what's happening

Coastal Discovery for Kids
Newport

OMSI, the Portland-based Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is spreading its kid-friendly approaches to teaching science on the Oregon Coast. They are currently in the planning process for building a new facility in Newport called the Coastal Discovery Center at Camp Gray.

For many years, OMSI has operated outdoor camps at the coast, but never in their own building. With the help of a generous donor, OMSI was able to purchase a 20-acre parcel of land in Newport near South Beach State Park. OMSI’s vision is to create a hub for scientific learning and discovery that will support coastal communities while offering access to children and families across the state.

OMSI will create a science camp and living laboratory with indoor teaching spaces, a dining hall/convening space, and lodging for up to 150 children and families. Programming will include outdoor science school, science classes, summer residential camps, and family camps taught and facilitated by professional educators in the rich learning environment of Oregon’s central coast. Staff will cover subject matter ranging from dune ecology and ocean observation to wave energy generation technologies and the sustainable fishing industry. The Center is slated to open in 2016.
The Center will also host internship programs and will complement ocean education provided by other local organizations such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center.

With Newport already the hub of cutting edge marine science and the home of the NOAA Pacific Coast fleet and other federal and state agencies, it is fast becoming the center of marine research and education on the West Coast. The new OMSI Center will bolster those efforts by helping kids discover the exciting world of marine science and technology with fun and innovative programs. 800-955-6674; www.omsi.edu

Blue Book Cover Sought

Secretary of State Kate Brown has announced the opening of a contest to select the cover photo for the 2015-2016 Oregon Blue Book.

Amateur photographers who are Oregon residents, and who would like submit a color photo representing some aspect of Oregon, can find the contest guidelines and entry forms on the Oregon Blue Book website: www.bluebook.state.or.us/misc/cover/front.htm. Photos must be taken in Oregon, have a vertical (portrait) orientation, and must be postmarked by October 6, 2014. 

The Oregon Blue Book is the official state almanac. It has been published biennially since 1911, but 18 of Oregon’s 36 counties have never been represented on the front cover.

Secretary Brown said she is committed to address this oversight.
Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jackson, Josephine, Lake, Morrow, Polk, Sherman, Union, Wasco, Wheeler and Yamhill. 

To enter, send hard copy color 5 x 7s to: Blue Book Photo Editor, Secretary of State, Archives Division, 800 Summer Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Questions can be directed to the Blue Book Editor. 503-378-5199; bluebook.changes@state.or.us

Boatload of Tradition, July 18–20, Pacific City

There are some things that are just quintessential Oregon Coast, and one of those things is the dory fishery in Pacific City. Once a year, the intrepid dorymen of the North Coast invite visitors to learn about their boating traditions and have some fun. This year, Pacific City celebrates the 55th annual Dory Days Festival on July 18–20. The Pacific City Dorymen’s Association will have a large booth and a display of dory boats, from old-style double-enders to current square-stern boats on display at the Cape Kiwanda parking lot.

The Marine Fair, at Cape Kiwanda on both Saturday and Sunday, will have booths from groups including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Dorymen’s Association, along with marine and boating related items for sale.
The traditional parade of floats, dories, antique cars, and more starts at Bob Straub State Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday. There’s more family fun at the children’s games, with fun activities like sack races, beach ball races, limbo and hula contests, and making sandcastles at Cape Kiwanda on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

And for those who want to feel the beat, there will be live music at Cape Kiwanda, starting with the Reluctant Brothers on Saturday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and Brett Lucich from 2–5 p.m. On Sunday Richwood plays for audiences from 1–4 p.m.

Other events include the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning and Family Bingo night, both at the Kiawanda Community Center.Don’t miss this weekend where you can talk to fishermen one-on-one and find out how dory boats are launched and retrieved, right off the beach. 503-965-7779; www.pcnvchamber.org

History at Fort Stevens, July 19–20, Hammond

Photo courtesy Friends of Fort Stevens

One of the best places to see history in action is at Fort Stevens State Park near Hammond. The park, located about 10 miles northwest of Astoria, hosts a series of special events and reenactments throughout the summer.
July 19–20, the park hosts the annual WWII event with camp life and demonstrations by various U.S., German, Russian, British, and French representative living history groups.

The popular Civil War Reenactment takes place August 30–September 1. The Northwest’s largest, full-scale Civil War reenactment includes both Confederate and Union cavalry, infantry, and artillery along with period civilian and provisioner camps. There will be food vendors, period photographers, and period “sutlers” selling everything from clothing to dry goods to toys. It’s a great historic event! 503-861-1470; www.visitftstevens.com

Midsummer Masquerade - June 21, Yachats

Where pixie dust and fallen leaves mix together…a masquerade begins. The Midsummer Masquerade, held at the Yachats Commons on June 21 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., is a family-friendly community event to celebrate the summer solstice. Live entertainment will include Jimmy be Free, Past Forward, Alexa Wildish, Barefoot Leroy, DJ Talisman & Luminara, and Kindled Spirit Fire Theater.

There will also be an art auction, fun activities for the kids, and food and beverages available from the Yachats Farm Store and Bread & Roses Bakery. The event is a fundraiser for View the Future, an organization dedicated to protecting the local coastal forest. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6–16, free for children under 6 years with an adult. www.yachatsmm.com

Concerts in the Park - June 29–September 7, Brookings

Every summer, the Brookings Area Council for the Arts (BACA) hosts the American Music Festival—free concerts at the amphitheater in Brookings' Azalea Park. The concerts are held on select Sundays from June through September, beginning at 1 p.m. Each concert features a different musical group and presents a wide variety of musical genres over the summer. Concerts take place on June 29, July 13 and 27, August 10 and 24, and September 7. Performers this year include Golden Bough, Blues Box Bayou

Band, The Koles, Moon Mountain Ramblers, West My Friend, and more.
Attendees are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets. Food and beverages are also available through the Interact Club Snack Shack of the Rotary Club of Brookings-Harbor. In case of rain, concerts will be held at the Chetco Grange Hall in Harbor. 541-469-3181; www.brookings.or.us/DocumentCenter/View/503

Coastal wetland preserved at Sand Lake - Tillamook County

A total of 167 acres of coastal estuary and adjacent freshwater wetlands at the edge of Sand Lake has been preserved in perpetuity by North Coast Land Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust headquartered in Seaside.

“It's a rare place where forest and sea not only meet but blend," says NCLC Executive Director Katie Voelke.

Sand Lake, located 10 miles south of Tillamook, is an unusually pristine estuary. Defined by the sandbar at its mouth, Sand Lake has minimal agricultural or commercial development around it. As a result, out of 36 estuaries on the Oregon Coast, only Sand Lake still hosts a diverse mix of native plants, including Sitka spruce, creek dogwood, and Hooker willow, with remnants of what was once a large western redcedar swamp.
“It is well on its way to becoming one of the largest cedar swamps in coastal Oregon,” says OPRD Stewardship Manager Jim Morgan.
The 167-acre site on the northeastern edge of the estuary includes intertidal salt marsh, tidal channels, and forested wetlands that connect to a number of stream systems. The acquisition, completed in mid-May, protects a total of 4.7 miles of salmon-bearing streams. At least 42 species of birds, ranging from rufous hummingbirds to bald eagles, have been seen on the Sand Lake property. 503-738-9126; www.NCLCtrust.org.       

EVERY YEAR PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY SNEAKER WAVES - WE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE WHILE ENJOYING THE OCEAN

Our editors found this video that illustrates the problem with standing on logs. This happened on Rockaway Beach but could happen anywhere. Click Here to watch

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