Home of…The Immaculate Jagoffs of Pittsburgh

Good news: Little (if any) rain expected, over the next 10 days in Ocean Shores and the North Beach. Bad news in the form of a “special weather statement”:  COLD TEMPERATURES MAY PRESENT A TRAVEL HAZARD THROUGH THE WEEKEND…A COLD AND DRY AIR MASS OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL THIS WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES AT 5 AM THIS MORNING ARE IN THE UPPER TEENS AND 20S. EVEN WITH THE SUNSHINE HELPING TO DRY THINGS OUT THERE IS STILL THE POTENTIAL FOR ICY ROADS… BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS DURING LATE NIGHT AND MORNING HOURS BOTH TODAY AND SUNDAY. PATCHY FREEZING FOG WILL LOCALLY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO A HALF MILE OR LESS IN THE MORNING HOURS… MAINLY IN THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING AND ALLOW FOR SOME EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION

Frank Szabova photo:

Emma Davis photo of a cargo ship steaming near the O.S. Jetty:

Another nice photo from Randy Scott:

“Winter scene” taken in the wetlands near Hogan’s Corner:

Frank Szabova photo:

And it’s an appropriate one, from Randy Scott, taken at the Copalis River:

Steven and Stephanie of the excellent Viet Hoa gave me two fortune cookies last night, which I just had for breakfast. 1) “You are next in line for promotion at your firm.” 2) “A liar is not believed even when he tells the truth.” Hmmmm . . . .

Tails up and down the beach are at half mast, as Ocean Shores and the North Beach has lost a true treasure, Joan Baus. This forwarded email from the Valdez’s shares the sad, but inevitable news about a woman who continued to work for the dogs and cats of PAWS even while she was suffering.

The Villages of Ocean Shores sells for $1.6 million, according to the county’s real estate sales site. Not bad, but . . . First Interstate Bank of Montana loaned some $10 million to developer Paul Pariser/Bar-JP for the project, then took the stalled project back after only one condo building (of a planned 15) was built, and Pariser failed to make payments on the gated condo community.

Ocean Shores 2013 Adopted Budget – Web

Note the cuts in the cover letter.

1) Due to health concerns, I started the process of moving to Phoenix in November. 2) I let my supervisor at the Daily World know what was going on, but that I could continue to put out the North Coast News. Did so, through December. 3) Let the Daily World know that my move was permanent, but that I could return to Ocean Shores monthly and continue being a part of the North Coast News print edition and northcoastnews.com (the blog I launched way back in 2008) on a part-time basis. The proposal came from a combination of having all these stories about Ocean Shores still to cover, a sense of loyalty to readers who have been incredibly supportive (with the exception of those who hate me) and general fear over giving up the most fun for which I’ve ever been paid. 4) After giving my proposal serious consideration for approximately three (3) seconds, the Daily World say, “Naw. You’ve been great, please close the door firmly on your way out.” 5) tomscanlonsblog.com

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I am from the North Beach, and blackouts are my companions.

Dateline: Gitche Gumee (now Ocean Shores Inn & Suites), downtown O.S.
Atmospheric introduction: The deck overlooks the O.S. Golf Course, a swamp before sunset, now a black watery mass. Are waves playing through the back nine?
The busy wind is torturing some unseen banner, or flag, or coat trapped in tree. (“Strong winds may be causing power outages,” says weather.com for O.S.; winds gusting to 46 mph at 9:13 p.m.)

How do you do it, Shoresians?
To live in Ocean Shores is to fight an absurd battle, somewhere between the Mardi Gras sword jousts of Ignatius Reilly (the sneering “Confederacy of Dunces” philosopher) and the quixotic windmill battles of Cervantes’ don.
(Sans Pancho, rest in peace.)

You who continue to live here are better humans than I.
This is written with no condescension, but admiration – pure respect. Continue reading →

Email: Please tell me what happened?  Who’s running the paper now???

Answer: Not me!

Beach/wildlife photo? Hot news tip? Anger to vent? Gossip to spread? Email tomscanlonsblog@gmail.com.

The rumors have been in the saturated Ocean Shores air for the last couple weeks. “I heard the editor blew out of town!”  “I heard his house is for sale!” “I heard the Daily World kicked him to the curb!”

I am so disappointed in you rumor-spreaders.

Seriously, what took you so long?