Oregon Coast Real Estate Blog - Living on the Oregon Coast » Around Town

Newport Saturday Farmer’s Market

Dean — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:03:16 +0000

The Newport Farmer’s Market is in full swing again this year. Saturdays for 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 101 and Angle St, right next to City hall in Newport. This is the place to find the very best local produce and fruits and bakery products. Perennials of all sorts as well as vegetable plants, hanging baskets and cut flowers are in abundance. In season, fishermen and artisan cheese makers have stalls. Jewelry, woven fabrics and just fun stuff including pet treats for our four legged friends are to be found.

Speaking of pets, the Farmer’s Market is a gathering of very social dogs who love to see their friends and bring their owners to see their friends. Many local folks attend regularly and we see more visitors every week as Newport’s “secret” market becomes known. This must be similar to what my grandmother spoke about the village markets where she grew up in Sweden. It’s a great excuse to be out and about on a Saturday, come rain or shine. Plan a little time out from other activities on your next visit to the Coast. You will be glad you did.

Hope to see you there.

Dogs Come to The Coast with WAG

Dean — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:08:20 +0000

July 9th,10th & 11th at the Newport Middle School is the site of an annual event sure to please the whole family. This is the Willamette Agility Group (WAG) trials. In these events, dog athletes and their handlers run a timed course of obstacles including jumps, ramps, tunnels and pole weaving designed to test their speed and agility.

WAG has been active on the Coast and Willamette Valley for 20 years this year. In the beginning it was a forum for training working dogs in herding skills. Now it is largely done for fun and ribbons. To watch these dogs do their work with such joy and abandon is a wonderful treat. Some are faster than others and all seem to take great pride in completing the course for a reward of kind words and pats from the handlers as well as applause from the spectators. Excellent entertainment here on the beautiful Central Oregon Coast and yet another good reason to live here.

It’s Really Here!!! NOAA Pacific Fleet Home Port Becomes a Reality

Dean — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 01:31:05 +0000

It’s here at last. After a bit of political tap dancing by leaders in competing cities, Newport has won the NOAA stamp of approval for the establishment of a new Pacific Fleet Home Port. On 6/4 an official groundbreaking ceremony was conducted to the background noise of earth moving equipment doing site preparation.

Breaking ground. Image courtesy University of Oregon

Those in attendance included Gov. Ted Kulongoski, US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkly, US Representatives Kurt Schrader and David Wu as well as State Representative Jean Cowan, Port Commissioner Don Mann, County Commissioners Bill Hall and Terry Thompson and OSU President Ed Ray.

Four of Oregon's leading politicians -- Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. David Wu.

Best of all was the enthusiastic response of more than 500 local residents who attended in support.

Photo courtesy of Oregon State University

Sunday 6/6 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM will feature a community celebration at the site. Come on over to the Coast and join in the festivities.

What’s Fresh on The Oregon Coast?

Dean — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:11:45 +0000

Local Ocean Seafoods, operated by Laura Anderson is my favorite place for seafood both at the fish counter and as a meal in the restaurant. You may have caught a previous blog post on this site. If not here is an overview. This is a terrific location at which one can enjoy some of the benefits of living on the Oregon Coast. Laura is really tuned in to the local fishing industry and makes great use of her location across the street from Port Dock 5, home to Newport’s Commercial fishing fleet. As I’m sure you know, seafood is healthy, inexpensive and a delight to eat. Entrepreneurs like Laura are a familiar feature in our Coastal towns. Taking an idea and developing it into a viable business model results in a must visit location in Newport. Stop in on your next visit, you will be glad you did.

Newport Moves to Become The Woods Hole (Mass) of the West

Dean — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:20:42 +0000

As announced in the Daily Journal of Commerce on March 19th, Newport is in line to have another jewel installed in it’s crown of excellent marine research. Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal and Marine Genomics Building received a big boost from the Oregon Legislature recently when $9 million was dedicated to the funding of the $25 million project. This was signed into law by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. Led by Bruce Mate Phd, the director of OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, this will allow an expansion off faculty, staff and students from 28 to over 100. Mate quotes an economist’s estimate that construction of the building alone will inject 160 percent of the money spent on the project into the local economy. At the same time, an economy of space will be realized by housing all the functions under on roof.

Rendering of the $25 million Marine Mammal and Marine Genomics Building (image courtesy of Oregon State University)

Becoming the “Woods Hole of the West” (coined by Jock Mills, director of government relations for OSU) would be more about external recognition than any need for local approval. Here on the Coast we are really proud of our scientists – investigators, graduate students and even undergraduate students. They bring about a new awareness of our complex and interwoven environment. On your next visit to the Coast, let me know you’ll be in town. I would be delighted to share my impressions of the Coastal scene from a 20 year resident’s perspective.

NOAA Affirms Move to Newport

Dean — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:13:42 +0000

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) recently reconfirmed the plan to relocate Pacific Fleet Headquarters to Yaquina Bay at Newport from Seattle. Much speculation has occurred since NOAA’s plan was announced in the Fall of 2009 as to the suitability of the Newport site. After review by the General Accounting Office the Newport site was confirmed as the ideal and most cost effective location. Read an extended discussion in the Newport News Times. Additional documentation related to the the move can be read on the Marine Operations Center website.

Architect's rendering of the future Marine Operations Center - Pacific

NOAA’s move is a major benefit to the Lincoln County community, with Newport as County seat. Once the political wrangling dies away, the Oregon Coast will be the beneficiary of a major new employer and at the same time reduce the tax burden, all the while promoting ocean sciences. It’s really a win-win all around. The construction site is on the Bay side from OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center and North of the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

The Hatfield and the Aquarium are two wonderful places to visit during your next trip to the Coast, especially if it’s blowing and rainy enough to keep you off the beach.

Newport’s Port Renovation Will Bring A True International Terminal

Dean — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:39:27 +0000

Newport on Yaquina Bay is about to commence on a double winning project. The project is a full rebuilding and creation of a true international seaport, with completion anticipated in 2013.

Future home of the international port at Newport. Click for full size view of the map.

This is a significant victory for Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and Friends of Yaquina Bay. These two organization have dedicated sincere effort in protecting the marine habitat of Yaquina Bay. Their work has resulted in a major step in saving our habitat. On the economic side, this is a victory for the Coastal community. Not only will new jobs be created in the construction process, but additional jobs are expected from support services to the commercial fishing fleet and shipping through the state-of-the-art terminal. One of the two World War II concrete hulled ships will be dismantled in place with the clean debris recycled and placed in the remaining concrete hulled ship as fill.

Concrete from this vessel will be salvaged as fill for the new port project. (Photo by Terry Dillman)

Next time you are at the Coast, take a few minutes to drive or bike East on Bay Boulevard just about 1/2 mile past the Embarcadero to see the site. While you’re at it the trip on the Bay Road from Newport to Toledo is one of the most scenic routes on the Coast.

Signs of Spring in South Beach

Dean — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:26:24 +0000

Sun showers between rain showers are a sure sign of Spring here on the Oregon Coast. In my front yard the Shiro Japanese plum is in full bloom perfuming the air. I wait with great anticipation for June when the wonderful delicate fruit is ready to drop into the hand. Nearby the daffodils and narcissus are putting on a spectacular show. Around the corner the trilliums are peaking out and not far away the lenten rose is showing off. Not to be outdone the is the English laurel which for years I thought of as an evergreen hedge. This time of years it blooms with the sweetest scented flowers. The magnolias are starting their usual excellent display.

The forsythias are showing nice color here near the ocean while 10 miles inland their cousins are in full bloom. Wild cherries are a nice addition in the woods with their lovely white blossoms. The wild sword ferns are beginning to show the new fronds in the form of fiddle heads. My Danish grandmother took my sister and I to the woods at this time of year as children to enjoy an little salad right off the fern plants. This is an excellent season to visit the Coast.

Remembering a Lady on the Oregon Coast

Dean — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:34:11 +0000

The Helen McColl was a 65 foot Maine built wooden schooner which joined the New England cod fleet in 1911. Active in the fishery until 1974 when it was brought to Newport by George Morford. George fished from the schooner from Northern California to Cape Flattery Wahington in the pursuit of wild salmon. A change in the methods of issuing permits for salmon gave the advantage to larger more modern fishing vessels and the decline in salmon stocks combined to push the classic schooner into early retirement.

"The Helen McColl at Rest" - a painting by Jenny Armitage

The vessel sank at it’s mooring in November 2009 and was recently raised to the surface. This proud elderly lady now waits for the wreckers hammer in the East part of Yaquina Bay where most of the structure will be recycled. For 99 years this schooner was a part of fisheries on two coasts providing fresh seafood to the public and a living for many families.

Fishing Vessel Helen McColl awaits scrapping (Photo by Terry Dillman)

Next time you happen to visit the Newport area plan to make a stop at Port Dock 5 on Yaquina Bay. There you will be able to see modern fishing vessels and one old schooner of the same age as the Helen McCall. No longer fishing, it is used as a dockside source for fresh crab and salmon in season. Come on over and enjoy a little history.

Dock 5

Favorite Places to Dine on The Oregon Coast

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:08:16 +0000

A top favorite of visitors and locals alike is Panache at 2nd and Coast Streets in Nye Beach Newport. This thoughtfully restored 1919 house is a visual treat – not to mention the “Northwest Cuisine with a Twist”. This delightful menu is created by Chef Tom and wife Linda and serves up local Northwest seafoods, poultry and meat including locally grown organic greens and vegetables. Yes, it does make a difference. This is the place to go for a true fine dining experience and superb service. The works of local artists are on display and local musicians add to the ambiance. I have been to Panache for both business and social gatherings and never ever have I come away disappointed. There is always something new and creative at Panache. Come on over to Newport and and enjoy the very best.