what's happening

Smokey Bear’s 70th Birthday Bash in Yachats!

Yachats, OR - Seventy years ago, a black bear cub was rescued from a raging forest fire in New Mexico. The cub was called Smokey, and he became the center of the Forest Service’s campaign against the ravages of fire. Who doesn’t remember Smokey in a Ranger’s uniform, looking right at you and saying, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires”?

A birthday party, hosted by the Siuslaw National Forest; View the Future, a local nonprofit working to preserve the forests surrounding the community of Yachats; and the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program (YYFAP) will be held at the Yachats Commons on Saturday, August 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Of course there will be a birthday cake! Families and friends are invited to meet Smokey Bear and enjoy the refreshments, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., there will be a panel discussion, Connecting Communities to Forests: Fire Prevention, Intervention, and Collaboration, about how we can all help prevent fires in the lush coastal forests that surround our homes and communities.

There is no charge for this event and all are welcome.

For more information about the Siuslaw National Forest visit our website at: www.fs.usda.gov/siuslaw

Shoreline Science Workshops -
Bandon July 18–20, Yachats July 28–30, and Nehalem August 1–3

Those who are fascinated by coastal natural history have an extraordinary opportunity this summer. Oregon’s CoastWatch program is offering intensive, three-day shoreline science workshops, led by ecologist Stewart Schultz, an authority on the Northwest’s coastal region and author of The Northwest Coast: A Natural History. His wide-ranging experience makes him a very knowledgeable guide to the shoreline environment. He will be joined by Fawn Custer, an experienced marine educator who taught for 14 years at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.

The workshops will be held in Bandon July 18–20, Yachats July 28–30, and Nehalem August 1–3. Three full days of instruction will cover a myriad of topics, including tidepools, sandy beaches, estuarine and ocean ecosystems, geology, forests, marine mammals, and birds. Matters of concern such as marine debris and invasive species will also be discussed. Each session includes field trips, indoor presentations, and laboratory experiences (depending on weather).

To register online, go to www.tinyurl.com/orshoresworkshop or link through the CoastWatch website at www.oregonshores.org. For more information, contact Fawn Custer, 541-270-0027 or fawn@oregonshores.org

Photo courtesy Jim Young

Celebrate Honor with Red, White and Blue Treasures

Lincoln City, OR – Honor active duty personnel, military veterans, and their families at the Annual Celebration of Honor, September 25-28, 2014, presented by Chinook Winds Casino Resort.

During the Celebration of Honor, take a stroll along the beach and participate in a patriotic treasure hunt. Find red, white, and blue glass floats along the 7.5 miles of sandy shores in Lincoln City hidden by aptly named "Float Fairies." By keeping an eagle eye out, you too could be a proud owner of one! This treasure hunting promotion is part of the "Finders Keepers" program, which officially kicks off October 18th, 2014 and runs through to Memorial Day, 2015.

The Celebration of Honor begins with the Field of Flags, which is available for viewing on September 25th at the southeast parking area at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort through Sunday the 28th. Opening Ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. on Friday the 26th at the Field of Flags. New to this year's event is the Oregon Traveling Memorial Wall, which was made to honor Oregon Vietnam and Gulf War veterans, and is also available to view at the Field of Flags all weekend. The Oregon Veterans Medal Ceremony on the Field of Flags begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, signifying Oregon's appreciation for the service and sacrifice of Veterans. To qualify for this medal, an application form must be completed in advance with proof of military service attached. On Sunday, September 28th, the Closing Ceremony takes place in front of the Casino at the permanently installed Dessert Storm Memorial at 2 p.m.

Veterans and active-duty personnel eat FREE during open hours at the Chinook Winds' Siletz Bay Buffet on Thursday, September 25. Stop by the Winners Circle to register, show proof of military service (DD-214 or other Military ID), and receive this benefit.

On Thursday at 11AM, the historic Bijou Theatre, located at 1624 NE Highway 101, will host a FREE showing of "Windtalkers", for Military personnel and their families. Directed by John Woo and starring Nicholas Cage, this action packed historical drama tells of two U.S. Marines in WWII who are assigned to protect Navajo Marines that use their native language as an unbreakable radio cypher. This stellar movie event is only $5 for non-military guests.

For more information about the Celebration of Honor contact Heather at Chinook Winds Casino Resort at 541-996-5766 or visit www.chinookwindscasino.com.

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

Civil War Reenactment, August 30 - September 1, 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

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

Don't Miss Out!

Oregon Coast Magazine will keep you current with the best photos, features, current developments, upcoming festivals and others happenings through out the region delivered right to your doorstep six times a year. Oregon Coast Magazine is an indispensable resource to bring this exhilarating area to your home. Plus it looks great on a coffee table.

Subscribe Now: Oregon Coast Magazine