Oregon Coast tourism partners receive more than $200,000 for accessibility initiatives

Eight Oregon Coast destination management organizations (DMOs) were granted a total of $201,240 to partner with Wheel the World, a global accessible travel company, in their effort to make the Oregon Coast more accessible to travelers with disabilities.

The funds awarded are the result of a coordinated approach among partners to apply for Travel Oregon’s 2022 Capacity and Small Project Grants. These communities and organizations are working to provide disabled travelers with comprehensive, accurate information to make their stay on the Oregon Coast more accessible.

Coastal organizations who received funds to partner with Wheel the World include: Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce, $35,000; City of Lincoln City, $20,000; Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston Visitor & Convention Bureau, $25,000; Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce, $20,000; Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, $30,500; Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, $33,190; Waldport Chamber of Commerce, $17,550; and Yachats Chamber of Commerce, $20,000. These eight organizations will work with Wheel the World to conduct an accessibility assessment of local tourism businesses, receive accessibility training through Wheel the World Academy, and have local tourism businesses listed on WheeltheWorld.com, a comprehensive

503-812-9866.

WORSHIP AT THE COLISEUM

Feb. 5, 6 p.m. Tillamook Coliseum, 310 Main Ave., Tillamook. Join Living Water Fellowship for a Worship Night. For more information, visit livingwatercoast.com.

SOUTH TILLAMOOK COUNTY

WALKING GROUP

Feb. 6, 8 & 10, 10 a.m. Meet at Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, visit https://tillamookcountywellness.org/move-well/walking-groups/ or contact coordinator Kathy at katystar7@ hotmail.com or 503-801-7448 (text).

PACIFIC CITY-NESTUCCA VALLEY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Feb. 7, noon. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Local community and business matters.

SOUTH COUNTY FOOD PANTRY

Feb. 7, 12:30-6 p.m. Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church, 35305 Brooten Rd., Pacific City.

SITKA CENTER ONLINE RESIDENT TALK

Feb. 7, 4 p.m. View 10 minute talks by residents Orlando Almanza, Robert Dash, Tilke Elkins, AJ Strosahl, Rick Williams, and Danielle Vogel. RSVP at sitkacenter.org/events for registration link.

PACIFIC CITY JOINT WATER SANITARY

AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING

Feb. 7, 5 p.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, call 503-965-6636.

TILLAMOOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Feb. 8, 9 a.m. Tillamook County Courthouse, room 106. Live video available at tctvonline.com. For agenda, visit co.tillamook.or.us/bocc.

PUB SCIENCE EVENT

Feb. 8, 6 p.m. Pelican Brewpub, 33180 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Speaker Tom Calvanese - Working for Healthy Kelp Forests in Oregon. For more information, visit netartsbaywebs.org.

NESTUCCA VALLEY SCHOOL

DISTRICT BOARD MEETING

Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. Nestucca Valley Jr./Sr. High School, 34660 Parkway Dr., Cloverdale.

TILLAMOOK COUNTY LIBRARY VIRTUAL

STRATEGIC PLAN LISTENING SESSION

Feb. 8, 10 a.m. Join Library Director John Allgeier to share your ideas and vision for the future of the library system in Tillamook. County. Call 503842-4792 to register for a session - only 14 spots available.

NESTUCCA RURAL FIRE PROTECTION

DISTRICT BOARD MEETING

Feb. 8, 4 p.m. Hebo Fire Station, 30710 Hwy. 101 S. Hebo. Call 503-392-3313 for more information.

STEAM COACH VOLUNTEER TRAINING

Feb. 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Garibaldi Historic Coast Guard Boathouse, 1209 Bay Ln., Garibaldi. Orientation session, groups sessions and hand-on demonstrations. For more information or to register, visit netartsbaywebs.org.

‘LOVE, LIES & THE DOCTOR’S DILEMMA’

Feb. 10 & 11, 7 p.m. and Feb. 12, 2 p.m. Barn Com- guide for travelers with disabilities to find and book accessible travel experiences. munity Playhouse, 1204 Ivy Ave., Tillamook. For more information and tickets, visit tillamooktheater.com.

The Oregon Coast Visitors Association catalyzed the effort by funding a coastal cohort to attend the 2022 TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit, held in Orlando, Fla. last June. Following the 2022 Summit, OCVA regularly convened coastal partners to share best practices and progress on accessibility initiatives within the tourism industry.

The Travel Oregon grant funding will enable many of these partners to attend the 2023 Summit to continue their learning and professional development in order to better serve travelers with disabilities on the Oregon Coast.

Two other destination management organizations serving the Oregon Coast were also awarded funds to help with accessibility improvements.

The Tillamook Coast Visitors Association was awarded $20,000 to work with Empowering Access to conduct an accessibility audit to identify gaps and shortcomings for accessibility for recreation users with mobility challenges.

Travel Lane County was awarded $50,000 to expand the number of Hearing Loops in Lane County lodging properties, performing arts venues and other attractions in order to better serve visitors experiencing hearing loss.

TRIVIA NIGHT

Feb. 11, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. The 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s and sports. Drink wine and wine prizes. Sign-up at pc-pour.com.

STORYTELLER: ANNE RUTHERFORD

Feb. 11, 2 p.m. Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd St., Tillamook. Tales of personal adventure, Pacific Northwest folklore, and prize-winning lies. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit tillabook.org or call 503-842-4792.

‘LOVE ME, LOVE ME NOT’

Feb. 11, 7 p.m. Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A St., Bay City. Katelyn Convery, indie folk rock, and Amanda Stanaway, gusty folk rock. Advance tickets $20, at the door $25. For more information, visit baycityartscenter.com.

FREE CHILDREN’S DENTAL & IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tillamook County Community Health Center, 801 Pacific Ave., Tillamook. Walk-ins welcome. Bilingual staff available. For more information, call 503-842-2356.

VALENTINE’S FAMILY DANCE

Feb. 11, 5-7 p.m. Lincoln City Community Center, 2150 NE Oar Pl., Lincoln City. $10 per person. Music, games, prizes, food and more. Register at the Community Center.

BIRD WALK

Feb. 11, 9-11 a.m. Meet at trailhead on NE West Devils Lake Rd. Friends of the Wildwood Open Space. Guided bird walk free and open to the public. For more information, visit LincolnCityAudubon.org. or call 541-994-2131.

CANDLE MAKING

Feb. 11, 2 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Create a scented soy candle with Bare Moon Farm. $35 fee includes instruction, supplies, and first beverage. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

BEACHCOMBING EXPLORIENCE

Feb. 12, 9 a.m. SW 33rd St. access, Lincoln City. Hunt for agates, petrified wood, gemstones and other coastal treasures with a local expert. Free and no registration required. For more information, visit ExploreLincolnCity.com or call 541-9946-1274.

CELTIC SERIES

Feb. 12, 2 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101. Newberry and Verch. Fiddle and banjo music with traditional dance steps. Cabaret style seating. $30 for adults, $25 for seniors/ students, and $15 youth ages 6-18. For more information, visit lincolncity-cultural center.org or call 541-994-9994.

NESTUCCA VALLEY LIONS CLUB MEETING

Feb. 14, 6 p.m. The Lion’s Den, 34510 Parkway Dr., Cloverdale.