FREE PREVIEW EVENT GUIDE | OCTOBER 5-6, SHELTON, WA
Seafood Festival
38th Annual Washington State
Oct. 5-6 Shelton
Sanderson Field Airport Shelton, Washington 1
2019 OYSTERFEST
2019 OYSTERFEST 2
Welcome to the
Image Jill Himlie, 2018
3 8 T H A N N UA L WAS H I N G TO N S TAT E
Since 1982, OysterFest has been a premier event and economic force in Shelton, WA. Although food & drink is paramount to this event, there is much to see and do including family activities, marine displays, live music, and the much celebrated regional shucking competition. The Washington State Seafood Festival (OysterFest) is hosted and presented by the Skookum Rotary Club of Shelton. Annually, members and their families create an event that helps hundreds of non-profits locally and globally.
“You can feel great in each
to support a great cause.”
Oysterfest is produced by
Don’t miss the excitement on the Shucking Stage. Saturday and Sunday oyster shuckers compete for cash prizes and national recognition. It’s not just great food, beers, wines, and entertainment. Throughout the festival, exhibits demonstrate how important water quality is to our communities. Agency displays and Marine Education Science Society’s marine touch tanks allow you to get up close
with crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers, limpets, and much more!
This and more has made the Washington State Seafood Festival a much anticipated family event. Thank you for goes back into the community making it all possible, we couldn’t have it done without you – vendors, 3 exhibitors, and attendees. 2019 OYSTERFEST
dollar spent at OysterFest
Message from the
Free shuttle bus service will be provided at Shelton Civic Center, Shelton Yacht Club, and from the parking area at Shelton High School. Shuttles run continuously throughout the weekend. Parking is free. Handicap parking available near the gates. Exit Hwy 101 on to Sanderson Way road and follow signs to OysterFest.
est l OysterF a u n n A h e 38t There will be ATM’s conveniently located e you to th e m g – we ar o in lc e it c w x at the event. Check the OysterFest map for e o t d r n a at hono lly make a event fun b is lo details. h g t It is a gre o is t g locally Not only . in t A c a W , in n o ission in Shelt otary’s m R t r o p p u s s. proud to Pets ARE NOT ALLOWED at the event with ommunitie c r u o in ce sure to n a e le r p e the exception of service animals. f if y d m a has been It t . r t u o p o b p u a nd s is all olunteer a v this event t o t a h n w e r d is ts. il ity non-profi nd my ch l a a Commun r c e lo h t y n fa to ma OYSTERFUNK is October 4 from g side my so much s n a e work alon dition and m ra t t a 6:00 - 9:00 PM for those 21+ with is h t h t t n e stic eve bration. o continu le t e d c u l o a r live music featuring The Varmints, u p this fanta n tions are tary’s an o ra e R n e m g u k e food, oysters, beer garden. $5 o o Our thre share Sk o t y il m es. your fa d beverag n welcome a d o OYSTERFEST is October 5 & 6 fo delicious h ir it e w h t d e e r ll Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM a fi s they sh ach tent a e y rs e e jo h t e n t e t n a o Sunday:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM nder cal volu Be sure t ic and wo nderful lo s u o w m Admission $7.00 | Free parking r e u v li o ow ionships. ght in the p li m e a Get to kn D h . c s Kids 7 and undre free. r e e local caus da ily oyst r e h fo t n in io s pas huckers ill of the s k s d n a u can speed erFest, yo t s y O t u r o Thanks fo hing is ab t ! e e Visit oysterfest.org or join us it s r u o a v c a great t your fa a o t h w s on FB at #OysterFestWA for e r o e g tt t No ma vent. e ollar spen d e h y t updates on the event! Send r g e v in e y that time enjo s u us a message if you have feel good lo u b fa d have a n a s questions! u g joinin
! Welcome
ystering!
Happy O
e er) Jill Himli Old Oyst d n ra (G O 2019 GO
JILL HIMLIE 2019 Grand Old Oyster
2019 OYSTERFEST 4
Oyster Season in Shelton! 2019 OysterFest is hosted at Sanderson Field Airport, 1/2 mile north of Shelton, off US Hwy 101. There is plenty of parking as well as RV and camping opportunities.
Google Address: 250 W Sanderson Way, Shelton
North Follow Hwy 101 along Hood Canal. OysterFest is located just before you enter Shelton. North Hwy 101 accesses Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend.
South On I-5 take Exit 104 and follow Hwy 101 to Shelton. Seattle Ferries SR 3 towards Belfair & Union take you directly to Shelton. SR 106 follows the shore of Hood Canal from Belfair to Union, making a nice scenic drive to the event.
How far will you go for the tastiest seafood? from Olympia from Tacoma: from Seattle: from Portland:
23 miles 53 miles 82 miles 134 miles
Seafood Festival
38th Annual Washington State
Oct. 5-6 Shelton
hosted by the SKOOKUM ROTARY CLUB PO Box 849, Shelton, WA
This official OysterrFest event publication is created for the Shelton Skookum Rotary Club. For contribution guidelines/advertising: Rachel Hansen | rachel@nwevent.org 360-427-5599 | PO Box 622, Shelton, WA www.nwevent.org Copyrighted Material 2019
WE ARE
Community Powered
Always providing safe, reliable, economical service, 24/7. 5
2019 OYSTERFEST
grow with us Your Committed Community Partner bringing 300 SUSTAINABLE JOBS to beautiful Mason County.
Sierra Pacific Industries P.O. Box 700 Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 427-8200
spi-ind.com/careers
Shelton Shellfish Market 130 SE Lynch RD Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 432-3300 Monday - Sunday 10am - 6pm
Oysters - Clams - Mussels Geoduck - Smoked Salmon 2019 OYSTERFEST 6
Seafood Festival
38th Annual Washington State
OC TOBER 5 - 6 SHELTON, W A Saturday: 10AM – 6PM Sunday:10AM – 5PM
Stay the weekend with us!
Admission $7.00 | Parking FREE
FREE SHUT T L E
It’s great to visit OysterFest for the day, it’s less than a 30 minute drive from Olympia, but even more fun to make it a weekend long annual tradition! October is a great time to visit the Hood Canal area. The tourists have gone back to their schedules and many lodging establishments have availability and even reduced rates. Consider reserving a waterfront cabin on the canal for your whole group for less than $200/night. Here you will be able to hike, fish, or kayak and enjoy spectacular mountain views and beach access during your stay. And did we mention that on most public beaches and even at some rental accommodations – you can harvest your own clams and oysters? Can’t get much fresher than that! Visit explorehoodcanal.com for some lodging suggestions. The Shelton area offers everything from simple clean motels to exclusive waterfront resorts. If you prefer nightlife, an energy packed local casino is available for full accommodations.
Have your own RV or enjoy tent camping? OysterFest is hosted on the north side of the Shelton airport and the festival area is surrounded by dry RV and tent camping. Talk about easy access to OysterFest! Many groups of friends annually create their own little camp communities. Camping reservations onsite are available Thursday through Sunday. On Friday, October 4, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, the event really kicks off with an evening celebration – OysterFunk. Held in the microbrew garden, this event features food, beer, wine, and live music with The Varmints. Hosted by the Shelton Rotary Club, admission $5. For camping reservations at OysterFest visit oysterfest.org and click on “Tickets and RV Reservations.”
You’ll notice the difference.
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FRID AY , OC TO BE R 4 6:0 0 PM - 9:0 0 P M T H E VA R M I N T S L I V E M U S I C F O O D/ B E E R GA R D E N (21+ O N LY )
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Shucking Competition OysterFest Food Bivalve Merrior Entertainment Schedule Shuck & Run 5K Wines at OysterFest Educational Exhibits Follow the Shellfish Trail Oyster & Water Quality Ride the Rails in Shelton Road Trip Hood Canal Chef Xinh Dwelley Bring Your Boat Shellfish Harvest Areas 2019 OYSTERFEST
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Shucking Insert, twist, flick, repeat. Sounds simple, right? But if you have ever attempted to shuck an oyster you will know that it is anything but easy. Just ask around – damage from shucking knives and stubborn oysters is as common as stories of ladder falls and dog bites. Competition shuckers know just where to insert their knife to coax the shell open without leaving a shattered mess or a stabbed artery. Images Jill Himlie, 2018
OysterFest is a great opportunity to learn a few tips on shucking, but watch carefully, they move quickly! Over two days the course of competition from noon to close contestants vie for the title of the fastest shucker or the best half-shell shucker or both titles.
The West Coast Shucking Champion goes through more than 6,000 oysters (donated by Taylor Shellfish). A shucker draws a tray of two dozen oysters by lottery and arranges them in preparation. An appeal is made if the contestant feels an oyster is of inferior shape.
Shelton’s championship is a preliminary event to the US shuck-off at St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in Maryland. The National Oyster Shucking Championship Contest® features the fastest men and women shuckers competing for cash prizes. National winners compete in the International Oyster Festival in Galway, Ireland.
A basket of oysters is passed to each shucker from which they can choose more favorable alternates. As the contest begins, the shuckers hold their knives at head height to indicate readiness. At the signal from the chief judge, the timekeepers start their watches and the contestants begin.
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Shelton’s West Coast 2018 Competition Results The shuckers rapidly open and place each oyster, completely severed from the shell, on its unbroken half-shell on the tray. Speed is the primary factor on Saturday. Prizes are given through the 6th place each day. There are cash prizes for the fastest amateur shucker each day at 5:30 PM. Sunday, speed is still a factor, but even more so is presentation in what are called the Half-Shell Trials. Each contestant must not only shuck 24 oysters, but present in the half shell. In addition to speed and half shell shucking awards, there is a prize for best presentation overall. Raymundo Meza, representing Jolly Roger Seafood, received the award for presentation in 2018.
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It's about
From a delicate seafood ceviche to corn on the cob and, of course,dozens upon dozens of oysters prepared in every way imaginable there’s something for everyone. Good food – each with a good cause! Every single one of the food vendors – without exception – is volunteering their time to create gastronomical delights (both seafood and non) in support of a local organization. ALL vendors and exhibitors must be non-profit organizations with proceeds benefiting Mason County based organizations. That means that every bite of deep fried oyster or native fry bread gives you a burst of karma! So go crazy. Try everything and be a giver. Thank you! So where should you start? Be sure to pick up the colorful map, schedule, and exhibitor directory with your entry fee. While the 21+ members of your group head to the ID check-in to receive their bracelets, the rest of the family will want to head to the coconut shrimp line.
This booth, hosted by Senior Services for South Sound is generally sold out by mid-day both days. The succulent shrimp and the crunchy sweet coconut are an amazing combination and a great way to start your adventure. As folks raise funds to help seniors remain healthy and independent in their homes, the group also supports seniors through the provision of Meals On Wheels, health services and social support. Might as well get two orders of coconut shrimp! Another popular food spot is the salmon & fry bread. Grilled to perfection, moist and fresh, the slab of seasoned salmon perfect complements the crispy hot fry bread. All the proceeds go to assisting elder members of the Squaxin Island Tribe.
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Got Oysters? Yep. If you can imagine it, the folks at OysterFest have probably made it happen, grilled oysters bathed in melted garlic butter; Oysters Rockefeller with a delicate wash of seasonings; deep fried oyster fritters with a tangy ice cold dip; fortifying oyster chowder; skewered oysters wrapped in rashes of thick bacon – well, you get the idea. Prefer the purist approach to your oysters? That’s covered too. After all, Mason County is home to some of the best oysters in the world! Sweet and petite yearling Pacifics with their signature cucumber finish and briny liquor... or perhaps you prefer the milky white firm texture of a two-season cupped tumbled oyster.
Stop by the raw oyster bar hosted by the Marine Education Science Society (MESS) for Totten, Hammersley Inlet, and Hood Canal’s finest shucked by local shellfish farmers. These prized shooters need no dressing, but if you like, splash on a little mignonette, a piquant sauce made with vinegar and
shallots, or a squeeze of lemon. Both are a perfect balance to the briny, somewhat creamy oysters. Again, go crazy. Not only is it good for you (unless your doctor gave you reason to not eat raw seafood) it’s all for a GOOD cause!
Proudly supporting OysterFest since 1982
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920 W Railroad Avenue Shelton, WA, 98584
(360) 426-2646 windermereshelton.com
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Image: Jill Himlie,
The world is our Have you ever wondered how the same species of oyster can have such varied flavors or textures? Just like the different wines offered at OysterFest – the growing area and method make all the difference! Not all beaches are created equal. Each shellfish growing area has opportunities and limitations for success. Oysters grown in soft sand conditions can sink and suffocate, struggling to circulate water and food. As such, muddy growing beaches have led to culture techniques that suspend oysters above the mud such as long lines, stakes, suspended nets, or racks and bags. Firm, sandy, and rocky growing areas allow for oysters to be grown directly on the substrate as well as suspended.
“Each shellfish growing area has unique opportunities & limitations for success.”
Location of the oysters on the beach also plays a part in determining how long the oyster will take to achieve a marketable size as well as structure of the shell. Oysters grown in the inter tidal area are exposed to daily tidal inundation and have well-developed adductor muscles and thicker shells, which makes them heartier. Conversely, oysters growing suspended in the water column will have the benefit of a constant food source and thus grow quickly but with delicate shells and a susceptibility to environmental hazards including heat and disease. Often times suspended oysters are placed in the high energy intertidal environment for a few weeks prior to market to harden the shells for
shipment and condition the oysters to hold their shells shut. In Europe, where there is very limited tidal change, some farmers pull the oysters from the water for periods of time to mimic the tidal action. The method of growth can greatly change the shape of the oyster. A Pacific allowed to grow naturally on the beach will have a sturdy irregular shell with a great deal of frills. The tumble bag creates an altered but a marketable shape for cultured oysters. Oysters are placed in the bag as small seed and the tide does the rest. The tidal flip and roll chip off the fragile shell lips and force the oyster to curve. The result is a deep cup in its lower shell.
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Merrior is a word used to describe flavor of the oyster based upon the location where it was grown. Coined in 2003 by oyster-loving Greg Atkinson, food writer for The Seattle Times, after slurping fresh Pacific oysters, the term refers to the French word “mer” (which means “sea”). Combined with the suffix “-oir” (which usually denotes a specific place) the word provide a marine equal to the word “terroir”—an established term for the way environmental factors affect a crop, commonly used in tandem with wine or coffee. Each waterway has its own selection of phytoplankton yielding oysters with different meat colors and flavors. Just like the well attuned vintners of the Rhone Valley, oyster connoisseurs are
able to detect the subtleties of each bay by tasting the meat and observing the shell. Pacific oysters grown in Willapa Bay have a distinct merrior from those grown in Samish Bay. Hood Canal oysters are claimed to be more briny than the sweeter cucumber flavored bivalves grown in Hammersley Inlet or South Puget Sound waterways.
An oyster can offer a number of flavor notes due to species and merrior. Tastes can range from some salty to floral, some have fruity notes, mineral flavor or even hints of spice or mushrooms.Can you taste the difference?
seawater flavor mild and sweet not briny often the first and sometimes primary flavor of an oyster. A fully saline oyster will have a very briny taste while oysters with very low salinity can taste sweet or buttery soft and fleshy, crisp on the palate mpression upon swallowing the oyster. Common finishes are mineral, metallic, earthy, kelpy, cucumber, or melon.
FRESH FROM WILLAPA BAY Welcome to OysterFest! FLY BY OUR RETAIL STORE If you live for oysters like we do you will love our fresh and innovative products – from live shellstock in various sizes; the freshest hand-shucked Goose Points; to specialty products like party-ready shooters complete in a re-useable shot glass with a Northwest Pacific oyster in our zesty sauce (customize our oyster shooters for your business or family events); or blue seal oysters, high pressure banded and pre-shucked, ready to eat.
Goose Point Retail is open seven days a week, 9AM to 5PM.
Can’t make it to the farm? Our online store is open 24 hours a day and we are happy ship anywhere in the US.
Nisbet Oyster Co., Inc. 7081 Niawaukum St, Hwy 101 Bay Center, WA 98527
Sales@goosepoint.com
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www. goosepoint.com (360) 875-6629 | 1-888-875-6629
Welcome to OysterFest.
Now that you’re here,
P L AY A W H I L E .
Only our oysters surpass our views.
Kayaking, boating, hiking, scuba, and harvesting your own shellfish are just a few things to fill your days on Hood Canal. For spectacular accommodations, road trips and unique adventure itineraries visit explorehoodcanal.com. Stop by Explore Hood Canal’s booth at OysterFest to discover what we can’t stop talking about. Book a stay on the #wildsideWA today.
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Olympia, Virginica, Pacific, and Kumamoto The not so secret secret to good oysters is safe handling. From the moment your product is placed in bag your grower must insure that it is kept cold and fresh. Keep your oysters on ice or in the refrigerator. Cover with a damp cloth in the fridge to keep them moist. Fresh oysters must be alive just before consumption or cooking. Tap on the shell– a live oyster will close up and is safe to eat. Discard all dead oysters.
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Adapted from the wdfd.wa.gov website O
Kumamoto. It has a small deep
(duh.)
For more information about oyster species visit wsg.washington.edu. Thank you to Teri King, Washington Sea Grant for detaills and guidance.
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OysterFest volunteers, Jennifer Renecker and daughter, Grace, embody the values of Shelton Skookum Rotary’s OysterFest; community members helping each other. Whether it be helping out with root beer floats in the Shelton High School Cheer booth or slinging shrimp in gooey batter in the coconut shrimp booth, event volunteers value this opportunity to share stories and support the causes they feel passionate about. Thank you, Volunteers!
Hosted by the Skookum Rotary Club, a local chapter among a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers, Rotary’s mission is to see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
“Act locally & globally to affect change – OysterFest is an opportunity to help build community and raise funds.”
Rotary’s 35,000+ clubs worldwide work together to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Shelton Skookum Rotary Club was chartered in 1976. Skookum is a Chinook word meaning strong. The club has produced OysterFest since it began in 1982. Through the Skookum Rotary Foundation, OysterFest proceeds have been
NJROTC members are strategic partners with Skookum to put on OysterFest. These folks get to the site very early both Saturday and Sunday to coordinate traffic and parking. From OysterFest proceeds they were awarded $1,500 to send several members to leadership training.
used to fund local and international projects including the annual Mason County Science and Engineering Fair; 8th Grade Academic Excellence; 11th Grade Academic Excellence; scholarships; Music in the Park, senior gardens; Business Week event, the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy; Midnight Flowers; local Mason County 4H programs; Shelter Box; Polio Plus; Rotoplast Wells; and micro-lending projects as well as funding school buses in partnership with Durban Bay, South Africa Rotary.
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Proud to be your neighbors. For four generations MANKE LUMBER COMPANY has been proud to call Mason County home. Our livings, families and futures are all connected. That’s why we are honored to annually sponsor Forest Festival and support community events like OysterFest.
Congratulations, Skookum Rotary, on thirty-eight years of OysterFest success! Relying on a wealth of experience from over fifty years of hands-on operation, Manke Lumber continues to explore technologies and practices to protect resources and provide maximum value to our customers. PHOTO: COOPER STUDIOS
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Live music for all tastes from Rhymn & Blues to Rock n’ With two stages offering life music in a variety of genres, attendees will be
FR I DAY , OC T 4 @ 6 - 9 P M
“ T H E VA R M I N T S ” L I V E M U S I C F O O D/ B E E R GA R D E N (21+ O N LY E V E N T )
2019 Schedule |Saturday, October 5
sure to find entertainment that suits
every taste. Randy Litch will deliver an energy-packed performance 10:00 AM on Saturday to kick things off at the family entertainment tent (Wine Tent) which is open to all ages. Live music will continue throughout the weekend in this venue. Strike Nine, a Classic Rock band, opens the Microbrew Stage Saturday at 10:30 AM. Formed in 2011, Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers is a Seattle-based band playing Blues and R&B. The band’s album, Lost Nights at the Leopard Lounge, includes twelve original tunes which they will be sure to share with audiences on the Microbrew Stage Saturday at 12:30 PM. An annual favorite, Hurts like Hell,will be followed by local favorites, The Varmints, on the Microbrew Stage.
Hurts Like Hell formed in Olympia in 2011 when drummer, Ben Hawkes, dreamed of putting his favorite local players in a blues band together. The band wrote and toured locally and was voted Weekly Volcano’s Best Blues Band in Olympia in consecutive years. The band brings their blistering brand of Blues Rock to bars, venues, and clubs all over the Northwest. Tammy Frost, the daughter of professional musicians, has singing in her blood. Her talent of making a tune her own, in concert with the range of her voice, has attracted a loyal following. Catch her on the Wine Stage at 4:00 PM. The Varmints, at 4:30 PM (until the event closes Saturday) play Classic Rock cover songs with amazing energy and enthusiasm.
RANDY LITCH 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM
STRIKE NINE 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
LoggersCLoggersclo
CLOGGERS 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
HILARY SCOTT 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
TAMMY FROST BAND 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
MICHELLE D’AMOUR LOVE DEALERS 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM LOVE DEALERS HURTS LIKE HELL 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
THE VARMINTS 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
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2019 Schedule |Sunday, October 6 PINE TOP PICKERS 10:30 AM –12:00 PM
LoggersCLoggersclo
LADY DRINKS WHISKEY 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
SMOOCHO GUSTO 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
AL EARICK 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PSYCHEDELIC SHADOW SHOW 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM LOVE DEALERS RAUCOUS 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Sunday on the Wine Stage (all ages) enjoy The Pine Top Pickers from 10:30 to 12:00, Lady Drinks Whiskey takes the stage at 12:30 PM, followed by Smoocho Gusto at 3:00 PM. Psychedelic Shadow Show takes the stage at 1:30 Sunday, treating audiences to an authentic experience in the music of Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Joplin, and many more favorites performed as they were by the original artists. Starting at 3:30 PM, round the event off in at the Microbrew with Raucous.
Raucous has performed their smooth, classic Rock & Roll and dance favorites at clubs, casinos, dances, festivals, fairs and various events throughout the Pacific Northwest. For schedule updates visit oysterfest.org or pick up the map available at the gate when you arrive.
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Hundreds of walkers/runners show up each year to participate in the Shuck & Share 5K Walk/Run, which happens on OysterFest Sunday. Proceeds from the race help fund Mason County PUD 3’s Project Share program.
Project Share is a customer-funded program helping families in crisis situations who need help paying their electric bills. Through the generosity of donors, more than 300 low-income families are helped each year. As other sources of aid continue to dwindle, more customers rely on Project Share for assistance. For more than 30 years, Mason PUD 3 customers and employees have generously funded Project Share. The Shuck & Share Walk/Run began in 2014 as a way to raise awareness (and funds) for the program.
The run attracts about 200 runners each year and raises approximately $3,000 for the program. Mason PUD 3 employees and local community members volunteer their time to organize the race each year. Success relies volunteers and sponsorships from about 30 local businesses. This year’s 5K takes place on October 6 at 8:00 AM, located at the Huff N’ Puff across from the Shelton High School. It is a nice, flat, 5K loop. You do not need to be a PUD 3 customer to participate, simply donate, or register for the 5K at www.pud3.org.
Congratulations OysterFest on 38 Years!
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2019 OYSTERFEST
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These are the real pearls in our oysters. OysterFest would not be here today without the vision of Dick Oltman, a Shelton Rotarian. In 1979, retired from a military career, Oltman was completing a graduate program in tourism. Oltman’s thesis was the blueprint of the WA State Seafood Festival, OysterFest.
The Port of Shelton is proud to partner with the 2019 OysterFest event. portofshelton.com
Oltman’s vision is possible with the hundreds of community members taking time each year to volunteer at OysterFest. Volunteers don’t just staff booths and run the event – they also plan, organize, set up, and break down the event. The hidden pearls of OysterFest are these volunteers who run every single aspect of the event, caring for Oltman’s vision, celebrating the community’s treasured resources, promoting the Rotary ideal of service above self, and ensuring that OysterFest continues to be an important generator for community non-profits.
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Volunteers and the Skookum Rotary Club are honored to foster and continue Olman’s vision. From scholarships, academic recognition, and the Mason County Science Fair to sponsoring water quality programs and providing funds to many service groups including food banks and homeless shelters. Oltman founded a legacy that will continue to have impact on the area for years to come. Thank you to the individuals who graciously attend their “shifts” at OysterFest for those things that they are most passionate about. You really do bring the energy that make it all happen!
What wine goes with a poached dill salmon, geoduck, or clam chowder? OysterFest believes the answer is a Washington State wine. To help make a perfect pairing, OysterFest annually hosts a tasting hall featuring Washington wines This year nearly twenty Washington wineries have been selected to showcase their best wines at OysterFest. Wines that have garnered accolades and medals throughout the Northwest. Whether you prefer a robust red, a subtle white, or sweeter options – you will find it at the 2019 OysterFest Wine Pavilion. Friends gather to visit with vintners and share the opportunity to sample over eighty Washington wines brought by the wineries. Purchase a souvenir glass for $5 and tasting tickets for $1 each. Tickets are redeemable at any of the winery tables for a sample pouring. Each taste of wine is two to four tickets, depending on the wine.
Find a blend you want to take home and share with friends? Don’t worry, try to your heart’s content and then head over to the Rotary sales table in the wine tent to purchase bottles of your favorite wines to take home! The OysterFest Wine Tasting Tent is located in the center of the event area. You must be 21 or older to enter. ID bracelets are available for verification at all the entrances. The Skookum Rotary Club is pleased to announce Stina’s Cellars has been chosen to carry the 2019 OysterFest labels.
Stina’s Cellar 2013 Malbec and 2013 Semillon Ice Wine were chosen for the 2019 OysterFest labels.
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a
specializing
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was founded in 2013 based in the Artisan Hill area of Woodinville. They produce limited quantities of premium wines. Three of Cups was formed by friends who share a passion for wine and food and wanted to expand that to thier customers. The tarot card, Three of Clubs, symbolizes conviviality, abundance, joy, and friendship – all things that happen naturally with wine. They strive to produce wines that express the very best of the regions, and their wines are produced in small batches, using predominately new French oak and stainless steel, they have received great reviews and
T
ratings for their initial vintages and subsequent releases. threeofcups.com is located south of Shelton (Taylor Town exit off Hwy 101), and is owned and operated by Ann and Lloyd Anderson. Dedicated to Rhone style wines and sourcing grapes from vineyards in the Yakima and Columbia valleys, Walter Dacon’s award winning wines reveal “the underlying fruit blended with gentle, precision use of oak.” Their tasting room, just minutes from OysterFest, is open Wednesday – Sunday, 12 – 6.
walterdaconwines.com
D E I R S A T I W L L D E R R A Y H CO. ® EH Gift Shop . Tasting Room . Tours
Gin • Whiskey • Vodka •Bee’s Knees® • Liqueurs
206-300-0877 • hardwaredistillery.com • 24210 N Hwy 101, Hoodsport, WA 27
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Fishing & Hunting Licenses 741 WEST GOLDEN PHEASANT ROAD, SHELTON PHONE: (360) 426-0933 FAX: (360) 427-0866
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Pack your EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS INTRIGUE & INSPIRE OysterFest features exhibits that showcase the beauty and delicacy of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Attendees enjoy opportunities to learn about the tidal zones and protect and enjoy our local waters. The marine touch tanks are a perennial favorite with creatures gathered in local waters exclusively for these exhibits. The ecosystem in the touch tanks is as close to mother nature as you can get without actually being there. The tank displays crabs, bivalves, sea cucumbers, sea stars, sand dollars, periwinkles, hermit crabs, snails, and other species that dwell in our waters. Observe how the animals interact in the habitat and ask lots of questions from volunteer marine educators or the Sea Grant biologists in the adjoining booths. In addition to the marine touch tanks, there are exhibits on aquaculture practices, education, water quality, natural resources, and public safety. The Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association works on behalf of its member to illustrate a spectrum of issues in their booth including environmental protection, shellfish safety, regulations, and provide public information materials and answer questions.
The Mason County Noxious Weed plant exhibit educates the public on the impact of noxious weeds and offers advice on which native plants can help home owners protect their waterways. The Mason Conservation District also provides information to assist residents by providing a link between landowners, industry, and government agencies and presenting technical and financial assistance to residents willing to implement conservation best practices. Also on-site with information is Washington State Department of Health’s Shellfish Program. Their mission is to educate and prevent illness in people who eat Washington-grown molluscan shellfish. If you have any questions about when and where oysters, mussels, or clams are safe to eat; how you should handle them; or what seafood eaters with special health conditions should be aware of – stop by the DOH booth to get all your questions answered!
The Mason County PUD 3 also provides an educational display at OysterFest. Stop by their booth in the Souvenir Tent for hints to reduce energy use and information on electricity safety. In addition there are multiple booths displaying the local programs supported by funds generated at OysterFest as well as important work and humanitarian efforts of the Skookum Rotary Club and Rotary International. Take the time to see what your OysterFest dollars and donations go! Check out all the exhibitors and their locations in the map and schedule available at the ticket and information booths or view the list online at oysterfest.org.
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Located 15 minutes from OysterFest | Rides Open thru October 6
OysterFest would not be
Pedal the Rails with your family and friends.
possible without the generous support of the hundreds of volunteers. The Skookum Rotary Club is proud to take the funds raised with your support and give back to the community with a variety of annual programs!
421 W. Hanks Lake Road vcrailriders.com
(541) 519-4200
The Skookum Rotary Club and the Skookum Rotary Foundation locally support: • Scholarships • Community Grants & Services that support non-profits and organizations working to improve lives of people in Mason County. • Child Care Action Council • Habitat for Humanity • HOST helping homeless young adults finish high school • Sound Learning which provides GED and ESL in Mason County • Cancer recovery at Harmony Hill • Academic Excellence annually recognizing top 8th graders in local schools and inviting students to a college campus for a day. The program also honors local Juniors who maintain good academic records. • Science Fair annual county-wide science event creating opportunities for students to explore science. Awards are offered for superior exhibits. Find out more about these programs and others at the club’s website: sheltonskookumrotary.org..
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at OysterFest After you have had your fill of great food and drink, stop in at a few of the activities! There are plenty of exhibits for the whole family to see, touch, and experience at the 2019 OysterFest event. There are lots of fun activities for kids throughout the event including children’s entertainment on a special Kids Stage, mini golf presented by local Boy Scout Troups, face painting, crafts, carnival games, remote controlled scale ships in a giant tank, and the famous barrel train rides. There is lots of hands on fun including educational exhibits and, of course, the marine touch tanks filled with intertidal sea creatures. There is definitely much to see and do for everyone in your family!
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT We believe that our support can help enhance the quality of life for all of our members.
pcfcu.org
360.426.1601
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All aboard the Like shellfish? Then the Washington Shellfish Trail is where to start your next journey. Since 2017, volunteers have been working with folks that grow, cook, and display shellfish to create a fun trail that bivalve enthusiasts can follow to explore all that is shellfish in Washington. Did you know that the North Bay WDFW property boasts the largest population of Olympia oysters in Puget Sound? How about that Chelsea Oyster Farm has an award winning oyster bar in Olympia’s waterfront core featuring Totten oysters grown in Mason County? Similar to the wine trails of Eastern Washington, the shellfish trail will bring you from the Columbia River north to the Canadian border and explore not only Washington’s famous oysters, but also clams, geoduck, and mussels. Visit farms, gather your own shellfish off public beaches and attend events that embrace this resource, like OysterFest. The Washington Shellfish Trail will guide you on your year-round journey. Understanding the role of shellfish in our communities is essential to the long term health of our
shellfish resources. The trail emphasizes the interconnectedness of aquaculture within rural communities and the value of shellfish to our well being. The shellfish trail is a project sponsored by the National Sea Grant Program and was developed by Image In Action Design and Washington Sea Grant. Through a partnership with the mapping and itinerary capabilities of ScenicWA, followers of the trail are able to select geographical tour or focus on one specific type of shellfish. Building upon the other Washington trail systems such as the Strait of Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway, all of the stops include specific points of interest and learning opportunities
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One-on-one support on your road to success. At the Olympic College Shelton Campus, you’ll receive personalized help with every step in the admissions process. Earn a degree or certificate without leaving Shelton.
AA-Transfer degrees Adult Basic Skills: GED prep High School 21+ ESOL programs
Professional degrees in: Accounting Technology Business Technology Nursing Assistant Certification Welding and more
call us today !
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that will enhance your adventure. This and more are highlighted features on the trail. Like OysterFest, water quality and safe shellfish handling are also prominent themes.
Stop by the oversized shellfish frame just inside the front gate at OysterFest to catch your family shot in this giant frame and tag your visit on Facebook at #shellfishtrail.
come feast with us!
Visit shellfishtrail.org to learn more about the Washington shellfish trail including information on itineraries, road trips and shellfish sites and events you can enjoy.
Water quality is an important part of OysterFest’s mission. Volunteers from the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers (PCSGA) and other non-profits and government agencies are at the event to share ideas on how we can protect our shorelines and marine resources.
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What You Don’t See Is Important, Too
Pair with a great brew Microbrews share the spotlight with food at OysterFest. Featuring a live music stage – rain or shine – the beer garden is a popular meeting spot. You will be asked to show ID at the entrance to receive an “OVER 21” bracelet to gain access to the area. Behind the scenes, our working forests are protecting clean water, clean air and wildlife habitat—all while supporting the local economy. We’re the best neighbor you’ve ever had.
Alaskan Brewery American Brewery Blue Moon Deschutes Brewery Elysian Firestone Brewery Full Sail Brewery Goose Island Brewery Kona Brewery Langunitas Brewery Lost Coast Mack & Jack Brewery
Narrows Brewery New Belgium Brewery Ninkasi Brewery Red Hook Brewery Samuel Adams Brewery Seattle Cider Shock Top Square Mile Stella Ten Barrel Brewery Widmer Brewery Worthy
Your Northwest Tradition Sail or motor in your own boat from Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle and beyond though the inlets of South Puget Sound. OysterFest shuttles conBook your NW Tradition online todaY alderbrookresort.com
360.898.2145
OYSTERFUNK F RI D AY, OC T OB ER 4 | 6 - 9 PM M U S I C F O O D/ B E E R GA R D E N
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nect with the Shelton Yacht Club moorage near downtown Shelton on Oakland Bay. Explore Shelton’s restaurants and shops and make a weekend excursion of your trip to the Washington State Seafood Festival, annually held on the first full weekend in October.
Take home an The souvenir team at OysterFest have been hard at work all year designing great keepsake items to mark your weekend at Washingon’s premier shellfish festival in Shelton, WA. From commemorative wine glasses to warm fleecy oyster embellished hoodies, and everything in between, there is something for everyone. Visit the souvenir tent early in the day as favorite items always sell out fast! Cash and credit cards accepted.
Volunteers assist customers at OysterFest 2018.
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Canaries in the coal mine, grazers of the sea By Teri King and Janis McNeal Article reproduced with permission of Washington Sea Grant Shellfish are a keystone species, studied by water investigators to determine the health of a water body. Clams, oysters, mussels and other bivalves filter seawater and, in the process, can accumulate contaminants in their tissues. Polluted shellfish beds are often an early warning to a larger problem requiring immediate attention. Marine water quality standards are more stringent for shellfish harvesting than for wading and swimming. Since shellfish are edible, the threshold for contamination is much lower than for external contact with marine waters. Bivalve shellfish also play an important role in the food web. These grazers of the sea filter copious amounts of phytoplankton rich water, converting it into a delectable dish just as cows grazing in a pasture convert grass into steak.
The role of shellfish in this transformative position within the marine ecosystem is essential in the cycling of nutrients in our marine waters. By converting phytoplankton into tissue and shell, the shellfish are able to improve light penetration in the water column, reducing overall turbidity and benefiting larger aquatic plants such as eelgrass. Bivalve shellfish help control the overabundance of phytoplankton in Hood Canal and South Puget Sound, where nitrogen has led to over-fertilization of marine waters. The best option for marine waters is to greatly reduce the flow of nitrogen from land to sea.
Failing that, bivalve shellfish introduced into nitrogen-rich marine waters can be an effective part of a remediation plan. The animals consume and retain nitrogen. When they are harvested, the nitrogen they consumed is removed from the system.
It’s in the Water
Shellfish harvested in clean water are safe to eat; shellfish harvested in dirty water are not. Clams and oysters filter the water, picking out phytoplankton, bacteria and viruses to feed themselves. Shed by all warm-blooded animals, fecal coliform bacteria are food for bivalve shellfish and can cause illness in humans.
Connect with your local shellfish farmers, learn about upcoming shellfish events in your community, and more Striving to ensure a healthy industry and environment for shellfish farming on the Pacific Coast
www.pcsga.org
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Information is available from the Washington State Department of Health’s Office of Shellfish and Water Protection or local county health jurisdictions. The state and counties generally do not assess private tideland water quality. Shoreline property owners may be able to infer the water quality of their tidelands based on state assessments of a nearby commercial operation or public beach. Another approach would be to sample your beach’s shellfish and submit them to a lab for analysis. One test, however, will only be a snapshot of the water quality conditions on your beach on that day. Contamination levels can change
with property use, weather, and season. Do not harvest and eat shellfish if there are any doubts about their safety.
Waterfront Homeowners as Marine Steward
Standing on your beach looking up at the land, what do you see? A house, a dog, a nicely manicured lawn — and a bright green algae trail coming from a bulk head weep? Does your house have a septic system? If so, do you know where it is located? Inspections insure that all of the components of your system are working properly and the septic tank doesn’t need to be pumped. Dogs, cats, chickens, birds, horses, and other livestock all can contribute to fecal coliform pollution. Letting the rain wash through your yard can flow down to your shellfish. Pick up your pet waste, bag it, and put it into the trash, not the septic system. If you have a dock that seals and birds like to visit, it is important to sweep the feces into a bag, not the water, and put the bag in the garbage. What products do you use on the lawn or in your garden to keep it free of weeds and pests? Are those products running off onto your beach? If they are, the shellfish may be concentrating those compounds in their bodies. Try slower-release fertilizers that bind better to the soil and plants, releasing nutrients needed throughout the season. If you use fertilizers, use only the recommended amount. You may even decide that you don’t need a bright green lawn and the fertilizer applications that go with it. A simple way to see how far your fertilizer is running is to dye it with a food-grade dye — a blue dry drink mix will work. Fertilize with the dye-covered granules as usual, then water. If the dye is running into the water, you know the fertilizer is right there with it. Remember: fertilizers make sea plants, as well as land plants, grow.
Pacific oysters have an ability to clap their valves and uncover themselves, but the smaller Olympia oysters can suffocate if buried under too much silt. Too much sediment running onto the beach can also bury clams deepe One of the greatest joys Puget Sound has to offer is the opportunity to dig clams and shuck oysters. Even more special is the ability to step right outside your front door and harvest shellfish from your own tidelands.
By taking care to limit the nutrients and pathogens running off of your property and into the Sound, and by maintaining a healthy population of shellfish on your beach, you will be helping to improve the water quality of Puget Sound — one bite at a time.
Trees, shrubs and small plants can all work together as a biological filter, taking up excess nutrients and water that would otherwise run onto the beach. The fibrous roots help to hold the soil on the bank and keep it from being washed down on top of your oysters or clams. 37
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Full of oysters & ready for an adventure?
We’ve always been taught to never play on the tracks but there is one place in Mason County where it is perfectly OK – in fact encouraged! Just 8 miles from OysterFest and open through October 6, the whole family will love the shared experience as the pedal powered cars, equipped like recumbent bicycles, meander the curves following the decommissioned timber railway. Vance Creek Railriders reopened for their second season in 2019 on the seven mile section of track between the rural area of Matlock and the timber born city of Shelton. Operators Doug and Cynthia Newman delight in sharing their picturesque section of rail with area visitors. Word is rapidly getting out with locals as they proudly bring guests to this unique attraction in their hometown. These rails have carried many trees from the Olympic backwoods. For more than a century the Simpson Logging Company operated an extensive network of track to haul timber from the surrounding forests to the mills in Shelton.
Until recently, this stretch of track was the last privately owned logging railroad in operation in the continental United States. Vance Creek Railroaders is named for one of the rail bridges that were once part of the area’s rich timber history. Constructed in 1929, the Vance Creek and High Steel Bridges were built at the request of the US Forest Service. These impressive steel arch rail bridges were built to reach timber in the southern portion of the Olympic Mountains. The two bridges are among the highest railroad bridges built in the world. In the United States they are within the top 20 highest in the nation!
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The Vance Creek Bridge has been decommissioned, but the High Steel Bridge was converted to a road in 1955 and is still in use. The High Steel Bridge spans the Skokomish River at a height of 420 feet.
The gentle, but vigorous ride is suitable for all ages. Infants may ride in a carrier or in their car seat that the guide will attach to a railrider seat. Each seat has a lap style seat belt. Five year olds and older can usually reach the pedals and with adults adding to the pedal power they will be able to assist in the journey. If you tire on the adventure there is a motorized railrider to give you a little extra push up the hills.
The excursions run daily at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, until they close for the season after October 6. Be sure to dress in layers as you will be traveling in wooded area where it can go from shade to sun. Also bring snacks and water bottle as the location of the start of the railrider is nine miles from Shelton, the nearest town. The rail head is at 421 West Hanks Lake Road, west of Hwy 101 on the Shelton/ Matlock Rd. Don’t be alarmed when you leave the main road for a short hop on a gravel logging road. The road is well-maintained. Arrive 30 minutes early to check in and hear a safety briefing.
Railrider tickets are $26 for adults (and children over 12), $16 for kids under 12 years old. You can find more information at vcrailriders.com or call (541) 519-4200. Like trains? Take time to visit Shelton to learn more about how the timber trains have shaped the history of this area. The shay locomotive, Tollie, and attached caboose are open as a visitor information center downtown. Visitors are welcome to explore the historic train inside. Check out the Mason County Historical Museum and stop in at the Railroad Tap Station to enjoy great food and drink. A list of lodging is available at explorehoodcanal.com.
Call or stop by Brady Landcape Supply for all your yard needs!
Congratulations & Thank You Shelton Skookum Rotary on 38 years of supporting the community with OysterFest !
360-426-0700
922 East Johns Prairie Road, Shelton, WA 98584 Operators, Doug and Cynthia Newman and Chamber director, Heidi McCutcheon, celebrate the opening of Vance Creek Rail Riders in Spring 2017. 39 2019 OYSTERFEST
bradytrucking.com
Explore Hood Canal
Ahh... road trips . There’s nothing that holds more appeal than the classic road trip – discovering new places, trying new things. While you are enjoying OysterFest, take the time to explore Hood Canal. All of these locations are near the Shelton Airport where OysterFest is hosted.
which include an 18-hole golf course. The guest rooms are ideal for a rejuvenating escape, while the cozy cottages are perfect for family fun. Complete with a waterfront restaurant, dock, and saltwater pool and spa, the resort also offers access to boating from kayak rentals to schooner tours. Alderbrook Resort & Spa (10 E Alderbrook Dr., Union (360) 898-2200). Jua
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(6 MIN., 2.4 MILES | VIA SR 106 W) The spectacular views from Union are not to be taken lightly. This is definitely the best vantage point to view the Olympic range. On the journey to Union’s center, take a moment to admire the historic Dalby Water Wheel and stop in at Cameo Boutique for some great shopping of local items.
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(22 MIN., 14 MILES | VIA SR 3 S) Nestled between the North Bay of the Puget Sound and the southern hook of Hood Canal, Belfair is a great place for road trip supplies or to have lunch before heading off to explore the 130+ acre birder’s dream wetlands, Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve. Stop by Casper’s Pizza (23730 NE SR 3) or visit the new craft brewery, Bent Bine Brew Co, to try their new brews. Hankering for wine? Check out the award winning Mosquito Fleet Winery. A feature of the 2019 OysterFest winery line-up, Mosquito Fleet also calls Belfair home.
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Hoodsport
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(7 MIN., 5.2 MILES | VIA SR 106 W) Since 1913, generations of visitors have enjoyed the rustic, albeit very luxurious, charm of this canal-side retreat on 88 acres,
Olympic National Park A
Quinault Rain Forest
Kalaloch
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(14 MIN., 9.2 MILES | VIA SR 106 W) Twanoh State Park’s 182 acres include 3,167 feet (965 m) of saltwater shoreline and 2.5 miles of inland hiking trails. Stop by to gather shellfish off the public beaches (you will need a license) or simply take a walk on one of the many trails. There is a fantastic campground here as well as historic buildings to explore.
Aberdeen 101
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unique hand-crafted items • local artists • pottery • painting • gifts • featuring artist Harro Scharbau
SUNSHINE CREATIONS NORTHWEST .
Local Art & Other Treasures O
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Located less than 20 minutes from OysterFest ( 12 miles) in historic waterfront Hoodsport! Open Monday thru Saturday 9-6 | Sunday 10-6
24252 N. US HWY 101, Hoodsport WA The restaurant at Robin Hood serves some of the best seafood dishes and hosts live music most weekends. Both Cameo and Robin Hood offer waterside lodging as well. Consider detouring up the hill to Alderbrook Country Store (1031 E McReavy Rd) to grab some of the very best homemade fudge! Then check out the Union Country Store (5130 SR 106) for fresh bakery goods and all you need to continue on your adventure. Across the road, on the waterside, 2 Margaritas Restaurant serves Mexican food; while the Union City Market stocks everything from gifts and collectibles to homemade candy and fresh oysters and offers a la carte dining in their outdoor cooking space with a spectacular view of the canal.
(5 MIN., 3.4 MILES | VIA SR 106 W) The drive along the Skokomish delta is simply perfect. As the road weaves it’s path around the shoreline, you are treated to glimpses of the Olympics filtered through patches of arbutus clinging to the beach edge. Before the road forks west, you are greeted by an immense red barn. This is Hunter Farms. Fall is a great time to visit the farm as they celebrate with a giant pumpkin patch as well as weekend entertainment and events. Stop and stretch your legs, check out the many animals and fresh produce as well as a selection of locally made products.
Sunshinecreationsnw@gmail.com
360-790-3068
Visit the on site information kiosk but most of all, get a generous cone filled with locally sourced (as in the Skokomish Valley less than 5 miles away!), Olympic Mountain Ice Cream. Amazing.
(5 MIN., 3.7 MILES | VIA US-101 N) Potlatch State Park is a 57-acre camping park with 9,570 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal. The park’s grounds are home to a variety of activities, from interpretive programs for kids to boating and shellfish harvesting. Featuring clear, often calm waters, Potlatch is a favorite with divers and kayakers, too.
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A community is only as strong as the individuals who shape it.
Heritage Bank is proud to support Oysterfest. We know that when neighbors help neighbors, the whole community benefits. And that’s true prosperity.
Shelton | 301 E Wallace Kneeland Blvd., Suite 115 | 360.426.4431 HeritageBankNW.com | 800.455.6126 |
Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC
(5 MIN., 3.3 MILES | VIA US-101 N) Hoodsport is a seaside town perched on the western shores of the Hood Canal beneath the shadow of the Olympic Range. Here you will find plenty of shops and dining as well as two wineries: Hoodsport Winery and Stottle Winery; as well as The Hardware Distillery. Using water from the Olympic National Forest, The Hardware Distillery offers a variety of delectable hand crafted spirits and a gorgeous view to enjoy while sipping away in their ambient tasting room. Hoodsport also serves as the gateway to the Olympic National Park Staircase Entrance. At the foot of the hill heading up to Lake Cushman, stop by the Hoodsport Information Center (N 150 Lake Cushman Rd) for great tips on road/trail conditions, permits, maps, and friendly guidance.
( 7 MIN., 4.5 MILES | VIA US-101 N) Situated on the west shore of Hood Canal, Lilliwaup is a small town with a BIG history and a love of shellfish. Peppered with serene beaches and surrounded by endless hiking trails, Lilliwaup is all about relaxation and rejuvenation. Located in the area is Mike’s Beach Resort.
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One of the oldest and most picturesque accommodations on the canal with a unique blend of the rustic look of the Northwest and the relaxed, cozy, and charming chalet style. A dock and mooring buoys as well as rowboats, paddleboat, and a ocean kayak are available for rent. This is also the home to the Olympic Oyster Co. so you can be sure to enjoy some of the finest oysters on your stay! The nearby Lilliwaup Store is also a great place to get your Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.
( 8 MIN., 7 MILES | VIA US-101 N) Family owned and operated, Hama Hama Oyster Company has been harvesting oysters and clams on Hood Canal for four generations. Their store and outdoor restaurant are located a shell’s toss from the tide flats. A visit to the farm is a great way to experience Hood Canal oysters in their native habitat. During the week see the shucking crew in action and ask for one of their self guided tour maps. On the biggest daytime low tide in the spring (check website for dates), be sure to head to Hama Hama for their annual Oyster Rama – a huge tidal party. It sells out fast so be sure to get tickets as soon as the date is announced! Follow explorehoodcanal.com for additional itineraries.
OysterFest celebrates chef Swear nothing’s better than a raw naked oyster? Then you haven’t tried Xinh’s mussel curry. Don’t leave OysterFest until you’ve stopped by the Shelton Rotary’s booth for a taste! Xinh Dwelley was raised on a rice farm in Vietnam. Her first job was dish washing, subsequently transitioning to cooking in an American mess hall. By her 15th birthday she was gaining recognition for her fried chicken and hamburgers. “The officer’s club loved my cooking,” she says. With a sense of flavors learned at her mother’s side – like learning to walk or breathe – Xinh just understands food.
Xinh married an American soldier and left Vietnam with her infant son. He brought her to Olympia where Xinh worked hard to provide for her new family. Early on her claim to fame was an amazing speed and accuracy at shucking oysters. Employed by Ellison Oyster (now Taylor Shellfish) each year she got better and better at shucking. In 1989 her first place speed at the West Coast Championship was 3:08 minutes – taking her on to win Nationals. In 1992, with five first place finishes – each faster than previous year’s – she decided to retire from competing. Although her skills at handing shellfish were amazing, Xinh was starting to get noticed as a cook too.
Chef Xinh Dwelley presents a collection of her favorite recipes and memories in this colorful first edition. Pick up your copy at OysterFest in the souvenir tent or at the Explore Hood Canal Booth.
When her employers asked her to prepare an authentic Vietnamese meal, she accepted that challenge as well. She wasn’t a trained chef but Xinh has a good memory and an innate understanding of flavors. “I make curry sauces from memory,” she says, “Our rice farm was in a tidal swamp; we had a lot of fish. That’s what my mother cooked.” Xinh’s curries and sauces are so intuitive that every ingredient is showcased but they never distract from the dish. It didn’t take long for Taylor to realize that she had enough ideas (and heart) to fill her own restaurant. In no time, Xinh’s Clam and Oyster House was opened on Railroad Avenue in Shelton, WA. For many years, an evening at Xinh’s was revered as a treat for birthdays or anniversaries. Over the decades her recognition grew. Her restaurant walls were covered with ribbons and plaques of the many honors her dishes earned as well as hundreds of images of her with famous people including Julia Child,
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Anthony Bourdain, and Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs, when she taught him how to clean a geoduck. In 2017, owing to a illness that was making it difficult to keep up with the restaurant pace, Xinh’s much celebrated restaurant closed it’s doors and Shelton lost a piece of its heart as Xinh Dwelley is known not just for her food but also her love of people and her welcoming and giving nature. Like the principles of Rotary, Xinh constantly gives of herself – donating countless hours to charities and fund raisers. Despite all the fame and accolades she remains humble and genuine – enjoying a hot dog with ketchup when she isn’t making divine seafood fusions for her adoring fans. We are honored that Xinh Dwelley will be joining OysterFest 2019 as a celebrated guest as she shares the news of her upcoming cookbook that will celebrate and share her unique Pacific coastal flavors. Stop by and say hi and pick up a copy of her new book, Pacific Coastal Flavors, at OysterFest.
Xinh’s Marinated Mussels 2 lbs large mussels in shell
½ tsp black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon (3 tbsp)
1 tsp honey or brown sugar
½ cup oil
1 package dry Italian dressing mix
2 tbsp Tahini (sesame butter)
1 tbsp chopped basil
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp minced garlic
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese
Rinse and debeard mussels. Place mussels in 3” of water in a covered pot. Steam over high heat until mussels have opened. Drain and remove meat from the shells. Save the shells for plating. Chill mussel meat in the refrigerator until marinade is prepared (below). Carefully split the mussel shells so that they are single. Mix together all of the marinade ingredients in a blender. Blend until incorporated. Coat the chilled mussel meats in the marinade and return to the refrigerator until ready to serve. (You might have excess marinade, if you do this is a fabulous salad dressing.) Place mussels back into shells and garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese and chopped basil. Enjoy! (Reprinted with permission from Chef Xinh Dwelley).
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Boat to OysterFest Long before European explorers sailed among the islands and bays of the Salish Sea, the tribes fished, hunted, and lived off the abundant plants, animals, and bounty of the sea. Today the cold, clear waters of South Puget Sound still provide a harvest of salmon and shellfish. The great depths of Hood Canal – more than 600 feet deep – produce an annual shrimp catch that has become a late-spring ritual going back many generations. Mason County is the largest exporter of shellfish in the world. You’ll see many oyster, geoduck, and clam farms up and down the waterways of Hood Canal and South Puget Sound. Oysters can be found on most beaches in the area and those blessed or lucky enough to own a waterfront home often gather, eat, or farm their own shellfish. Several state and county parks allow public shellfish gathering.
For a complete list of boat launches and marinas, visit explorehoodcanal.com.
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There are many public boat launches and fuel at several marinas. Boating and sailing are treasured to such a high degree that three of the county’s state parks, Stretch Point, Hope Island and McMicken Island, offer boat access only.
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(or oyster...mussel ... geoduck)
Try your hand at harvesting your own Hood Canal or Puget Sound bivalves? Each year, state and tribal shellfish biologists perform population surveys on public beaches. Beaches are stocked with oysters and clams – ready for your harvest! For current shellfish seasons check wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches, the Shellfish Emergency Rule Change Hotline (866) 880-5431, or contact the WDFW customer service desk (360) 9022700. If you harvest clams or oysters, keep them on ice or eat them soon after harvest. It is best practice to read posted warnings or call the Marine Toxins/PSP Hotline 1-800562-5632 for a recorded message before consuming product.
Visit the Shellfish Safety Map at doh. wa.gov/shellfishsafety. There is also a mobile friendly version of at doh.wa.gov/shellfishmobilemap. Clam and oyster season are beach specific and may change annually.
Hope Island State Park Boat access only. Oysters are incidental at this site but clamming can be quite good. This beach is a very popular place to dig for geoduck. A tide lower than -2.0 feet is best for geoduck. Most of the oysters are on the west side of the island near the south end. The season only opens for the month of May. North Bay Abundant Manila clams and an enhanced oyster bed. The season here is short and locked into May and September only under a shoreline agreement. Oakland Bay Tideland Open year-round, good shore access with parking. Manila clams and oysters here.
Belfair State Park Oysters and Manila clams. Potlatch State Park Open April 1- August 31. Lilliwaup State Park Yearround oysters/clams. Rendsland Creek yearround, oysters/clams. Twanoh State Park Year-round for oysters and seasonally for clams. Eagle Creek Year-round for oysters and seasonally for clams. Triton Cove State Park Year-round oysters. Dosewallips State Park Year-round clams/oysters.
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You will
our oysters.
the Marine Education Science Society (MESS) members now providing the touch tanks and some of the lessons. The Washington State Department of Health staff created Oscar the oyster especially for Kids’ Day at OysterFest in the mid 90’s to demonstrate to students how shellfish concentrate phytoplankton and pollution in their bodies. Both Oscar and the touch tanks are also on display for OysterFest.
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Organizations that have been participating since 1993 include: Washington State Department of Health, Wash- Family owned & operated South Sound Mariculture prides itself ington State Department of Ecology, on producing premier Northwest oysters & clams. Riding the currents Mason Conservation District, Wash- of Hammersley Inlet, our unique tumble bags roll with the tides, ington State University, Mason Countycreating perfect oysters that are firm & full-flavored. Medic One, Mason County Public Utility District #3 and Washington SeaThrough a unique partnership, our shellfish are available through Grant. Organizations joining them in Hama Hama Oyster Co. and are featured in restaurants all over 2016 include the North Mason Kiwan-the world. is, Marine Education Science Society, and the Skokomish Tribe. We are pleased to join other local oyster farms to support the Teachers utilize Kids’ Day to jump startMarine Education Science Society at the 2019 OysterFest environmental lessons for their students You know the event is a big success by providing and shucking fresh oysters on the half shell. Join us in when you see students thriving, teachand expand upon them in their classsponsoring marine education. Stop by and slurp a few! ers engaged and the original GOO room with the aid of the lesson plans and Kids’ Day volunteer, Dick Oltman provided. Kids’ Day offers sessions on proud be aDay small farm in Mason County. ULTURE exclaim thatto “Kids’ is one of the water quality, pollution prevention, We’re IC R best things we ever added to Oystermarine animals, ecosystems, electrical Fest. Now some 23 years and 12,000 safety, conservation of natural resourcstudents later the event is still going es, boating safety and more—teaching children important lessons and provid- strong, funded completely by the PO BOX 622, SHELTON WA Skookum 98584 Rotary Club Foundation and ing useful tools for the future. Washington Sea Grant with incredible e southsoundoysters.com m Ham 2019 OYSTERFEST
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