The “Sea the Light” annual lighting contest is back

“Last year the event was cancelled because of the storm,” says Leslie Reedy, of the sponsoring Ocean Shores/North Beach Chamber of Commerce. “In effect, it felt like we actually cancelled Christmas.  We just can’t do that this year! “Businesses in two categories (retail and hotel/restaurants) and private homes are encouraged to enroll in the contest, which is free. For an application form, visit the Chamber of Commerce at 873 Pt. Brown Ave., or call 289-2451.

“The businesses to beat are Fusions Gallery, the Sands Resort and Driftwood Mall.  They’ve won numerous times in past years.  I can see some fantastic competition already in the works. Salon Maude, East Coast Connection and Tsunami Beads/Moonstone Body & Home are off to a fantastic start.”

Often, the media uses “Good Samaritan” to describe any person who does good. Tuesday morning, a Copalis Beach resident quite literally followed the story of the Good Samaritan. The North Beach man has a long commute, so it was around 3:30 a.m. that he was driving east, on Ocean Beach Road. His headlights flickered across a shadowy form on the side of the road. Would have been easy for him to think, “Must be drunk,” and keep on driving. But this man stopped, found out it was someone who was seriously hurt, and drove him to Grays Harbor Community Hospital.

The victim had been assaulted and lit on fire, prior to being dumped by the side of the road.

“Had he laid there for any length of time he certainly would have suffered fatal results,” said Rick Scott, of the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Department. “This gentleman can certainly be credited with having saved his life.”

From the Bible story:

“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

Hint that it’s just a routine inspection: the firefighter was inside the Grey Gull this afternoon, shooting out:

(press release)– Community organizations have partnered to create the first “Storm Recovery Resource Fair” to aid Grays Harbor residents with storm preparedness and recovery information during the winter season.   The fair, which is free and family friendly, will be an open house held on November 22 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Log Pavilion in Aberdeen.

Despite the efforts of Community Club staff who administered CPR and defibrillators, and paramedics who were on the scene within 5 minutes, a 67-year-old man passed away yesterday. He collapsed and apparently suffered a fatal heart attack after working out.

Paramedic Travis Bearden, who responded to the call, said there were no vital signs when he arrived. He praised the Community Club staff. “They were right there with him. They did an awesome job.”

Condolences to the family and friends of the Ocean Shores resident.

from the Weather Service, for Ocean Shores area:

Today: Rain before 10am, then showers, mainly before 1pm. High near 54. Breezy, with a south wind around 24 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. West wind to 21 mph. 
Friday: Rain likely after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a south wind to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Rain before 6pm, then showers, mainly before 10pm. Low around 44. Breezy, with a west northwest wind to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. West northwest wind to 15 mph. 
Saturday Night: Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 38. 
Sunday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

 Little change on the Weatherwax almost-final tally, posted this afternoon by Grays Harbor County elections (click here for link) .

“Retain,” 1,871 votes, 66.65 percent.

“Sell all or part,” 936 votes, 33.35 percent.

That’s nine more votes for “retain” than last week’s tabulation, six more for “sell.” Next and final count: Nov. 24.

According to Rick Scott of the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Department, the man who was assaulted and burned was picked up early Tuesday morning by a Good Samaritan passing by on Ocean Beach Road, east of Copalis Crossing. TV stations have been playing video of the victim leaving the Quinault Casino after midnight on Monday night. A passer by picked him up a few hours later, and took him to Grays Harbor Community Hospital.

The Salvation Army seeks volunteer bell ringers, two shifts (both indoors) 2:30-4:30 and 4:30-6:30, at IGA. Ringing begins Nov. 28, and ends Dec. 23. For information, phone Dick Clayton, 289-4349.

There was some bad news, some really bad news, and some not-so-bad-at-all news last night, at the Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.

After a buffet dinner (catered by Galway Bay), Dennis Long of the Bank of the Pacific gave a Powerpoint presentation that was part horror show, part “light at the end of the tunnel.” Slides on Treasury Yield Curves, First Time Jobless Claims and other national trends brought forth pained grimaces from the audiences.

Then, the good stuff: job growth in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties — “The people that come here and spend money. ”Sometimes I feel we look at things as worse than they really are,” Long noted.

Also on the panel were Bill Wolfenbarger of Jodesha Broadcasting (“Sunny 102.1″) and Chris Rush of The Daily World (and North Coast News publisher), both urging businesses not to cut back on advertising in tough times. 

Barb Smith of Grays Harbor Tourism said her agency will continue to push “stay-cations,” or local vacations to places like the North Beach.

And Dianne Hansen, president of the Chamber and owner of the Dusty Trunk, encouraged an informal slogan for this area: “Just beachy.”