July 19, 2019 T he C olumbia P ress 8 This weekend Klootchy Creek trails unveiling The new recreational trail network at Klootchy Creek will be unveiled at a grand opening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20. Mark Morgans of Green- Wood Resources of Portland, will host the ribbon-cutting. The event is sponsored by North Coast Trail Alliance. There will be a barbecue, refreshments and shuttle ser- vice to some of the best vistas on the site. Klootchy Creek is a 25-acre county park off Highway 26, about 2 ½ miles east of High- way 101. It’s the site of Ore- gon’s first state Heritage Tree, the Klootchy Creek Giant, once the largest Sitka spruce in the United states. Estimated to be 750 years old, it was top- pled in the 2007 storm, which damaged thousands of trees in Clatsop County forests. Merchants host artists’ block party The giant before 2007. A block in downtown Asto- ria is hosting a block party as a way to provide more oppor- tunities for artists and craft- ers. The party is from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 19, on 14th Street between Commercial Street and Marine Drive. It’s hosted by Ferry Street Soci- ety, a group of businesses at the east end of downtown. The name comes from the era when the Columbia River Ferry docked at the end of 14th Street. 14th Street, Astoria Churches to air soulful surf film “Soul Surfer,” a movie based on the life of teen- age surfer Bethany Hamil- ton, who lost her arm in a shark attack, will be shown Friday and Saturday at two churches in Astoria. The first airing is at 8 p.m. July 19 at First Lu- theran, 725 33rd St. The second airing is at 8 p.m. July 20 at Peace Lutheran Church, 565 12th St.