Oceanside Village Voice

Lots of photos from yesterday’s parade are now accessible on Flickr. Thanks for being good sports and letting me take lots of pictures of you all! The color cheered a terribly gray day, but then, no rain.

Happy to report it did not rain on our parade.

Bareskly.

More photos to come. It’s a holiday, after all! Happy Fourth.

I did not attend the last meeting, but am hearing that the Netarts Oceanside Sanitary District board briefly heard/discussed (at its June board meeting) the idea of investing in the current plant to extend its lifespan, thus deferring a new plant build.  I have a request in for the meeting docs.  Would be an interesting change in direction.

It’s the biggest little annual event in the village; the annual self-organized Oceanside-Netarts Fourth of July Parade. This year, the 4th falls on Friday. It’s an open invitation to all - local and visitors - to be in the parade or just cheer on the paraders which walk the approximately 3-4 blocks of the parade route on Pacific Avenue in Oceanside. Come as you are or as you’d like to be.

You can take a look at the 2007 parade by following this link.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. sharp and starts up on Sunset Avenue, the first street above Pacific off of Cape Meares Loop. I love this event, one of the few that brings much of our community out all at once.

I’ve been on the road much of June; family, business, and pleasure taking me away from Oceanside. Throughout, I’ve been tracking the progress of the Ensberg’s study of the Peregrine Falcons nesting in the cove near Cape Meares Lighthouse. Three chicks hatched on Mothers Day, then fledged a week or so ago. I spent last Saturday morning with Delena and Bus and was treated to an early morning lesson in Peregrine spotting. For hours I watched two, then three fully grown young falcons preen and holler for food atop a (more…)

The June meeting of the Oceanside Water District (OWD) Board of Commissioners is this evening, Monday June 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Oceanside Community Club on Pacific Avenue. In addition to the regular meeting, the Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget will continue its process, up first on the agenda for the evening. The budget,  which was approved by the budget committee on May 20, will be reviewed. The agenda provides time for public comment before the board moves to adopt the annual budget which this year would include fee increases. New business includes a draft report and recommendation to update Systems Development Charges and Connection Fees for the district. As always, the public is encouraged to attend.

Meeting agenda can be downloaded : owd-agenda-06162008.

Gray Gray Gray We’re Ready for Sun

Originally uploaded by Oceanside Scribe

Even the courting and nesting Swallows are pausing for thought…spring has not sprung in Oceanside. Harrumph.

After two and one half years of serving as the community columnist for Oceanside, it’s time for someone else to take a turn at writing the “Fencepost” column for the Headlight Herald. I’ve let the paper know my last column will appear in print on June 25. Thanks to everyone who shared their news great and small and helped me get to know my new community just a few years ago, thanks for forgiving me when I spelled your name wrong (you all know who you are :-)), for sharing joyous events, and for trusting me to talk about some of the sad moments we’ve experienced together.

If you’re interested in the job, you can email Ken O’Toole at the Headlight Herald or call him at (503) 842-7535.

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An eagle took its time Sunday afternoon in a tree on Tillamook Avenue in Oceanside. It was a beautiful bird gracing a gray day, and giving neighbors a chance to linger and visit. A group of five eagles has been spotted by a number of locals. Sightings of the group over Three Arch Rocks and above Maxwell Mountain have occurred over the past week.

Last evening while the long rays of the sun burned through afternoon clouds gathering for the sunset, my neighbor’s Holly tree was visited by a small flock (or “museum”) of Cedar Waxwings. Beautiful and worth sharing here with you.