Events Calendar | GraysHarborTalk

Welcome to Ocean Shores Sign Dedication & Kick-Off 50th Anniversary Celebration @ Ocean Shores City Enterance

Dec 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

On November 3, 1970 by special election and signed off by former Washington Secretary of State Ludlow Kramer, the community of Ocean Shores became a certified city. As such, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Ocean Shores’ cityhood.

Anniversary events will begin with a kick-off celebration recognizing the Welcome to Ocean Shores sign, erected 20 years ago at the city gates, as a significant historical feature.

Hosting this event, the Museum of the North Beach and Ocean Shores Coastal Interpretive Center with missions to preserve and share area history have joined forces to erect an informational plaque explaining that artist Judy McVay created the sign. The Mayor and City Council are expected to attend.

Judy McVay along with her brothers pioneered chainsaw carving as an artform, founded the chainsaw carving expo at the Puyallup Fair in the 1980’s, were instrumental in creating local carving events, and Judy was the first Washington woman to win a chainsaw carving competition. In addition to creating the Welcome to Ocean Shores sign, her work can be seen all along the Washington Coast, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (Hwy 101) and many other locations.

In Ocean Shores, Judy’s work can be viewed at Moby Dick’s on Point Brown Ave. where her “Sand Castle” sign hangs as well as inside the Convention Center vestibule where collaborative pieces created by Judy and her son, Boaz Backus can be found. Boaz along with brother, Steve founded the “sawdust” portion of Ocean Shores’ famed Sand and Sawdust Festival.

“The Welcome to Ocean Shores sign is a highly photographed, significant part of the experience when entering the city and should be recognized as such,” said Coastal Interpretive Center Board President, Nancy Eldridge. “The Museum of the North Beach and our friends at the Coastal Interpretive Center are proud to recognize this historical artifact,” added Museum of the North Beach Executive Director, Kelly Calhoun.

Sign dedication will commence at noon, Saturday January 18, 2020 at the city gates. A historical marker will be placed near the sign and this event will officially kick-off the year long Ocean Shores 50th anniversary celebration. Everyone is encouraged and invited to attend!

Categories: Local History Tags: chainsaw carving coastal interpretive center Museum of the North Beach ocean shores wood carving

Dec

23

Mon

WDFW approves five days of Clam Digging @ Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Tickets

Dec 23 @ 4:35 pm

WDFW approves five days of digging, starting Monday

OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can return to ocean beaches for five days of digging beginning Dec. 23 and continuing through Dec. 29 with a break in the middle for the Christmas holiday.

State shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig on evening low tides after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat.

“Five days of digging, four beach – es, three flashlights . . . and ext-ra batt-er-ies,” sang Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

“So, OK, the old holiday song doesn’t quite fit, but this is going to be fun,” added Ayres, as he conveyed the news on new digs.

The approved dig is for the following beaches, dates and low tides:

December 23, Monday, 4:35 pm, -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
December 26, Thursday, 6:47 pm, -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
December 27, Friday, 7:26 pm, -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
December 28, Saturday, 8:05 pm, -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
December 29, Sunday, 8:43 pm, -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

No digging is allowed before noon for allowed digs, when low tide occurs in the evening.

For a list of proposed razor clam digs on Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches through February, please see our razor clam webpage.

In order to ensure conservation of clams for future generations, WDFW sets tentative razor clam seasons that are based on the results from an annual coast-wide razor clam stock assessment and by considering harvest to date. WDFW authorizes each dig independently after getting the results of marine toxin testing. Final approval of the tentatively scheduled openings will depend on whether results of marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.

Ayres notes that low tides around New Years are not low enough for successful razor clam harvest, so digging will not open then.

“We also avoided scheduling a dig on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, as we have found that past participation on those days is really light,” added Ayres. “We are hoping more people will be able to participate by extending the dig further into the next weekend instead.”

WDFW is also asking razor clam fans around the state to weigh in on the perennial question: Which is better, clam gun or shovel? To register support for a favored digging method, clam diggers can post a photo or video, complete with hashtag #TeamClamShovel or #TeamClamGun on any social media before the end of the spring season.

Additional safety considerations are important this time of year. “Diggers want to be sure to come prepared with good lighting devices and always keep an eye on the surf, particularly at this time of year when low tides come at dusk and after dark,” said Ayres.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2019-20 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW’s website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.

Under state law, diggers at open beaches can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

WDFW is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation.