Lincoln City Parks & Recreation (LCP&R), in partnership with Chinook Winds Casino Resort and the Friends of Lincoln City Parks and Recreation 501c3, announce a special Social Hour and Silent Auction on Fri 4/19, 5:30pm at Chinook Winds Casino Resort 1777 NW 44th St.
The theme is ‘Coastal Dream – A Park for All! Where Everybody Finds Their Favorite Spot.’
The event will include complimentary appetizers, no-host cash bar, silent auction, raffle, free guest prizes and more!
All are welcome to attend this free event, and no RSVP is required.
This event launches the public fundraising campaign for first new Lincoln City Community Park in over 20 years The 6.71 acre park is located at 4815 SE 51st St (the former Taft Elementary School site).
The park will host a number of first for a public sites in Lincoln City, such as the first inclusive and accessible playground, first permanent pickleball courts, first covered multi-sports court, first public turfed multi-sport field, a special event stage and lawn, picnic shelters, open space trail, and much more.
“To address issues with overcrowding, guest and staff safety, and access to county recreation facilities, Lincoln County Parks will require overnight camping reservations during the 2024 season.”
Parks Supervisor Kelly Perry said, “First, we have introduced a maximum limit of six individuals per campsite at Moonshine, down from the previous allowance of 10, This adjustment is necessary to alleviate strain on our septic system, which is currently over capacity.”
Perry continued, “Additionally, Lincoln County Parks has implemented restrictions on the number of vehicles permitted per campsite. Each campsite is now limited to one RV/vehicle and one additional vehicle.
It’s important to note that reservations are now required for all campsites. This change
aims to prevent the disappointment, inconvenience and even open conflict experienced
by many visitors under the previous first-come, first-served system, which often led to
overcrowding and frustration due to lack of available space.”
Following a review period, reservations for the B-loop will be open for the upcoming summer season starting May 1. This decision was made to provide equitable access to all visitors while assuring local residents have access to a beloved gathering spot. So far, 80% of reservations through the new system have been Lincoln County residents.
For day use visitors, Moonshine Park continues to have a total of 27 spaces available.
Day use fees are $5 per day or $35 for an annual pass – this has not changed. To
ensure the safety and enjoyment of all park users, overflow parking within the park will
not be permitted to ensure clear fire lanes and access for emergency vehicles.
According to a news release from Explore Lincoln City a new self-guided tour of Lincoln City’s beer scene will be available online in time for “National Beer Day designated on April 7.
“This self-guided journey invites beer aficionados and adventurous travelers alike to immerse themselves in Lincoln City’s dynamic brewery scene at their leisure. The trail is not just a celebration of craft beer—ranging from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts—but also an opportunity to enjoy Lincoln City’s stunning natural landscapes, including the picturesque Siletz Bay.
Guided by the digital passport, participants can explore local favorites, from the oldest bar on the Oregon Coast to family-owned breweries, and even a tiki-themed spot known for its selection of Oregon microbrews. After downloading the free passport, participants can check in at each location and work their way towards redeeming prizes.”
Here’s how the Tap and Brew Trail works:
Sign up online: Use the checkout here to sign up for this free passport. There is no app to download.
Explore the passport: This mobile-exclusive passport is a collection of curated breweries and pubs to explore during your stay.
Redeem: When visiting a participating business, visitors should present their pass to a staff member to activate a unique pin to check in at that location. Each stop on the trail gets you one step closer to winning great prizes! Current participating locations include Aces Sports Bar & Grill, Beachcrest Brewing Company, Gilgamesh Brewing – The Coast, McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub, Pelican Brewing – Siletz Bay, Snug Harbor Bar and Grill, The Beach Club & Event Center, The Pines Dine – A Food Truck Village and Zeller’s Bar & Grill with more locations to be potentially added in the future.
The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet April 17 in Forest Grove and online.
To view the full agenda and/or to register for the virtual meeting option visit here.
There is one appointed position currently vacant on the Oregon Heritage Commission and two positions that will become vacant July 2024. The Heritage Commission is especially seeking members with knowledge and experience related to community institutions, heritage tourism, or education/higher education and who have experience working with diverse cultural groups. The Commission seeks applications from those that live in the Southern, Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon area.
The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary celebrations.
The group meets four-six times per year in changing locations around the state and will offer virtual options to attend meetings. Commissioners are also asked to occasionally participate in meetings or events in their regions and work on other projects outside of meeting time. Appointed Commissioners are reimbursed for their travel and related expenses while conducting official commission business.
More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission is available online at www.oregonheritage.org and from Commission coordinator Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or [email protected].
Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 or [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meet
The netting on the outfield fence that protects adjacent fields from errant fly balls was cut into pieces this week.
According to Lincoln City Park and Recreation staff on scene, “The net had been sagging throughout the winter due to heavy rains and because the field was still wet we couldn’t bring out the necessary equipment to tighten the cables. Then, sometime this week we discovered that someone had entered the field and sliced up the netting.”
Damaged netting awaits disposal
Staff indicated that the netting was damaged beyond repair and a new one was being ordered. Estimated cost will be in excess of two thousand dollars
Saturday, March 30th, was a busy day for young Easter basket fillers. Throughout the city several groups sponsored Easter egg hunts for our kids.
One group, Taylor & Taylor Realty Co., held their inaugural Easter egg hunt at a lot adjacent to their office located at 3891 NW Highway 101.
Debbie Williams, Taylor & Taylor Realty Co.
“We were overwhelmed by the response,” said Debbie Williams, Principle Co-Supervising Broker. “There were way more kids than we expected but luckily we had more than enough treats for everyone.”
As kids anxiously gathered at the starting point like engine revving NASCAR drivers, parents and organizers watched the event with approving smiles.
Kids getting their baskets filled
When the “go” signal came the youngsters, armed with buckets and baskets, dashed about the wooded lot in search of the most coveted of prizes-a plastic egg filled with chocolates.
But, during the dash there was no time to look inside the eggs. Like legislators voting on a bill, the goal was clear-grab as many eggs as possible and inspect the contents later.
Nearly every knee showed a bit of dirt from pouncing on not so well hidden prizes. And several near miss collisions kept things interesting for onlookers.
Extra goodies found inside
According to Williams, “We plan to make this an annual event along with our Halloween trick or treat party. It’s was a pleasure for all of us to do something fun for Lincoln City kids and families.”
Press release 4/1/24: “Today, the Governor signed into law HB 4002 A, a bill reversing much of Oregon’s drug decriminalization experiment in response to a deadly addiction crisis plaguing major cities, suburban neighborhoods, and rural communities across the state. The bipartisan proposal cleared the Oregon Senate with overwhelming support exactly one month ago. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) released the following statement: ‘Now that the Governor has given the recriminalization bill her stamp of approval, we can finally end the chapter on Oregon’s experiment with decriminalizing hard drugs. HB 4002 is not a perfect solution; legislators will undoubtedly have much more work to do in upcoming sessions. But it sets a standard for how the state should approach the drug addiction crisis: by empowering law enforcement and our behavioral health systems to work together to help Oregonians struggling with chronic addiction seek life-saving treatment.'”
Beachgoers hunt for the elusive driftwwod“If You Can Carry It-You Can Keep It”
Hidden along the 7 miles of glorious beaches are driftwood logs, branches and sticks carefully placed by the Homepage Log Fairies.
All driftwood is hidden somewhere in plain sight between the ocean and the cliffs.
So put on your snooping glasses and be on the lookout for the rare wood. Just remember, none of them are marked or valuable (unless you just happen to love driftwood).
These all-natural pieces of dead trees will look great on any mantle or even might be big enough to become a mantle. Display the bigger ones in your front yard! Roast hot dogs on the smaller, skinnier ones. It’s family fun for everyone courtesy of the Lincoln City Homepage!!!
This last week was a bit sleepy as far as local news was concerned. That’s a nice way of saying it was pretty boring around here. But, don’t fret, election season is just starting to warm up!
Salem Capital building
Speaking of election season, the state legislature finally stopped doing whatever it is they do. Nothing too harmful seemed to come out of this short session and the subsequent release of hot air from the area spread our way making for some nice weather.
Neither Senator Anderson or Representative Gomberg (as of the posting time) face any opposition in their reelection bids. Good thing? Bad thing? I guess it depends on how pissed you are or aren’t.
But, if you want a race to watch, it would be the Lincoln County commissioner race for commissioner Hall’s seat. So far, there are 5 contenders for that sweet $100k plus per year paycheck. I’m always for getting rid of incumbents. Experience is helpful in most free market positions, but in government it almost always leads to corruption, entitlement and forgetting that elected officials are elected to protect the people from the government not the other way around.
Speaking of bloated mammals, whale watching has returned to the coast. I’m glad that it makes people happy to watch for the spouts of these magnificent creatures. It’s not my cup of tea but I enjoy seeing others get excited by the short blasts of spray emanating from their blowholes (the whale’s not the viewers). There are many visitor centers that have state sponsored hosts to show visitors where to look and how to spot a spout.
If you want to skip talking with the hosts, here are my whale watching tips:
1. Look west-they swim in the ocean (If you look east and see a whale you’ve probably eaten the wrong gummies).
2. While looking at the ocean, you’ll notice that it is, primarily, a horizontal surface. If you see water traveling vertically it’s either a whale or you are about to be killed by a waterspout.
The weather surely has lived up to the adage of “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Heavy winds, rains and accompanying power outages and damage hit the coast hard this last week of the month. As of this writing, the sun is gloriously shining and I’m looking forward to a beautiful Sunrise Service for Easter Sunday tomorrow. For you pagans, enjoy your chocolate bunnies.
Leavenworth, WA
It’s spring break here and Homepage fled the area to go to Leavenworth WA. Why? Why not? It’s beautiful there and smells like apples all the time. I’ll have more to say in a separate piece about Leavenworth (It was a bit of a disappointment this time).
On the Lincoln City Homepage Community Facebook page the top posts continue to be about glass floats and agates. However, yesterday, a post about a (presumed) homeless guy hawking glass floats at the SW 51st street turn around drew over 150 comments within a few hours of posting. Thoughts ran about 80/20 with 80% urging sympathy for the entrepreneur and 20% pissed off about drug addicts and bums infecting the city. Needless to say, a lot of comments were removed and some people got banned from the site. Most of the removed posts came from those siding with being compassionate to the homeless while wishing harm on those that disagreed with them. Most of those getting banned found new and interesting ways to share their fascination with fornication and feces. Go figure. Keep it clean and civil folks.
Speaking of Facebook, I propose a ban on the use of the following “words” on all social media platforms (I’m waiting for an affirmative post from Elon):
“Kiddos”
“Doggos”
“Fur babies”
Punishment for using those “words” would include confiscation of the offender’s fake Stanley mug, deny them service at Dutch Bros for a month and force them to publicly wear pants that have neither Paw Patrol figures or marijuana leaves on them. Repeat offenders would also have to update their profile photos from their sophomore year in high school 6 years ago to a current mug shot.
2 out of 3 dogs agree with me
One last thought about Facebook posts from my dogs; “Your cat doesn’t like you, that is why it left”.
Looking forward to a mighty fine week. I hope you are too.
Senate bill 1596 signed into law by Governor Kotek requires someone “that makes electronic items for consumers to give to those who look at, maintain or fix the items what they need to maintain or fix the items.”
The bill allows the state to fine people who violate the Act.
Those opposed to the measure shared a concern similar to Dustin Brighton, Director, Repair Done Right Coalition’s testimony;
“Manufacturers want to ensure that their products are serviced by professionals who understand the intricacies of their products and have spent time procuring the knowledge necessary to safely repair them and return them to consumers without compromising those standards or undermining the safety and security of their products.”
The majority of those in favor presented their support mainly as an attempt to reduce the amount of electronic items going into the garbage.
California passed a similar bill in 2023. It found an unlikely ally in Apple, a company notorious for not sharing any technology or repair information with end use consumers.
In a statement they said “Apple supports California’s Right to Repair Act so all Californians have even greater access to repairs while also protecting their safety, security, and privacy,” Apple said in a statement to The Verge. “We create our products to last and, if they ever need to be repaired, Apple customers have a growing range of safe, high-quality repair options.”
For those people that have been stymied by some companies not sharing methods or tools needed to effect their own repairs this bill seems a win.
But, information lacking in the testimonies is the actual will to repair items or liability for those that do repair items poorly and sell them on to others.
Some say the impact on slowing disposal would seem minimal as most consumer electronics aren’t worth the time or money to repair-even with dozens of YouTube videos available for nearly any electronic device that exists.
Voting yes were Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City) and Representative David Gomberg (D-Otis). Effective date is January 1, 2025.
Lincoln City Parks & Recreation (LCP&R), in partnership with Chinook Winds Casino Resort and the Friends of Lincoln City Parks and Recreation 501c3, announce a special Social Hour and Silent Auction on Fri 4/19, 5:30pm at Chinook Winds Casino Resort 1777 NW 44th St.
This event launches the public fundraising campaign for first new Lincoln City Community Park in over 20 years The 6.71 acre park is located at 4815 SE 51st St (the former Taft Elementary School site).
Press release- 
Speaking of bloated mammals, whale watching has returned to the coast. I’m glad that it makes people happy to watch for the spouts of these magnificent creatures. It’s not my cup of tea but I enjoy seeing others get excited by the short blasts of spray emanating from their blowholes (the whale’s not the viewers). There are many visitor centers that have state sponsored hosts to show visitors where to look and how to spot a spout. 
