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Oregon Coast Travel Site Goes Wireless Provides Lodging Reports - Oregon Coast Beach Connection now has mobile lodging and dining listings, along with weekly lodging availability reports
Time Again to Clean Oregon Beaches This Weekend |
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Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats & Florence.
09/17/08
Secrets of the Season |
Time Again to Clean Oregon Beaches This Weekend
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| The pristine beaches of Waldport. |
(Oregon Coast) - The annual SOLV Great Oregon Fall Beach Cleanup will take place on September 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oregonians from every corner of the state are invited and encouraged to join SOLV in this nationally recognized cleanup.
Thousands of volunteers are needed to participate at 44 sites up and down the Oregon coast. It is easy to volunteer. Just check in, pick up a litter bag, and head down to the beach to help spruce up the coast for wildlife, visitors and all Oregonians.
SOLV is asking for volunteers to show up along Oregon's beaches to help this weekend.
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| Odd stuff washed up on a beach in Manzanita |
It's an opportunity that’s always prime for finding
some interesting objects and it can result in some unusual ways to have
fun, according to one regular at the beach clean-ups.
SOLV is a front-runner in the clean beach movement that began in 1984,
kickstarting an environmental trend that has blossomed around the nation
in various forms. Since then, SOLV has worked to collect over 1,000 tons
of trash with the help of nearly 175,000 dedicated volunteers. With every
foot of Oregon's beautiful 363-mile coastline being scoured, SOLV is hopeful
for another record-setting event.
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| SOLV volunteers scour a stretch of Manzanita |
"Marine debris takes a heavy toll on the environment,
wildlife and even the local economy," said Pamela Sery, SOLV's Beach
Cleanup Coordinator. "We hope everyone who enjoys the beach’s
splendor takes their environmental duty seriously and joins us in this
great event."
Groups of 20 or more are asked to register in advance. Visit www.solv.org
or call SOLV at 503-844-9571 or toll free in Oregon, 1-800-333-SOLV for
a list of registration sites. SOLV suggests volunteers bring gloves, wear
sturdy shoes, and be safe while having a fun time removing marine debris
and litter.
Newport beach expert Guy DiTorrice has been a part of these clean ups even before SOLV held them. While living in Eugene in the 80’s, he was part of clean up efforts in Florence put together by divers from Eugene.
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| Large chunk of spectacular driftwood in Lincoln City: not all the stuff you clean off the beaches will be this lovely. |
He eventually became SOLV's Lincoln County Liaison after moving to the area in the 90’s. He urged others to join in the scouring.
"The twice-yearly beach clean ups provide a special focused day for folks to come to the coast and help pick-up the flotsam and jetsam from other folks and the sea," DiTorrice said.
After
so many years of involvement, DiTorrice has seen the finds change.
"The most interesting thing in the past 25 years is seeing the changes in what you find out there," DiTorrice said. “Years ago it was empty cans of chewing tobacco floating out of the surf, changing to plastic water bottles. That’s probably the largest volume of items found on the beaches I scour.”
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| Rockaway Beach |
Fun finds are plastic toys, DiTorrice said. “From little tractor trucks to sand pails and plastic shovels. Shoes and all varieties - but never in pairs - occasionally dot the beach.”
DiTorrice said there’s less and less fishing line over the last few years. But more “whale burps” or “beach balls” are being found. These occur naturally, and are made of compressed grass and other floating debris – often so compact they are impossible to break and hard as bricks.
“Some locals make fun of visitors by calling these items ‘whale snot,’ “ DiTorrice said. “Which it isn't.”
He’s also noticed quite a bit of trimmed and debarked wooden trees showing up on the beaches in recent years. “It looks like a boat might have dumped a load of future poles offshore,” DiTorrice said. “Many locals have been dragging them off the beach and cutting them up.”
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| The northern end of Seaside |
Interesting finds aside, there are some depressing trends.
“At a time when less and less picnic debris is being left on the
beach, there are more and more rolled up disposable diapers,” DiTorrice
said. “Not exactly the best examples to be setting by parents with
young children.”
DiTorrice is also known as “Oregon Fossil Guy,” giving tours
of central coast beaches and showing people where to find fossils just
lying around or embedded in the rocks. He often utilizes this opportunity
to continue the work of SOLV year round.
He encourages others to not just be vigilant about leaving only footprints when you head to the beaches, but suggests they too take a little extra care as he does.
"Of course, along with taking my rake and bucket to collect rocks and fossils throughout the year, there's always a handful of SOLV bags for picking up when items appear," DiTorrice said. "While the twice-annual beach clean up is great - and hundreds of tons of stuff gets hauled off - it's always nice to be doing that ongoing landscape maintenance of the beach."
Founded in 1969 by Oregon Governor Tom McCall to address litter and vandalism problems, SOLV has expanded to reach every county in the state and to bring together government agencies, businesses and individuals in programs and projects to enhance the livability of Oregon. Because of this expansion SOLV no longer calls itself “Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism” and has adopted the acronym, SOLV, as its official name.
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Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. All rooms are immaculate and have TV’s, VCR’s and in-room phones w/ data ports. Oceanfronts have queen bed, a double hide-a-bed, kitchen, cozy firelog fireplace and private deck. Both types sleep up to four people. Others are appointed for a two-person romantic getaway, yet still perfect for those on a budget. Elaborate oceanfront Jacuzzi suite has two bedrooms, kitchen, double hide-a-bed, fireplace and private deck, sleeping as many as six. For family reunions or large gatherings such as weddings, some rooms can connect to create two-room and three-room suites. Some rooms pet friendly. 523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.com |
 Inn
at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south
end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by
the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach
strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering
gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms.
Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly.
Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine
and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At
Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com. |
The Ocean Lodge. There will not be another property built like this in Cannon Beach in our lifetimes. Rare, premiere ocean front location; handsome, dramatic architecture and tasteful, fun (nostalgic) beach interiors. Overlooks Haystack Rock. 100 percent smoke free. Imaginative special occasion packages. Massive wood burning lobby fireplace. Library w/ fireplace, stocked with impressive book collection. Pet and family friendly. Lavish continental buffet breakfast. In-room fireplaces, mini-kitchens. Jacuzzi tubs in select rooms. DVD players, complimentary movies. Morning paper. Warm cookies. 888-777-4047. 503-436-2241. 2864 Pacific Street. Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.theoceanlodge.com |
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