SCRATCHPAD Cleaning up the shores By LISSA BREWER COAST WEEKEND EDITOR Last July, volunteers on the Long Beach Peninsula removed more than 40 tons of trash from the shoreline in a single day. Its sources are as global as they are local, traveling by ocean currents and marine ves- sels as well as items left behind by visitors. Marine debris impacts oceans worldwide, and the Pacifi c Northwest Coast — even its remote stretches — are no exception. Look closely at the sands of Crescent Beach and you’ll fi nd colorful microplastics scattered next to sprouting stems. Venture into the tide pools and you may stumble upon a plastic bottle or sandy fi shing net. These discarded items pose serious health ON THE COVER risks to our treasured marine wildlife. Fish, crustaceans, mammals and more fi nd them- selves entangled in this debris. They also may mistake it for food, or simply fi nd it blocking sunlight by polluting the surface waters. If a visit to the beach or an article about the Great Pacifi c Garbage Patch has left you looking for a path to get involved, there are fortunately many local groups that organize regular beach cleanups on the Oregon and Washington c oasts. This is a great activity for locals and tourists alike, an educational opportunity for children, and a way to give back to places you love. SOLVE Oregon hosts beach cleanup events throughout the North Coast, includ- ing one in Seaside on the fi rst Saturday of each month. Washington CoastSavers plans LOOKING FOR LOCAL SEAWEED » PAGE 4 | TAKE HOME COOKIE DOUGH » PAGE 8 | NORTH COAST CHOWDER CRAWL » PAGE 14 Small pieces of plastic can be seen on the sands of Indian Beach near Ecola State Park. Many local beaches host cleanups, an opportunity for the community to remove plastic and other debris from the shores. an annual event as Earth Day approaches, this year on Apr. 17, as well as an Inter- national Coastal Cleanup each Septem- ber. Interested stewards can also participate in the organization’s Adopt A Beach pro- gram. They’re currently seeking couples or small groups willing to look after a desig- nated stretch of saltwater beach within Clal- lam County. Even if you can’t participate in a volun- teer group, take the time to pick up trash from the shore. Bring along a bag and leave the coast cleaner than you found it. Your friends in the ocean will thank you! STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS COAST WEEKEND EDITOR THURSDAY FEB. 17 2022 A 1969 exterior photo of the Coaster Theatre in Cannon Beach. LISSA BREWER ‘COASTING ON’ COASTER THEATRE TURNS 50 CALENDAR COORDINATOR SARAH SMITH PAGE 6 CONTRIBUTORS NIKKI DAVIDSON MALLORY GRUBEN PETER KORCHNAK REBECCA LEXA BARBARA LLOYD McMICHAEL BRIAN MEDFORD To advertise in Coast Weekend, call 503-325-3211 or contact your local sales representative. © 2022 COAST WEEKEND Coast Weekend is published every Thursday by the EO Media Group, all rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced without consent of the publisher. Coast Weekend appears weekly in The Astorian and the Chinook Observer. TO SUBMIT AN ITEM Phone: 503.325.3211 Ext. 217 or 800.781.3211 Fax: 503.325.6573 E-mail: editor@coastweekend.com Address: P.O.Box 210 • 949 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103 Find it all online! DiscoverOurCoast.com fi nd our event calendar, search for articles, share on social media and more YOUR #1 PREMIER CANNABIS RETAILER LARGEST SELECTION FRIENDLY & KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF ELITE PRODUCTS –– For Washington Residents –– Ilwaco Cathlamet (8am - 10pm) 360-261-7200 133 Howerton Ave (8am - 10pm) 360-849-4504 327 WA-4 Kelso Longview (8am - 12am) (8am - 12am) 360-636-0420 360-703-3229 820A West Side Hwy 971 14th Ave WARNING: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and over. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 // 3