A Community Garden in Ocean Shores A group of volunteers held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 9th for a community garden on a section of land behind the Galilean Lutheran Church. Event organizers hope to turn the church-owned land, which measures just under a quarter acre, into “Garden by the Sea”, a place where residents can rent plots to turn into their own private gardens. In addition to private plots, there are plans for a children’s garden and an herbal labyrinth plus a separate “food bank” garden in which all produce in the garden will be donated to the Ocean Shores Food Bank. The children’s, herbal labyrinth and food bank gardens will be maintained by volunteers. Garden supporters plan on seeding the garden this spring and hope to have a harvest by late summer or early fall. Drivers will have to pay close attention to speed limit signs around town, as many of them will be changed in June, 2009. The City Council voted 5-2 to approve a controversial ordinance that will lower the speed limits on several city streets including Point Brown Avenue, Ocean Shores Boulevard, Duck Lake Drive, Chance a la Mer and Marine View Drive. Most of the changes are 5 mph drops. For example, the section of Point Brown Avenue between the entry gates south to Albatross Street will be changed from 30 mph to 25 mph on both sides of the street. Port of Grays Harbor officials say a new shipping agreement with a Norwegian company will dramatically increase incoming vessels, eventually bringing in a ship every two weeks. Deputy Director Leonard Barnes said a regular schedule shipping line service agreement with recently established Partner Shipping promises new vessels into Marine Terminal 4, starting with a ship in mid-June. The agreement makes the Port one of the company’s two West Coast shipping sites. The Partner Shipping Web site said the company, which launched in 2008, has operations shipping throughout Europe, The Middle East and West Africa. The company hopes to jump on the market between the U.S. and the South Pacific. Barnes said the shipping business is facing tough times along with many industries in the current economy. He said Partner’s decision to operate out of Grays Harbor in such times attests to the Port’s strong location, workforce and transportation infrastructure. We were promised that the Pontoons would bring hundreds of “family-wage jobs” to Grays Harbor. At a bill-signing ceremony on the campus of Grays Harbor College, Governor Gregoire made it happen. The state will spend $700 million to both train the workers necessary and construct a huge graving dock on the Harbor to build the floating pontoons necessary to construct the Highway 50 floating bridge across Lake Washington between Seattle and its eastern suburbs. Gregoire signed the legislation authorizing the funding and separate legislation authorizing the bonds to pay for the construction project. The legislation also authorizes tolling to begin soon on the existing floating bridge. At lease 250 construction jobs will be created to build the graving dock and another 100 workers will be needed to construct the pontoons themselves. Factoring in the ripple effect of the new jobs, the governor said as many as 3,000 jobs could be induced from the project at the height of construction in 2013, but she wants construction of the graving dock to start by next year. The county commissioners have appointed an 11-member Marine Resource Committee, tasked with looking at coastal issues and ensuring that local, state and federal decisions on marine issues aren’t made in a vacuum. The task force, mostly made up of fishermen, marine experts and environmentalists, will host its first public forum at a0 a.m., on June 20th, at the Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen. County Commissioner Al Carter said the group will be charged with looking after issues that impact all areas of the coast, for example, a private company’s proposal to set up wind turbines off the coast and a push to develop wave energy platforms. Carter said: “We have wind energy, we have wave energy we have the potential for oil drilling and gas drillilng.u’ve got etland issues and estuary issues. I don’t want people who don’t live on the coast making arbitrary decisions including the federal government. They don’t live here. Those appointed to the committee include Bob Burkle of Montesano, with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife; Roberta Davenport of Rochester, with the state Department of Natural Resources; Eric Delvin of Olympia, with the Nature Conservancy; Kathy Greer of Westport, with the Surfriders organization; R.D. Grunbaum of Ocosta, with Friends of Grays Harbor; Don Harders of Hoquiam, with the Lone Tree Oyster Co.; Robin Leraas of Aberdeen, with the Port of Grays Harbor; Don Samuelson of Aberdeen, with Deep Sea Charters; Ray Toste of Westport, with the Washington Crab Fishers Association; Joe Schumacher of Taholah, with the Quinault Indian Nation; and Lorena Marchant of Aberdeen, with Grays Harbor College. Ocean Shores Convention Center - June 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 City Study Session 3PM Drivers Safety 9AM – 1PM Drivers Safety 9AM – 1PM ACT 1PM O.S. Chamber Business After Hours 5:30PM Kite Challenge on Beach 11AM – 4PM 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Kite Challenge on Beach 11AM – 4PM 1:30PM City Council & Public Workshop City Council 6:00PM Master Gardeners Meeting 9AM O.S. Municipal Court 1:30PM Flag Day Parade at 11AM (CC Restrooms Open) and Dance at Shilo Inn 6:30PM 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Set-Up Convention Center for Square Dancers Set-Up Convention Center for Square Dancers (Plywood Floors) Square & Folk Dancers Move In 7AM 1200 People No Catered Meals All Meals ON OWN Square & Folk Dancers 1200 People No Catered Meals All Meals ON OWN Square & Folk Dancers 1200 People No Catered Meals All Meals ON OWN Square & Folk Dancers 1200 People No Catered Meals All Meals ON OWN Father's Day 21 22 23 24 Sand & Sawdust Set-Up 25 26 27 Priest Days 250 Attendees All Meals Catered Priest Days 250 Attendees All Meals Catered Priest Days 250 Attendees All Meals Catered Priest Days 250 Attendees All Meals Catered Priest Days 250 Attendees All Meals Catered Sand & Sawdust Festival Sand & Sawdust Festival 28 29 30 Sand & Sawdust Festival National Assoc. of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) 300 People All Meals Catered National Assoc. of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) 300 People All Meals Catered
Planning a visit to Ocean Shores? Go to our website for lodging, dining, shopping, activity information, and even driving directions!www.TourismOceanShores.com Looking for a great deal ? www.oceanshoresdiscounts.com
Ella M. Kiaupa, Coldwell Banker, Ocean Beach Properties 888-469-3100 Toll-Free 360-289-3100 Office 360-580-1945 Cell 360-289-3111 Fax "The finest compliment I can receive is a referral. Thank you." Welcome to my World - Ocean Shores, Washington!
Ocean Shores
Speed Limits go down at the Beach
More ships in Port of Grays Harbor
Pontoons on the way to Grays Harbor
Marine Resource Committee to look at Coastal Issues
April 2009
Ocean Shores Interpretive Center expanding
The Interpretive Center is expanding and has some new activities for visitors. Locals and tourists will be able to explore a new trail, exhibits and a playground. Students from North Beach, Aberdeen and Hoquiam high schools designed and constructed the Interpretive Trail as part of their senior culminating project. The trail which is about 500 feet long leads visitors through a small coastal forest with a wetland area and a boardwalk.
The courtyard was funded by a $21,000 federal forestry education grant the Interpretive center split with the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds. The grant came via revenue generated from timber harvests under the Secure Rural Schools & Community Self-Determination Act, a federal measure that backs improvements to public schools, roads and stewardship projects.
The exhibit features a weather station that displays temperature, wind direction, humidity, atmospheric pressure and precipitation readings. It also has story boards and information on how to read tide charts.
4th of July
The City of Ocean Shores approved a $39,706 request from the police and fire departments to fund a Fourth of July operational plan.
The plan would pay for emergency “staging” stations at different beach approaches, which include increased police and fire personnel, ambulances and firefighting equipment.
The new ordinance, which goes into effect this year, bans fireworks within city limits except for between the Marine View Drive and Damon Beach approaches, at lease 100 feet away from the dunes. The new ordinance also reflects state law on the discharge of fireworks, allowing them only during the following days and hours.
June 28, noon – 11 p.m.
June 29 – July 3, 9a.m. – 11 p.m.
July 4, 9 a.m. – midnight.
In 2007, dune fires burned more then 20 acres over Independence Day weekend and two firefighters had to be taken to the hospital with symptoms of exhaustion because there weren’t enough personnel to give the firefighters a break.
Third Annual Music Festival
The floor of the Ocean Shores convention Center will be thumpn’ with the annual music festival on July 3rd & 4th.
Country Schedule (Saturday)
1p.m. to 4 pm. – Country Jam
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Country Dinner
7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Country Dance.
Gospel Schedule ( Sunday)
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Gospel music
NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARBOR
Youth Job Program
Work Source in Grays Harbor expects new federal funding for a summer youth job program. The federal stimulus grants will fund the youth summer jobs for temporary seasonal labor. The program targets young workers of a certain income level, the ages were expanded to include 16 to 24 years old. Based on how much money Grays Harbor will receive will determine how many positions they can fill.
Fishing to be fantastic this Salmon Season
California and Oregon are severely curtailed this year due to declining Chinook populations, fishermen in Washington are planning for a decent season.
“It’s going to ba a great season,” said Doug Frickle, the president of the Washington Trollers Association, who expects it to be about the same as last year, “but we are happy to have any opportunity to fish for salmon and to support our families and incomes.”
According to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the upcoming salmon season in Washington is similarly structured compared to recent years with Chinook quotas close to 2008. The biggest bright spot is that coho quotas are substantially higher, which reflects the increased abundance of both hatchery and natural coho stocks.
For recreational fishermen in Westport subarea, the season begins on June 28, with fishing allowed Sunday through Thursday until July 23. Fishing will then be permitted seven days a week until September 20.
Annual assessments for Grays Harbor
The state House approved legislation requiring counties statewide to conduct assessments on an annual basis with the conversion taking place by 2014. The measure passed 77 to 17. The state Senate approved the bill on a 40 to 5 vote. All of the legislators who represent Grays Harbor voted in favor of the measure.
Of the state’s 39 counties, 20 of them already use an annual property tax assessment system. Grays Harbor’s property tax assessments are done every four years.
Stimulus Money for Olympic National Park
The park will receive more than $57.8 million in economic stimulus money to put local residents to work building trails, rebuilding ecosystems and renovating campgrounds. Olympic receives the greatest share of the state’s $65 million in stimulus funding generated toward national parks. Nationwide more than $750 million will be spent on the parks system.
This is the most significant investment made in our National Parks in decades, the immediate benefits will be with the creation of new jobs and for generations to come our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy these special places.
At Olympic National Park, the money will be used to convert two miles of abandoned road to trail, demolish and replace the operationally-obsolete Hoh sewer system, rehabilitate four park road bridges, replace historic roofing park-wide and restore much of the ecosystem along the Elwha River, including the removal of dams.
Ella M. Kiaupa, Coldwell Banker, Ocean Beach Properties 888-469-3100 Toll-Free 360-289-3100 Office 360-580-1945 Cell 360-289-3111 Fax "The finest compliment I can receive is a referral. Thank you." Welcome to my World - Ocean Shores, Washington
Planning a visit to Ocean Shores? Go to our website for lodging, dining, shopping, activity information, and even driving directions!www.TourismOceanShores.com Looking for a great deal ? www.oceanshoresdiscounts.com
March 2009
Largest Turnout for Clam Fest
The third annual Clam Fest was the largest ever. It may have been called a Razor Clam Festival but the way it packed people in made the Ocean Shores Convention Center feel like a sardine tin.
It’s estimated that 9,000 people attended the festival. The clam chowder pots ran out fast as clam fans went from booth to booth trading $1 tickets for small cups of chowder. There were booths of all sorts of clam memorabilia for those who really dig razor clams.
The festival also hosted the razor clam queen and king, Berda and Bob Augustus who do a lot of community service. There were 16 entrants in the amateur razor clam chowder competition, so the competition was tight. All top spots were taken by Ocean Shores’ residents.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE HARBOR
Grays Harbor will receive more than $2,4 million in economic stimulus money, trickling down from the federal government to local agencies and even to make public housing more energy efficient as well as construction of roads and sidewalks.
Grays Harbor County was awarded $750,000 toward its road realignment and paving projects alone the Wynoochee-Wishkah Road corridor. The total project will cost the county $28.j8 million and will be funded through grants and county road money.
The City of Aberdeen received $730,000 toward the $948,000 sidewalk revitalization effort along Heron Street. The city of Hoquiam has been awarded $195,000 to help finish the city’s downtown sidewalk revitalization project.
The Housing Authority of Grays Harbor was awarded $627,184 to fix up low-income residential buildings. The money will be spent on buildings that are part of the authority’s low-rent program.
The Housing Authority has 12 months to spend the money. The road projects need to be started within the next 120 days.
Harbor-based wood chip manufacturing company Willis Enterprises LLC has proposed building new wood-based biofuel plant to create liquid fuel and up to 80 new jobs.
Company president Paul Willis announced he is seeking funding for a new $2.5 million to $35 million bio-refinery of Hoquiam to produce lingo-cellulosic liquid fuel from wood products alongside his current chip operations. The plant would require 35 to 50 workers with another 15 to 30 new jobs for harvesting and gathering materials.
The project plans to seek state and federal grants for constructing the new facilities and the City Council unanimously approved voicing support for the proposal.
The Port of Grays Harbor’s operating revenues of $9 million for last year were a 25% improvement over the year before. The higher revenue reflects increased shipping traffic which account for almost 70 % of the Port’s operating revenue. But for the third year in a row, the Port’s operating expenses, $9.2 million, exceeded its revenues because it allowed the Port to catch up on a backlog of maintenance projects it had not been able to address in years past.
The Port handled more cargo in 2008 than in any year over the past decade and saw its business activity overall increase 27 % over 2007. The cargo was heavy on agricultural products, biodiesel from Imperium and autos. This represented a continued shift away from timber products, which was mainstay for years bat has slowed to a trickle over the past decade.
The growing agricultural export business and a marketing agreement between the Port and the Pasha Group to bring a variety of cargoes to the Harbor seems certain to bring in more business. In order to attract more business they might need to investigate dredging the shipping channel to a deeper depth.
Imperium of Grays Harbor announced that 24 employees will loose their jobs in response to a global drop in demand of biodiesel. The increased cost of feedstock for producing biodiesel and the drastic changes in regular gasoline and diesel prices during the past 18 months has undermined the stability of the company.
The Seattle-based company has undergone a number of challenges since opening its Hoquiam facility in August of 2007, the largest biodiesel plant in the country at the time and employed about 60 Harbor workers.
John Plaza, founder and CEO of the regional biodiesel manufacturing company, said that the staff cuts had to be made to reduce costs and save money for the company’s future.
Some of the best Forcast for Coho Salmon
This year’s salmon returns are expected to be some of the best since 2001 for Washington. More than 1 million Columbia River coho are expected to return this year, which is nearly double last year’s return but Oregon and California show diminishing numbers of salmon
The Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted three options for this year’s ocean salmon season. The options virtually shut down sport and commercial fishing off the coast of California to allow salmon to rebound, while offering limited commercial and sport salmon fishing in Oregon.
In Washington the coho salmon runs appear to be some of the best in years, which could give commercial and sport fishermen a much needed boost. Coho options for all fishermen are eight to nine times that of last year, and Chinook fishing will be allowed, the Council said.
Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival from April 24 through 26th
Huge flocks of shorebirds scuttle across mudflats and take to the air in massive flocks. These birds feed and prepare for the next leg of their long journey to Arctic breeding grounds. Birders come from all over the world to Grays Harbor to spot birds, take classes and seminars or go on guided field trips.
Some of the birds fly 15,000 miles during the migration, which is one of the planet’s great wildlife spectacles. The massive shorebird migration from wintering grounds in South America, Central America and the southern United States funnels millions of birds through Grays Harbor mudflats, beaches and marshes.
The Shorebird Festival will be held at Hoquiam High School this year. Birders should sign up now for limited spots on field trips as they fill up very fast, they can logon www.shorebirdfestival.com or phone 800-303-8498. The festival itself offers free and pay-to-play field trips to great birding spots.
Grays Harbor PUD commissioners are considering raising power rates by 4% to offset declining revenues and increased costs from the Bonneville Power Administration. The increase would be about $3.35 per month on the typical Grays Harbor home using 1,300 kilowatt hours. In addition to raising rates, the commissioners are also “looking at all possible cost saving measures,” including cuts in services.
There are plenty of marine resource councils along the Puget Sound but no such groups along the state’s coast. The county commissioners officially created a Grays Harbor Marine Resource Council. The Legislature allocated $50,000 to help set up the group last year. The group will now be charged with looking after issues that impact all areas of the coast, including recent discussions about a private company wanting to set up wind turbines off the coast and a push to develop wave energy platforms.
Ken Birdwell, a software developer from Bellevue WA has donated $50,000 to the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority to ensure kids have an opportunity to continue to learn about the nautical ways of the Lady Washington. The developer for Valve Software said he spent 4 weeks on board the tall ships in 2007 and walked away having nothing but “life changing moments.”
After paying a fee to cover on-board expenses and signing a contract, volunteers join the crew and take part in many of the normal activities of sailing a tall ship, such as climbing the rigging, weighing anchor and greeting guests at various ports.
Birdwell said he found out the ship’s education program was also geared to youth and he wishes he had the chance to hang out on a tall ship when he was growing up. Seaport Executive Director Les Bolton said the donation couldn’t have come at a better time, as the recession has taken quite a toll on the revenue the Lady Washington usually brings in. The Seaport is grappling with cutbacks everywhere and is planning its first trip down the Columbia River in more than a decade in an effort to find new ports of call and new sources of revenue for the ship. The donation will be used to support the Seaport’s educational and volunteer programs.
The cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam will share about $1.2million from a new federal grant geared toward the acquisition of foreclosed or abandoned properties to build new homes for low-income residents. The money came from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the beneficiaries of the money will be Neighborworks of Grays Harbor and Habitat for Humanity.
The City of Hoquiam gets $448,918 in neighborhood stabilization funding while the City of Aberdeen gets $756,938. Hoqiuiam City Administrator Brian Shay, said a portion of Hoquiam’s money will be given to Habitat for Humanity, which uses mainly volunteer labor to build homes for low-income residents.
Aberdeen plans on giving around $200,000 to Habitat. The rest of the money would likely be given to Neighborworks and could be used to offer low-interest loans to first-time home buyers and to help low-income residents afford homes. Money paid back would go right back into the program. The money can also be used to acquire homes and properties that have been abandoned or foreclosed on and to fix up existing homes or build new ones.
March/April Convention Center Events Calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY March 22 March 23 March 24 March 25 March 26 March 27 March 28 W.O.W. Move-in & Set-up 11AM – 7PM W.O.W. 7AM- 8:30PM Vendor set-up 550 Attendees No Catering All Meals on Own Full Facility W.O.W. 6AM- 6PM 550 Attendees No Catering All Meals on Own 11:45AM – 1:15PM * LUNCH BREAK * W.O.W. 7AM- 6PM 550 Attendees Breakfast & Lunch on Own 11:30AM–12:45PM * LUNCH BREAK * Catered Dinner 7PM W.O.W. 7AM- 12:30PM 550 Attendees Breakfast & Lunch on Own Conf. finished at 12:30PM Possible lunch rush Razor Clam Festival Set-Up Razor Clam Festival 8AM – 8PM Pancake B-fast, Vendors, Live Music, Chowder Cook-off, & activities March 29 March 30 March 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 AAOS begins SET-UP (Pacific Hall) AAOS Set-Up (Pacific Hall) AAOS Set-Up (Pacific Hall) (TENTATIVE) Jury Trial ACT Meeting 1:30PM AAOS Fine Art & Photo Show Set-up Full Facility AAOS Fine Art & Photo Show Judges Reception Full Facility AAOS Fine Art & Photo Show Open to public 12PM – 6PM AAOS Fine Art & Photo Show Open to public 10AM – 6PM April 5 AAOS Fine Art & Photo Show Open to public 10AM – 4PM Art to be picked up between 4:30PM –5:30PM April 6 April 7 AARP Drivers Safety Class 9AM – 1PM O.S.F.D. Accident Scene Safety Meeting 7PM – 9:30PM April 8 AARP Drivers Safety Class 9AM – 1PM April 9 April 10 April 11 April 12 April 13 City Council Meeting 6:00PM April 14 April 15 Ocean Shores Municipal Court 1:30PM April 16 April 17 April 18 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet 4PM – 11PM Catered Dinner
Planning a visit to Ocean Shores? Go to our new website for lodging, dining, shopping and activity information and even driving directions!www.TourismOceanShores.com
If you, or anybody you know, have thought about buying or selling some property or building a new home, I would be more than happy to assist you in finding your dream in or around Ocean Shores.
If your property is currently listed with another agent, please disregard this letter.
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Fantastic Clam digging Weekend
It couldn’t have been a better weekend for clam diggers. The weather was warm and sunny and plenty of nice size clams. Dan Ayres, shellfish manager with the Department of Fish and Wildlife said that all three days of clam digging were very good.
He said that clam digging beaches saw about 29,500 “digger trips” over the weekend. He added that new numbers from the University of Washington estimate each “digger trip” on a razor clam weekend can add $49 to the local economy.
Offshore Energy Project
A company interested in converting wave energy to electricity is poised to ask the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to build five or six test converters off Ocean Shores and Grayland.
Grays Harbor Ocean Energy already has a federal permit to a feasibility study and now it is interested in actually building and installing a wave energy converters but has not yet officially applied to do the construction.
Project supporters believe it could supply enough energy to power the entire Olympic Peninsula and make Grays Harbor one of the largest producers of renewable energy in the world.
Last July, the commission issued a preliminary permit to Grays Harbor Ocean Energy, giving the company exclusive rights for a feasibility study at the designated locations for the next three years. That permit did not authorize any construction. The deadline for Grays Harbor Ocean Energy to apply for the pilot project license is July 31, 2010.
Shipment of vehicles have flooded into Aberdeen, 200 or 300 a day, as the Port of Grays Harbor prepares for their export.
A California-based auto shipping and processing company called the Pasha Group is coordinating the shipment of these vehicles. About 1,100 of these vehicles were loaded on the Jean Anne for shipment to Hawaii to replace a fleet of card for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The Jean Anne typically rotates between San Diego and the Hawaiian islands. When Enterprise car rentals purchased the 1,100 vehicles at a Seattle auction, they asked the Pasha Group to help move them.
Michael Pasha, general manager of port development said a small group of locally hired workers helped inspect and process the cars with tests on batteries and tires, then numbered and labeled the vehicles. A separate division of the company then worked to hire local longshore workers to load the vehicles.
“we’re really happy about the working relationship with the Port and the local labor unions,” Pasha said. “That’s why we’re here.”
Harnessing the Power of the Tides
Grays Harbor PUD and the Pacific County PUD are working to get funding for the proposed tidal energy generation project, they hope to power homes from tidal movements running in and out of Grays Harbor. Grays Harbor PUD General Manager Rick Lovely predicted the movement could produce about 1 megawatt of power, enough to light up about 100 homes. He hoped to have a pilot program in the water by 2011. Putting an underwater turbine beneath the channel from the Chehalis River into the Harbor could capture the energy from the flow of tides along the river.
PUD spokeswoman Liz Anderson said the first phase of the effort cost about $150,000 as the districts first measured velocity and scouted potential sites. The next phase of the project would cost about $2 million to fund studies, permits and other feasibility research. The third and final phase of research would be constructing and installing a pilot device to actually test the concept and power output, this could cost another $4 to 5 million. The utility districts plan to apply for $1.5 million in federal funding for the research the rest would come from regional partnerships with companies or organizations.
This is not ocean wave energy and it is not wind energy, a number of companies have designed devices that should work for the project but a lot of additional studying has to be done.
Breaking Ground for a $20 Million Liquid Bulk Storage Facility
Gold shovels cut into the dirt of marine Terminal 1, tossing the first scoop of a new bulk storage facility. Port officials and local city officials took turn welcoming the company to the area.
Grays Harbor commissioners, officials and county commissioners lined up next to representatives of New Orleans-based Westway Terminals, which plans to begin operations this fall.
Westway Terminals specializes in moving and storing liquid bulk around the world. They hold almost anything but oil products, often storing molasses or various chemicals. They expect to store methane on Grays Harbor and expand to other products.
The company expects to bring about a dozen vessels into the Port each year and increase that number as the facility develops. About five to ten full-time positions could be created.
Home Prices decline
Single family home prices in Grays Harbor County lost 10.9 percent of their value over the past year, with a median price of $155,000. Over the past five years, local home values went up 55 percent.
Even though the Harbor closed only 749 home sales in 2008 as opposed to 1,010 in 2007, the decline wasn’t as precipitous as in other counties.
Grays Harbor homes kept their value better than some and in the survey of 16 Western Washington counties, the Harbor home prices were put in the middle of the pack.
Convention Center Event Only – March 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Northwest Festivals & Events Conference 150 Attendees On Own for all Meals Northwest Festivals & Events Conference 300 Attendees Optional Workshops w/ 3 catered meals available, otherwise attendees are on own for meals Northwest Festivals & Events Conference 300 Attendees Breakfast on own Optional Luncheon & Banquet dinner otherwise attendees on own for meals Beachcombers Fun Fair Set-Up Beachcombers Fun Fair 2PM – 8PM Exhibit Check in Beachcombers Fun Fair 9:30AM – 5:00PM featuring seminars, vendors, booths, displays & guided beach walks on Sunday. Sat. Evening Seminars 6:30PM – 8:30PM Food Available 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Beachcombers Fun Fair 10AM – 4:00PM Beach walks at 8AM & 9AM Food Available North Beach School District Career Day Clean & Free Set-Up Clean & Free by the Sea NA Event 3PM – 1AM 1000+ Attendees On Own All Meals Clean & Free 8AM – 1AM 1000+ Attendees On Own All Meals Clean & Free 8AM – 1AM 1000+ Attendees On Own All Meals 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Clean & Free 8AM – 12PM 1000+ Attendees 9:30 AM Catered Breakfast is Optional St. Patrick's Day Set-up for G.H.C.H. G.H. Comm. Hospital 7AM-5PM Breakfast & Lunch Catered Dinner on Own Set-Up for Washington Wastewater Operations Workshop (W.O.W.) 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 W.O.W. Move-in & Set-up 11AM – 7PM W.O.W. 7AM- 8:30PM 650 Attendees No Catering All Meals on Own W.O.W. 6AM- 6PM 650 Attendees No Catering All Meals on Own 11:45AM – 1:15PM * LUNCH BREAK * W.O.W. 7AM- 6PM 650 Attendees Breakfast & Lunch on Own 11:30AM–12:45PM * LUNCH BREAK * Catered Dinner 7PM W.O.W. 7AM- 12:30PM 650 Attendees Breakfast & Lunch on Own Conf. finished at 12:30PM possible lunch rush Razor Clam Festival Set-Up Razor Clam Festival 8AM – 8PM Pancake B-fast, Vendors, Live Music, Chowder Cook-off, & activities 29 30 31 AAOS begins Set-UP (Pacific Hall) AAOS Set-Up (Pacific Hall) AAOS Set-Up (Pacific Hall)
Planning a visit to Ocean Shores? Go to our new website for lodging, dining, shopping and activity information and even driving directions!www.TourismOceanShores.com
If you, or anybody you know, have thought about buying or selling some property or building a new home, I would be more than happy to assist you in finding your dream in or around Ocean Shores.
If your property is currently listed with another agent, please disregard this letter.
I hope you enjoy the Agent Newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me.
If you do not wish to receive the Agent Newsletter from me, please reply to this e-mail with the word 'REMOVE' in the subject line.
Upcoming Event
Ocean Shores Antique 7 Collectible Show Feb 14-15, 2009
Ocean Shores Convention Center is holding their 7th Annual Antique Show. There will be over eighty booths offering quite a selection of antiques and collectibles, including furniture, American art, class, dolls, jewelry, dolls and much more. For a small donation to charities one can have their antiques evaluated. Last year's events raised $4,235.90 for the Ocean Shores Food Bank and the SeaPal Quilters for their quilt guild charities.
Repayment of Utility fund will have to wait
OCEAN Shores - The latest audit report of the City of Ocean Shores revealed that the city had not taken any action to repay the $1.9 million overcharged to the utility fund between 2001 and 2006. The State Audit's Office had recommended the city pay back the fund as soon as possible. Repayment options range from a lump sum payment or installments over the next 3, 10 or even 20 years. However, the city currently lacks the funds to begin any sort of repayment plan, according to Mayor Dean Bunkers, adding the city wouldn't be making any transfers back into the utility fund at least this year.
However, Bunkers is optimistic that by 2010 the city's budget will begin to stabilize enough to start examining a repayment plan. In December he came up with a plan to create more than $520,000 in savings and revenue that included collecting fees from inter-local medical aid agreements, buildings, life safety inspection permit fees and "banked" property tax levies. Bunkers said his goal is to have a payment plan in place by the end of this year. Until the budget situation improves, Bunkers said repayment will have to be on hold. "We will just have to wait and see how our revenues turn out," he said.
A proposed Seaport Landing project for the Tall Ships.
The tall ship Lady Washington and her companion vessel, the Hawaiian Chieftain have received a new proposed landing area. The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority announced that the Miller Hull Partnership, a Seattle architectural firm specializing in public projects, will conduct a two-day workshop Jan 14 and 15 for the Seaport's Board of Directors to help develop a collective vision for the project and help it move toward completion at no cost.
The Seaport Landing project, which includes the construction of a new home port for the tall ships will include Seaport offices, learning center, museum and gift shop. The Seaport Landing, which has been in the works for more than three years, is to be located on the riverfront of South Aberdeen, across the Safeway near the Chehalis River Bridge. The Seaport has signed a 30-year lease with the Department of Natural Resources for the water rights.
The association with Miller Hull is part of the One-Percent Solution, a public architecture program that connects non-profit organizations with architecture and design firms willing to donate their time, experience and services at no cost. Currently there are more than 450 firms across the country that pledge more than 175,000 hours annually. "I was impressed by the project's goals," said Craig Curtis, a partner who has been with Miller Hull for 22 years, "and when I saw the site, I was blown away by the potential for an incredible transformation."
According to Joe Follansbee, the director of communications and membership at the Seaport, the budget for the landing hasn't been finalized, but the cost is being estimated between $4 million and $6 million dollars. A capital campaign to raise funds is unofficially underway and the Seaport is investigating federal and state grants, as well as working to garner community support, which Follansbee says will "demonstrate that Grays Harbor is behind the project."
For those wishing to make donations, visit www.historicalseaport.com or call 800-200-5239.
Much of Harbors cut off
Recent snow and rain has flooded western Washington. Kelly Stowe, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation, said highways quickly shut down overnight, leaving Grays Harbor and northern Pacific County limited to a few local roads. With U.S. Highway 12 blocked near Devonshire Road, state Route 107 at Montesano and U.S. Highway 101 closed outside Raymond.
Grays Harbor Undersheriff Rick Scott said deputies were busy with rescues. He warned drivers trying to find local routes through the area to avoid roads with water over them. "We've spent a lot of time rescuing people who have ignored road closed signs," he said. "That is a crime. ... We may begin to take enforcement action." Emergency supplies were being flown into the county and local stores had received shipments of emergency supplies and fuel.
The Pasha Group signs agreement with Port of Grays Harbor
The Pasha Group, which arranged the recent shipment of Kia vehicles to Marine Terminal 4, joined the Port of Grays Harbor in marketing agreement allowing them a year to study the feasibility of establishing a large-scale automotive processing facility in Aberdeen.
Stan Gabara, vice president of automotive with The Pasha Group, said the company is very attracted to the location, storage, transportation and workforce connections offered at the Port and believes the Grays Harbor is uniquely and strategically positioned to be a major automotive processing and distribution facility long into the future. The Pasha Group, which manages transport for a variety of cargoes, expects to bring in several more vehicle shipments during the next six months as it evaluates whether the Port can be developed into a permanent facility. The Pasha Group has large automotives sites including a 157-acre facility near San Diego, which employs 275 people before counting long-shore and shipping workers.
Gabara said Grays Harbor has the potential to grow into a large, long-term facility including warehouse storage, car washing stations, body and repair shops and other support facilities. The Port Commissioners unanimously approved signing the marketing agreements, which prohibits the Port from seeking competing companies for the Terminal 4 site. If another company approaches the Port, the Pasha Group has the first chance at the location. Billy Swor, secretary of the International Longshore Workers Union Local 24, was joined by other union leaders to welcome the company.
Willis Enterprises move progressing
Willis Enterprises, a Harbor-based wood chip company, plans to have its move to Port of Grays Harbor property in Hoquiam complete within a couple months. President Paul Willis said the final barge load of chips left the Aberdeen facility on Jan. 9. The company has been storing logs at its new Marine Terminal 3 site and is starting new construction. He mentioned that the project had received 13 of its 15 permits so far. He plans to move forward with concrete work at the terminal, which sat vacant for many years before he signed a 10-year lease in September.
He expected the Aberdeen facility would be closed by the end of February. The new plans also include installing a crane and support facilities in March. Work would be going on at the Port site and would go into full production by March or April. Port Commissioner Stan Pinnick said that
he was pleased that the terminal was starting up operations again. Mike Johnson, contracts administrator for Port, said the terminal was also undergoing some infrastructure improvements including new pilings and electricity systems.
Willis said he has been working to find more space for logs as inventory has backed up during the transitions. The logs have been stacking up while his storage has started to run short. He said though the move has been going a little slower than he would like, but he believes the project has great potential. "Hopefully, the economy returns and it will be a good project in the long term," he said.
Weyerhaeuser mills go quiet
The Weyerhaeuser Company announced that it will permanently close its sawmill and the Pacific Veneer mill in Aberdeen. The closures, effective immediately, put 221 people out of work. Weyerhaeuser has eliminated nearly600 employees in the Aberdeen area since 2005, between the closure of the large log sawmill, the Cosmopolis Pulp Mill and layoffs at the Aberdeen log sorting yard and elsewhere. "It was kind of a shock," said Ray Calica, president of the Local 3099 of the Western Council of Industrial Workers. "For the community, this is going to have a very large impact. There are a lot of dollars and tax dollars that are not going to be spent in the Harbor and surrounding areas.
Pontoons will be built here
State officials finally decided that the pontoon project for the Evergreen Point floating bridge in Seattle will be located on Grays Harbor, bringing with it 250 construction jobs as the facility is built and 100 more to construct the pontoons. The $306 million pontoon construction project could start as early as August. The news comes as sharp contrast to layoff and plant closure news such as the Weyerhaeuser announcement earlier this week that it will close two local mills permanently.
The issue of where the site will be is still up in the air. The state is considering two Hoquiam sites and one in Aberdeen. Officials from both cities said they're just glad it's coming to Grays Harbor, but whichever city gets it will see significant tax revenue. Program Director Julie Meredith with the state Dot said that a shortened schedule will have engineers looking at how to start building pontoons before the full-scale facility is finished - wherever it ends up. Meredith said the department will recommend one of the three proposed sites within a couple months and finish an initial
environmental review by year's end, but preliminary construction may begin this summer. She said they may not have the time to wait until the full facility is up and running.
Engineers plan to work with local contractors to try new forming and structural methods to start building the 23, massive concrete pontoons needed to support the structurally vulnerable Highway 520 bridge in Seattle. A $2 million to $5 million preliminary construction contract could create early carpentry, steel work and concrete forming jobs.
February 2009
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Groundhog Day |
Drivers Safety 9AM – 1PM Sign-up 289-2357 |
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City Council Meeting 6PM |
Stores Online Mtg. 8AM- 4PM 100 People Catered Lunch |
FBLA Event 250 Attendees 8AM – 3PM Catered Lunch |
GH Comm. Hosp 8AM-4PM 100pl. Catered Breakfast & Lunch |
Move-in\ Set-Up Antique & Collectible Show |
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Antique & Collectible Show 10AM – 4PM |
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West Region EMS Conference 600 Attendees Catered Breakfast & Box Lunch Dinner on Own
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West Region EMS Conf. 600 Attendees Cater.Breakfast Lunch-On Own 12:30PM -1:30PM & Dinner too anytime after 5PM |
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EMS Conf. Final Day 600 Attendees 7 am to 1 pm Cater.Breakfast Lunch-On Own |
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Mardi Gras (F.E.R.C.) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Meeting Times Vary 9AM-10PM |
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Habitat for Humanity Back to the 50’s Dance 5:30PM-11:00PM Buffet, Raffles & Dancing |
Planning a visit to Ocean Shores? Go to our new website for lodging, dining, shopping and activity information and even driving directions!www.TourismOceanShores.com
Welcome to my World -
Ocean Shores, Washington!
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Welcome to my world - Ocean Shores, WA. Put me to work while you enjoy a walk on the beach. Call me at 360-580-1945 or e-mail me at ekiaupa@juno.com while the properties are still affordable.
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