By Scott D. Johnston
For Grays Harbor News Group
Quartet Champions Concert Saturday, Feb. 22
The QCED Quartet Champions of Evergreen District of the Barbershop Harmony Society are returning to the Ocean Shores Convention Center Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. for its annual acapella barbershop harmony concert.
The show will consist of winning quartets from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the QCED chorus of 50-plus voices. Every quartet on the show is either an Evergreen District Barbershop Quartet Champion or an International Seniors Quartet Champion.
Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4392238 and locally at Beach Tyme Quilts, The Dusty Trunk, and Convention Center.
The QCED winter show has been in Seaside, Oregon, since 1985. QCED president Charlie Boon said the group chose Ocean Shores for last year’s concert because of the beach and the venue.
“We need a destination that will draw a good number of performers for a fun weekend,” he explained. While they were “cautiously optimistic” about ticket sales for the first time at Ocean Shores, soon after they opened the doors, they were adding seats to accommodate the crowd of well over 300.
“It was fantastic,” Boon beamed, noting the extremely enthusiastic response the local audience delivered over and over. He said QCED was so thrilled that the group has already booked the same date for next year. “It’s been an absolute joy working with the Convention Center staff,” his daughter, Laurie Boon Fowlkes, added.
Beachcombing ID from A to Z, March 1
The Museum of the North Beach will be hosting its third annual Beachcombing ID from A to Z event on Sunday, March 1 from 2 – 4 p.m.
They urge people to “Bring in your unique, mysterious or everyday beachcombed objects and local expert and professional beachcomber Alan Rammer will be on hand to identify and educate.
“Fun is a key element in the program,” museum curator Kelly Calhoun explained. developed by Rammer. He said that finding items on the beach “should not only be enjoyable,” but Rammer “tries to help participants figure out what the items are, where they originated and what the findings could mean.”
Rammer was one of the original founders of the annual Beachcombers Fun Fair in Ocean Shores, an author and award-winning science educator. A prize will be awarded for what he considers the most unique beachcombed find.
The museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends during the winter months and is located at 4658 SR 109 in Moclips. Information is available by calling 360-276-4441 or by emailing kelly@moclips.org.
Beachcombers Fun Fair, March 7-8
The 33rd annual Beachcombers Fun Fair is at the Ocean Shores Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. The festival consists of exhibits of beachcombed items, seminars, information booths, and vendors. It also features beach walks and children activities and is designed to help visitors and locals appreciate and preserve the quality of life in the unique settings of Ocean Shores and the North Beach.
An ever-popular element of the event is the numerous displays the general public of a huge variety of things found on our local beaches. There are always several hundred entries in dozens of categories, including single objects, collections, photography and various creative and artistic efforts, such as collages, carvings, mobiles, mosaics, flower arrangements, home décor and furnishings.
Entries should be brought to the venue on Friday, March 6, from 2-7 p.m. Entry forms can be completed then, and are also available in advance at The Dusty Trunk, 759 Pt. Brown Ave. NW, and online at www.oseventplanner.com. Judging will take place that night and ribbons will be added to winners’ entries before the doors open on Saturday. There is no charge to enter any of the dozens of display categories.
Guest speakers will weigh in on a variety of topics starting at 11 a.m. and running until closing both days.
Two of the most popular events take place Sunday morning. Alan Rammer, retired WDFW shellfish biologist, author and educator, is one of the event’s founders. At 9 a.m., he will lead his annual beach walk and share bits of his encyclopedic knowledge of the beach environment.
Also, anyone can participate in the “Dash for Trash and Treasure.” Folks are encouraged to pick up a garbage bag (or use your own) on Saturday; go for a walk on the beach and enjoy some beachcombing, and put your finds in the bag. Then bring it back to the Convention Center between 8 and 9 a.m. Sunday morning, when beachcombing experts will examine your finds and let you know what is trash and what is treasure.
Admission is $3 for adults & teens, $1 for children 5-12 and good for all weekend. More information can be found online at www.oseventplanner.com and on Facebook at Beachcombers Fun Fair.
UFO Paranormal Summit, March 6-8
The fifth annual UFO/Paranormal Summit is scheduled March 6-8 at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino. The event brings researchers of the UFO and paranormal realms to present their evidence, theories and information. It includes paranormal-related vendors, seminars on Friday and Saturday including the popular sessions for witness testimony and hands-on workshops Sunday.
The event is produced by Johnny Manson, who lives between Ocean Shores and Hoquiam, and is the host of “Morning Madness,” broadcast weekdays on KJET 105.7 FM in Aberdeen, as well the “Strange Harbor” show that airs Sundays at 4 p.m. on KBKW 1450 AM and 100.5 FM. Manson also produces the annual “Sasquatch Summit” event each fall at QBRC.
More information is available online at www.ufosummit.com and by emailing info@ufosummit.com.
