May Bites- quick reads for curious locals
Cherry Blossoms in Spring
Spring Clean Up In Westport
During May, Westport residents can get a free one-load voucher for the LeMay transfer station in Montesano. Stop by City Hall to get your voucher. You must provide your address and ID.
The Fishermen’s Memorial Clean-up will be May 13th, 3-5 p.m. All volunteers are welcome. Bring gloves for weeding and planting.
Local Business Updates
Beach Grub Food Trailer
The Beach Grub has moved. Check out their new location at 801 W. Ocean Ave. Re-opening very soon! If you haven’t tried Josh’s delicious burgers or skewers, you can check out the menu here.
The new South Bay Espresso trailer is located at the South Bay Inn, 920 S. Montesano Street. Open on weekends in May, 7 am-3 pm.
Jays Farmstand is moving next to South Bay Espresso and will be open Thursday-Sunday. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Community Skatepark Update
The Westport Community Skatepark and PumpTrack is on track to be completed this year! The next community meeting will be held on May 22nd at The Helm. Grindline will present their design concept and ask the community for feedback.
Community Comment Period for Proposed Golf Course
The public comment period for the Westport Golf Links project is open until May 23rd. Folks are asked to review the Environmental Impact Statement and comment on it. You can view the DEIS here. Public comments may be emailed to: wgl.wlsp.deis.comments@gmail.com
Or mailed in letter form to :
City of Westport
Attn: Tom Cappa, SEPA LEAD
PO BOX 505
Westport, WA 98595.
Please reference Project File Number: 25-COW-EIS-01
Summer Programs for Kids at South Beach Youth Center- The Helm
The Helm will offer several enrichment programs for school-aged kids this summer. Classes include Babysitting 101, Summer Choir, and Introduction to Maritime Trades. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
“I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me”
Cams, cams, everywhere are cams.
Does anyone remember that song by Rockwell? It’s quite the earworm. Flock Safety, a public safety technology company, presented at the latest town council meeting, showcasing their license plate readers, which could help local law enforcement. This inspired a broader conversation among council members about the various cams in town.
There are several cams viewable by anyone with a link. Great for seeing the sights, but also good to know you are in the public view wherever you go in town. Where are the cams? The city of Westport hosts two cams- one on top of the viewing tower that rotates around the Marina, the harbor, and the cove, and a newer one hosted by the Westport Maritime Museum that looks out toward the Marina. Chateau Westport has a beach cam. Westport Condos By the Sea has several cams- mostly private, but a new one is being installed by Webcoos to monitor beach erosion, rip currents, and collect data. These cameras will face north and south, so you are never truly alone on those beach walks.
There are two cameras on top of the lighthouse. One is a surf cam for paid Surfline users (which many local surfers aren’t happy about), and the other is owned by the Maritime Museum. John Shaw said it’s so clear he can see folks in the jetty parking lot. There is also a cam mounted on the restrooms by the Fishermen’s Memorial. And then there are all the private cams - ring door cams, security system cameras on residences and businesses.
No More Summer Dumpsters at the Marina
Westport Marina will no longer provide dumpster service on the “even” side of the marina due to excessive misuse. All boat trash should be disposed of in the marina garbage station located at the Marina office. There will still be small cans along the waterfront.
Have you ever heard about the UFO crash over the Elk River?
Westport UFO Crash Retrieval
On the night of November 25th, 1979, dozens of witnesses from Elma to Aberdeen to Westport saw a “low flying object with a fiery glow” that disappeared over the Elk River. Numerous calls were made to local dispatch reporting the incident, and not long after, the military arrived, blocking the area and surrounding logging roads. When locals tried to access the area, they were turned away by soldiers in uniform. Rumors spread of a downed military aircraft, but the truth has never been discovered. James Clarkson wrote a book about the incident- Westport UFO Crash Retrieval- it is a collection of information, interviews, witness testimony, maps, and professional insight from Clarkson. One of the witnesses was John Dodge, a reporter for The Daily World. Even though Clarkson worked in law enforcement at that time, he didn’t learn about the mysterious event until 1987. He published his book in 2016, and for more than 30 years, Clarkson has been a dedicated UFOologist. He will be speaking at The UFO Paranormal Summit in Ocean Shores at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino, May 3- 5th. Clarkson’s book can be found at the Westport Timberland Library.
Grays Harbor has two Ocean Friendly Restaurants
The Wandering Goose in Tokeland and Rediviva in Aberdeen are part of the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants program. The program involves participating in seven mandatory criteria, like cutting out wasteful single-use plastics, proper recycling practices, and no styrofoam containers. Any restaurant can become part of the program. To learn more on how to make your restaurant ocean-friendly, go here.
Speaking of the Surfrider Foundation, a new chapter has formed in Grays Harbor. Most meetings take place in Ocean Shores, but plans to expand into Hoquiam, Aberdeen, and Westport are in the works.
Women’s Ocean Retreat
Local lady shredder Annie Atkinson
Local surfer and schoolteacher Annie Atikinson and Waves Reiki Retreat owner Terrish Bilbrey are teaming up for a “Get After It” ocean retreat for women on June 6- 8th. The event is for women who are “ready to connect to the ocean and themselves on a deeper level.” Registration closes May 23rd- there’s an option for locals and out-of-area guests.
Events Not to Miss
Ocosta Oyster Feed- May 3rd, 3pm-7pm Ocosta Recreation Hall. Tickets are $20.
Grays Harbor Home and Garden Show is May 17-18 at the Fairgrounds in Elma
Spring Bazaar at the Westport VFW May 17, 10am-4pm
Thanks for reading- more events listed under the Currents!