Recreational crabbing now open on entire Oregon Coast

TCVA’s Volunteer Adventures program provides regional businesses with ways to give back

By Nan Devlin,

Executive Director, Tillamook Coast Visitors Association

“Voluntourism” has been around for decades, especially with programs focused on helping thirdworld countries. Well-known nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Mercy Corps, World Central Kitchen, Humane Society and hundreds of others, have long had success because of an army of dedicated volunteers. In the early 2000s, there was an Oregon company called Volunteer Vacations that arranged trips dedicated to service on a wide variety of projects. But voluntourism can also focus on needs and projects closer to home.

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Volunteers with Lower Nehalem Community Trust pull invasive plants from the west boundary of Alder Creek Farm to prep the area for native planting.

Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) is excited to announce a new volunteer program, Tillamook Coast Volunteer Adventures, set to Trailkeepers of Oregon volunteers maintain trails at Camp debut in spring Westwind. 2023. The program is designed to gather groups from outside and within Tillamook County to lend a hand to our many stewardship organizations on a variety of projects. “The Volunteer Adventures program fits in perfectly with the stewardship and education efforts we’ve offered our guests,” said Jennifer Nelson, chief operating officer for Nestucca Ridge.

The events will feature a day of “We’re looking forward to partnering service projects and educational with Tillamook Coast Visitors activities. The program offers Association on this important effort.” participants the opportunity to give Stewardship projects and back to our popular destination, while education partners include Lower also learning the vital role stewardship Nehalem Community Trust, Tillamook plays in preserving our trails, beaches, Estuaries Partnership, Trailkeepers parks, and waterways. Volunteers will of Oregon, WEBS Friends of also be treated to a delicious, locally Netarts Bay, Tillamook Habitat for sourced meal and a swag bag of local Humanity, Heart of Cartm, Wilsonview goodies. Dairy, and more.

“When Covid hit in early 2020, and “We found that many companies programs and businesses shut down, want to take part in ‘giving back’ our local nonprofits lost the vast programs, and are looking for partners majority of their volunteers, and it’s to help them in that effort,” said Dan been difficult to get people back,” said Haag, director of outdoor recreation for Nan Devlin, TCVA executive director. TCVA. “The response has been terrific “We worked with them to see how we and I’m confident we’ll gain even more could help regain the support they interest this year.” need to continue important efforts.” The program is slated to kick off in

Regional businesses who have May with a group of students from expressed early interest in sending Linfield University’s outdoor recreation volunteers include Intel, REI, Umpqua program, who will be working Bank, Columbia Sportswear, Linfield on projects with Lower Nehalem University and Portland State Community Trust. Linfield will also University. Locally, Tillamook County send a group of students in August as Creamery Association, Nestucca Ridge part of their new student orientation. Family of Companies, and Tillamook If you know of a group or business Public Utilities District have committed that is interested in participating or to projects. There are plans in the would like more information, email works to offer the program as a Dan Haag at dan@tillamookcoast.team building exercise for interested com. There will soon be an information corporate leadership teams. page available on tillamookcoast.com.

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Stock photo

ODFW has opened recreational crabbing along the entire Oregon Coast.

Recreational crabbing now open on Oregon coast

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Jan. 5 that recreational crabbing is open along the entire Oregon coast, from the Washington border to California. This includes the ocean, bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers and jetties.

In a release by ODA, the agency said it is always recommended that crab be eviscerated and the guts removed prior to cooking, which includes the removal and discarding of the viscera, internal organs and gills. They say toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other treatment. For their part, ODA will continue to test for biotoxins in the coming weeks.

Because of Oregon’s precautionary management of biotoxins, ODA says the crab and shellfish products currently being sold in retail markets and restaurants are safe for consumers.

For more information, call Oregon Department of Agriculture’s shellfish biotoxin safety hotline at 800-448-2474, the Food Safety Division at 503-9864720, or visit the Oregon Department of Agriculture recreational shellfish biotoxin closures webpage.

Oregon State Parks now accepting applications for park and recreation projects from local governments

Oregon Parks and Recreation District’s Local Government Grant Program is now accepting applications for the 2023 grant cycle. The program helps local government agencies fund outdoor park and recreation areas and facilities and acquire property for park purposes.

Approximately $6 million in reimbursement grant funds are available for the 2023 cycle.

Eligible applicants are cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts and port districts.

A live virtual workshop is scheduled from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 8 to help new and returning applicants navigate the application process and learn about the program. Register for the workshop at: https:// us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_93JkGpkfRv6KniG9-tOKwA.

A recording of the workshop will be available to view after Feb. 8 at oprdgrants. org (select the Grant Programs drop-down menu, then select Local Government or visit the webpage directly.)

Program grants are split into large, small and planning categories. Application deadlines vary for each grant type: Large grant application deadline: April 1; Small grant application deadline: May 1; Planning grant application deadline: May 15.

Access to the LGGP application is online at oprdgrants.org (select the Grant Programs drop-down menu, then select Local Government or visit the webpage directly.)

The site also includes additional information about the LGGP, including the grant manual, application instructions and program schedule.

The Lottery-funded grant program is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The program has awarded more than $70 million in reimbursement grant funds since 1999.

talkback

Lamenting the loss of a quiet beach

To the Editor:

My friends and I rented a lovely house about two miles south of Pacific City for four days last week. It’s usually a quiet time full of beach walks and enjoying all the fun things that Pacific City has to offer — go Candy Store!

We woke up on day one to people hunting ducks nearby. With shotguns. Given that the world has lost about half the population of birds — billions of birds — maybe it’s time to give this “sport” a rest? You have a beautiful estuary there where birds fly thousands of miles. And then loud blam, blam, blam, and their lives are over. So, just a thought — perhaps it’s time to stop shooting birds out of the sky.

Then I noticed that yours is a beach where cars are allowed to drive on the beach. I was quietly walking south in the State Park, and, from out of nowhere, I’m suddenly passed by two fast-moving SUVs. I’m sure everyone knows why driving on a beach is a bad idea, but I have to say I was not amused by being taken out of my deep meditation by the sudden appearance of these SUVs. Is this really necessary? It’s not like the walk is that far.

Anyway, on a positive note, I loved the beach and all of the stores and people. I just wish there were less shooting and driving on the beach. Thanks, people for considering.

Albert Kaufman

Portland, Ore.

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