carrozza opened last year.
“I’m excited for everyone to try the new offerings. We hope to create a space where folks feel welcome and want to return,” Holter said. “We are very confident that our guests will enjoy the new and improved Carrozza.”
Carrozza is now open on Tuesday - Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Carrozza Italian Trattoria
206 S. Broad St.
252-415-0022
The Carrozza Team, Destiny, Kyle and Gavin with Edenton Chowan Chamber Executive Director Susan Creed last year at the restaurant's grand opening. If You missed it, SEND US YOUR EMAIL, YOU WON'T MISS GOOD NEWS AGAIN...

📍 Historic Edenton North Carolina — 7-Day Weather Outlook:
Friday Feb 6 — Thursday Feb 12, 2026
Friday
☁️ Cloudy, chance of snow early
High: ~40–41°F • Low:~27–28°F
Light snow possible early, then lingering clouds.
Saturday
❄️ Snow likely, cold and blustery
High: ~32–34°F • Low:~18–20°F
Periods of snow with gusty winds; sharply colder.
Sunday
🌤️ Partly sunny, very cold
High: ~29–31°F • Low:~16–18°F
Clearing skies but persistent cold.
Monday
☀️ Sunny and cold
High: ~38–41°F • Low:~25–28°F
Bright sunshine with below-average temperatures.
Tuesday
☁️ Mostly cloudy with rain chance
High: ~42–44°F • Low:~29–31°F
Clouds thicken; light rain possible later.
Wednesday
🌧️ Chance of rain, chilly
High: ~43–45°F • Low:~31–33°F
On-and-off rain with continued cool conditions.
Thursday
🌤️ Partly sunny and chilly
High: ~41–43°F • Low:~28–30°F
Drying out with filtered sunshine.
🌟 Weekly Outlook Summary 🌟
A wintry start to the weekcontinues across Edenton, with snow chances early Friday into Saturday, followed by a dry but very cold weekend. Sunday and Monday bring sunshine, though temperatures remain well below seasonal norms, especially overnight.
Clouds increase by mid-week as rain chances return Tuesday into Wednesday, but temperatures hold mostly in the upper 30s to low 40s. The week ends cool and partly sunny, with no significant warm-up expected.






We had a quick taste of it on Saturday. It really is closer than we think.
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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner….on South Broad Street.
Stores are filled with creative gift ideas for the special person in your life…
The store windows are decorated expressing LOVE but the streets have been quiet due to the weather. Let's bundle up and take a walk down S. Broad Street. Stop into the stores to warm up on great seasonal items and find that special Valentine's Day gift.
The merchants are open and their stores are filled with gifts selected for your favorite Valentine....you may even find some very good buys on winter wear.
Here’s a few suggestions from the S.Broad St. merchants.
The Style Shop- Novelty sweaters sure to please…don’t forget the great sale rack
Edenton Tea Company- Teas and tea cups including gifts ready to go.
Surf, Wind & Fire- Sportswear will say "I love you" also enjoy great saving on winter wear
Simply Stated- Fashionable sweatshirts say it all-you'll love the sale rack savings
Bryum’s Gifts- New wallet for mom or some serving pieces she'll love, or possibly she'll finally get that new bike...
Polka Dot Palm-Wonderful home accessories and a new woman’s clothing line
Still Life-Lots of jewelry and a fashionable wrap- perfect for all year long wear. Don't forget the chocolate and caramel sauces
North No. 4- The most adorable rabbits you could ever love
Christian Book Store-Lots of wonderful gifts for the entire family
Downtown Diva- Nothing tops a red dress for Valentine's Day - Diva has a great selection
Coastal Thread - Great items for both him and her- and then,
Stop in and get a coffee at Kraken Coffee House next store
The Edenton Social Light uncovers good news and highlights various events throughout town on a regular basis. Our print issue is published five times yearly. Send us your email and we will send you Good News, not for a change, but regularly. Also, don't hesitate to end us tips on your organization or event. We love covering good news.
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