Port of Toledo Oregon

Toledo Waterfront Park Area Closed for Dredging Operations

2011-11-30T11:05:00.000-08:00

The Park area on the Depot Slough Waterfront will be closed temporarily for the duration of the dredging operation that is currently in progress. The area will have heavy equipment traffic and is not safe for pedestrian or recreational use until completion of the project in about two weeks.

The contractor is operating a crane with a clamshell bucket along the bank of the Slough, then loading the dredged material into dump trucks, and driving around the Park to unload the material in the recently constructed bermed containment area.

The dredging completes what was started last year, and will provide enough water depth for vessels that will be using the new Transient Dock. The new dock will be installed directly following the dredging, with the pile driving and setting of the gangway being performed by the same contractor, Billeter Marine of Coos Bay, OR.

Just Moved

2011-08-17T08:34:00.001-07:00

It has been a busy week here at the Port of Toledo. We have just moved into our beautiful new office at 496 NE Hwy 20, and were proud to show off the amazing rennovation of the building we are sharing with Firehouse Clayworks to the City at a Joint meeting last week.

The Port's new address is:
PO Box 428
496 NE Hwy 20, Unit 1
Toledo OR 97391

Our old office has been leased to American Grounding Systems. If you are looking for the Port and stop by down there, say Hi to Ronnie, Ted and the gang. They fabricate grounding straps to ship worldwide for many different industries. You can check out their website at http://ags.bz . They will be able to direct you to our new office, up the hill, just past JC Market, in the old firestation. We are in the unit on the East side of the building, with the main entrance on the side of the building.

2011 Wooden Boat Show Poster

2011-07-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

The 7th annual Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show is coming up on August 20th and 21st. “Coastal Classics – Working through the Decades,” is this year’s theme and will highlight wooden commercial fishing boats, an integral part of life on the central Oregon Coast. The 2011 poster depicts a classic boat, “The Gal,” known by many in this area and has operated along the Pacific coast for over 70 years.

This year’s poster was created by Newport-based graphic artist Travis Leonard. Each year, he explores the theme of the Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show and brings his direct experience with the subject into the final product. His visit with Kevin Bastien on “The Gal” was his first experience on a commercial fishing boat. Leonard spent some time on “The Gal” with owner Kevin Bastien and listened to stories about his years of commercial fishing. Bastien described being out on the sea in all kinds of conditions. “When you are out there fishing, you have no choice,” states Bastien, “The weather does what it wants to do.”Learning about the complexity of the process and the risks taken out on the ocean inspired Leonard to create an image that communicates some of the challenge of commercial fishing. This year’s poster depicts “The Gal” on a stormy sea.

Built in 1939 at the Tacoma Boat Yard in Washington, “The Gal” is a 40’ foot double-ender. Bastien worked as a deckhand on the boat, leased it for 3 years, and then purchased the boat in 1991. He fishes, by himself, off Oregon and California for salmon, halibut, and albacore. “The Gal” will be docked and on display at this year’s Wooden Boat Show.

The seventh annual Wooden Boat Show, will bring together a collection of new and vintage wooden boats from all over the Northwest. Family boat building begins on Friday, August 19th and the finished boats are launched in Depot Slough on Sunday afternoon. Toy boat building is located next to family boat building, and the kids are supplied with all the materials necessary to build the boat of their imagination. Other family events include: the Yaquina Run-Off- a non motorized boat race, a Saturday Poker Paddle, live music, exhibits, sailing, great food, and much more.

Posters can be purchased at the Port Office, 385 NW 1st, Toledo, or at the show for $5 each.

Family Boat Building

2011-06-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

At the 7th Annual Wooden Boat Show
Have you always wanted to build your own boat but didn't have the time or didn’t know where to start? Well here's your chance. Gather together your family - your kids, parents and grandkids or invite a few friends, and spend three days at the 7th Annual Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Festival building your own small boat. According to families in the past, "you don't just build a boat, you build a family!" Register now for this August 19th-21st project at the Toledo Wooden Boat Show.

Under the guidance of Port Townsend master boat builder,Carl Chamberlin and Toledo boat builder Rick Johnson, you and your team will build the 'Nuf, a featherweight dory designed by Chamberlin. It's 9-1/2 feet long (canoe stern) with a 30-inch beam--and weighs in at only 30 pounds--great for kids if they can get it away from their folks!

The cost for this boat is $450.00, which includes all materials and instruction for one boat. This is a great deal for a great boat. A group of three to five people per boat is recommended, with at least one adult per group. All skill levels are welcome. All ages, beginning at 8 years old and up, can work together on this project. The boat building begins on Friday, August 19th at 9 AM. Two full days and one half day on Sunday will culminate in an afternoon launch ceremony before you take your boat home. The Port of Toledo offers scholarships for Family Boat Building. Call the Port Office for further information at(541)336-5207.

The 7th Annual Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show will highlight “Coastal Classics,” the working commercial boats that have been a part of Lincoln County for decades. The Wooden Boat Show is a family friendly event with wooden boats from the Northwest, boat races, a poker paddle, live music, food vendors and lots of activities for kids.

Waterfront Park Groundbreaking

2011-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

The Port of Toledo will be breaking ground on Waterfront Park, our new park facility at the end of main street, and adjacent to the Port’s Marina. The ground breaking will be at 10:00 am on June 9, 2011.

Construction of the park is funded through the Local Government Grant Program through Oregon Parks and Recreation Department with the Port pledging the property for park use. The new Park will include restrooms, a pavilion with covered picnic area and a stage, and a sloped grassy seating area, as well as paved pathway along the Waterfront.

Waterfront Park is one of the projects that will be transforming Toledo’s Waterfront this year, combined with the Port’s new transient dock, and the City’s improvements to the street crossing at the end of Main Street.

For more information contact the Port Office at info@portoftoledo.org.

A Big Weekend in Toledo!!

2011-04-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day Weekend will be a very busy one in Toledo.

The Second Annual Quilt Quest will feature over 300 handmade quilts on display all over Toledo. It's also National Train Day, and the folks at the Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society will have big doings over at their museum which is adjacent to the Port's grassy field. The Port's field will be the home of Toledo's first Renaissance fair! Here is a news release from local organizer Anthony Bucas:

Ye Merrie Greenwood Players brings the world of Elizabethan England to Toledo this Mother's Day weekend. Celebrating the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the players and friends create an English village market faire. A variety of interactive entertainers and faire merchants present the visitor with wares with all to make them all faire people. The Port of Toledo hosts the Faire as it encamps upon the Port's field near the intersection of 1st & "A" Streets. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and children 12 & under, and children 5 & under receive free passage. Ye Merrie Greenwood at Glastonbury Faire is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday May 7th and Sunday May 8th.

Entertainment from the Ye Merrie Greenwood Players will range from Renaissance dance and song to English madrigals and Gypsy dancers. They are accompanied by the Bridgetown Morris Men dancers, musician Annie Henry, the Firey Fool Brook Riddick, the Sherwood Madrigal Singers, harpist Janet Naylor, Junction City Brass, the Reverend Chumleigh, the Mongers Guild, James Funke-Lobigniac and his hurdy-gurdy, the Pacific Northwest Privateers, the gracious Sir Gustov, and the knights of the Empire of Chivalry and Steel. Faire merchants will share their merriment and pleasantries as they entreat the visitor to part with their coin.

Ye Merrie Greenwood Players are a non-profit theatre company from the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, Washington. Volunteers and players who have, since 1985, successfully produced and peopled their Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire in Richland, Washington. The come to visit the beauty of the Oregon Coast and to share with the coastal communities their passion for faire play. The play is the thing and all is faire.

Here is a link to their event page which includes performance schedules, location maps, and vendor applications. We are very much looking forward to all of these events and we hope you'll attend them as well. See you then!!

Depoe Bay's Wooden Boat Show

2011-04-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

The always enjoyable Depoe Bay Wooden Boat Show was held this past weekend. It was chilly but not raining (for a change!) and a good time was had by all. Here, tireless volunteer Karel Murphy chats with visitors.
In our tented booth, Michael Bogoger and Rick Johnson continued work on the nutshell pram they started at last year's show. They brought along a portable steamer to mold the oak frames for installation. Michael has posted details and a short video of the process on his blog.

The steam did help keep us warm in the chilly air, and watching the process really was interesting.

Another very entertaining feature at the boat show is the kids' boat building tent. I captured a few images of young boat-builders with their unique craft.

Karel's husband Tom, and his friend Richard Appicello gave the crowd a couple of kayak safety demonstrations. Very impressive, especially in that cold, cold water!

We always look forward to and enjoy Depoe Bay's show.

Return of the Osprey

2011-03-29T11:09:00.001-07:00

High on a pole just across Depot Slough from Toledo's Public Viewing Platform is an Osprey nest. The pair who inhabit the nest have just returned for the season to hatch and rear this years' offspring. You can watch these beautiful majestic birds as they repair and refurbish their nest, fly over the slough in search of fish, and tend to their young.While you enjoy the platform and its picnic table, you can watch many other water birds, including Great Blue Heron - and see the fish jump, the river otters play and even an occasional Harbor Seal that makes its way into Depot Slough in search of dinner. You can also watch the operations across the slough at the Georgia Pacific mill as they unload and stack logs used in the process of making paper. Public use of the platform is always free, and the project was funded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and The Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development. It was built in 2004.

Sailboat Auction!

2011-03-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

The 31' Cheoy Lee Offshore Cutter 'Osprey' will be auctioned off next month with the proceeds going directly to the Youth Boating Club.

The live auction will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 8th, 2011 at the Toledo Boatyard. The boatyard is located at 1000 SW Altree Lane. Starting bid is $6,000.00.

The 'Osprey' was built in 1968 by Cheoy Lee Shipyards. It includes sails, a Yanmar diesel inboard motor and rigging. It is available to view at the boat yard during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Questions may be directed to Port Manager Bud Shoemake at 541-336-5207.

In the boatyard business!

2011-01-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

The Port of Toledo is pleased to announce that the purchase of the former Fred Wahl boatyard at Sturgeon Bend in Toledo was finalized on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. Funding for the purchase comes from the Oregon Business Development Department’s Infrastructure Finance Authority in the form of a $1.2 million loan from the Port Revolving Loan Fund, and a $350,000 grant from state lottery funds.

The property acquisition had been delayed due to the discovery of sediment contamination from past shipyard operations. The Port has been working with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to come to an agreement for the cleanup of the property. The Port has entered into a consent judgment with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality which provides the Port with certain liability protections in exchange for the public benefit of the Port’s purchase of the property and its commitment to complete DEQ’s approved cleanup. The Port has secured state lottery funds for the cleanup through a Brownfields Redevelopment Fund grant administered through Oregon Business Development Department.

The boatyard site was used by the timber industry from the 1950s to the 1980s, and shipyard operations began in 1996 with Sturgeon Bend Boat Works. Fred Wahl acquired the property in 1999 and ran operations there until he closed in December 2008. It has been out of operation since.

The buildings, equipment, dry-dock and travel-lift will be checked over, cleaned up and repaired as needed during January with the yard reopening February 1, 2011. The travel-lift can pull boats as large as 90 tons, and the dry-dock can pull vessels as large as 300 tons.The Port’s business plan calls for an ‘open’ boatyard with the port being responsible for scheduling, hauling out the vessels, hull cleaning, blocking, and environmental compliance. Vessel owners will have the opportunity to perform their own maintenance, following boatyard policies, and can hire individual contractors as desired. Methods used in the operation of the yard will be as ‘green’ as possible, and DEQ’s applicable best management practices will be followed to assure that no further contamination occurs on the site.

The Port will also be pursing grants to make infrastructure improvements such as storm drainage, parking, and extending city sewer service to the property.Many boat owners have expressed their frustration in not having local facilities available to pull their large vessels. Owners and operators of these vessels now have the option to have repairs and improvements done locally, rather than taking their vessels - and their money - out of the area, which means jobs and economic value to Lincoln County.

The Port wishes to thank our partners throughout the process, which have included Oregon Business Development Department, Lynn Schoessler, executive director for the Infrastructure Finance Authority; Dave Harlan, Ports Division Manager; Karen Homolac, Brownfields Program Specialist; and the Governor’s Economic Revitalization Team. Bud Shoemake says, “It’s been a long time coming, and now we are ramping up our efforts to get the yard open for business.”

Enhancement Opportunities on Toledo's Waterfront

2010-12-22T11:19:00.000-08:00

The Port of Toledo, in partnership with Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society has submitted a grant request for Oregon Department of Transportation’s Transportation Enhancement Program. Our Toledo Transportation Museum and Waterfront Path project is under consideration, and ODOT is currently seeking comments to help prioritize projects for funding.

The preliminary design for the Transportation Museum mirrors the original train depot, pictured below, and if funded will be built near the original location of the Toledo Depot. The museum will honor and preserve Toledo's heritage as an industrial town where marine, rail and roadway modes of transportation intersect. The proposed museum would be operated by Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society. The plan is for a 2,800 square foot building to house revolving transportation history displays, retail area and meeting space.

The grant application also provides for construction of 1,420 feet of paved walkway along Toledo's waterfront on Depot Slough. Here, a pirate at our annual Wooden Boat Show discusses his water-borne potato cannon target with a festival-goer on the existing gravel path.
The paved path will enhance the waterfront considerably and will promote walking and bicycling activities. Plans include interpretive signage, benches, lighting and the restoration of native landscaping. As specified in the Toledo Waterfront Connectivity Plan, the path increases connectivity between Main Street, Butler Bridge Road, and NW 1st Street to the Port’s waterfront developments, including the Marina, Waterfront Park and new Transient Dock. The Park and Transient Dock are currently in design stages with construction starting this spring.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is seeking input from the public on 85 projects from around the state for consideration for funding. Here is a link to their news release (PDF), which includes a link to their online survey. Please take a few moments to post your comments. The last day to comment is January 28, 2011.

Port Station One

2010-11-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

Skybound Gallery owner Dave Silwones has signed a five-year lease for Port Station One (Toledo's former Public Safety building) for an arts demonstration and gallery space. He will use much of the building; the remainder will become new offices for the Port. Move-in will occur around January 1.

Port Commissioners authorized the deal at their regular meeting October 19, held in Siletz. Silwones wants an artist-in-residence operation like his Skybound Gallery at 305 N. Main, but with industrial arts like sculpture and glassblowing.

This new development is exciting because Dave Silwones’ plan works well with our own need to move, due to a tenants’ interest in the Port’s current office space on NW 1st.

The city deeded its former public safety building to the Port in 2009 with the understanding it would be developed into incubation space for new business. Silwones' plan is a perfect fit.

As an incubator for artists it would not only bring in new business, but also create a tourist draw. “There are no other demonstration shops on the coast and I don’t know if there are any of that size outside Portland or Seattle. That space has the opportunity to really shine as a destination for people to come to,” he said.

Silwones said Port Station One “has everything I could want

– the space, the art park, plenty of power, lots of parking. It is zoned properly. With that, I would be able to bring both experienced artists – and I have several who have expressed an interest – and new emerging artists into an incubator, so they can learn from experienced people, and also learn the business.”

He sees the gallery/studio drawing from across the Pacific Northwest. “The Northwest has the largest concentration of glass artists in the world. The Tacoma Museum of Glass is an example of that. I would like to tap into that excitement and take advantage of that. Fine arts are very enjoyable and we’re having a good time (at Skybound), this would offer something new that many people may not be familiar with,” he said.

Yaquina Boat Equipment

2010-10-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

Business partners Doug Alldridge and Jerry Esbenshade are keeping very busy these days. But that means business as usual for the owners of Yaquina Boat Equipment, a long-time Port of Toledo lessee. They transform and outfit large commercial fishing boats as a specialty, and their services are in high demand.

Right now, they are transforming the 82-foot F/V Jeanoah. The Jeanoah is registered out of Newport, Oregon and fishes out of Kodiak, Alaska. It was originally built in the 1970's for the crab fisheries using a gulf shrimper design. Here is a 'before' picture, showing the Jeanoah as she has looked for the last several years.

They have removed the mast and the old pilot house, taking the boat down to bare bones, and will be installing a newly fabricated aluminum wheelhouse, topping off the lower cabin area. Here she is with the wheelhouse removed, in a picture from last week.
A visit with them today allowed a glimpse of the new wheelhouse as it is being wired for electricity.They are also hard at work enclosing the bow using a 'whaleback' technique which will also expand it upwards, increasing its seaworthiness for the west coast and Alaskan waters where it fishes for king crab, among other high-demand, fresh-from-the-sea products. They will also be reconstructing the entire back deck using new stainless steel framing and new hardwood and composite decking to help minimize wear and tear from the crab pots. Doug says the crabbers have to replace some of their wood decking every year because it is subjected to so much hard use.

Owners of the Jeanoah, Bob Jacobson of Newport, Jerry Bongen and skipper James Stevens of Kodiak know the quality of workmanship they can expect from the experienced professionals at Yaquina Boat Equipment. In addition to the Jeanoah, there are two other boats moored at their docks, the Norska is undergoing miscellaneous repairs, and the MorningStar is switching fishing gear for crab and is also being fit for an anti-roll tank system.

Doug and Jerry have been friends since high school, and partners in business since 1986. They are often featured in articles published in National Fisherman magazine. They employ about 16 skilled workers in-house, along with a number of subcontractors.

Yaquina Boat Equipment provides vital services to our local and distant-water fishing fleet, and is a major link in Toledo's economic chain. We'll be watching the progress on the Jeanoah and will post updates periodically.

Youth Boating Club BoatHouse is Home!

2010-10-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

The boathouse was moved back to its home at the Port Docks yesterday. With just a few minor touches yet to be completed, the boathouse is looking beautiful!
Sherwin Williams in Newport donated the stain that was applied to the board-and-batten outer layers to protect it from the weather.

Aair-Care of Toledo has donated stainless steel rain gutters and downspouts, and they will be installing them soon as well!
It has been an awesome project that will soon house a youth boating club that will assist young people in learning to love boats and boating, and has been assisted by many local groups. We couldn't have done it without their generous support.

Toledo's Port District

2010-10-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

As you can see in this overlay/composite map, the boundaries of the port district encompass a lot of area, the bulk of it rural. Formed in 1910, the district now covers 443 square miles in Lincoln County and includes the communities of Toledo, Siletz, Logsden, Burnt Woods, Harlan, Elk City and Eddyville. The Port Commission's regular monthly meeting will be held at the Siletz City Hall, 215 West Buford Avenue. The public is invited to attend on Tuesday, October 19th at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing current activities in which the port is involved. One item on the agenda is Mill Park and there will be a brief presentation and Mayor Leslie Button. For more information contact the port office at 541-336-5207.

Dredging Depot Slough

2010-09-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

Dredging is finally complete in Depot Slough.

These first two pictures were taken during the Port's Wooden Boat Show last month, showing the clear need for it.

Under contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Dutra Dredging sub-contracted the project with Hickey Marine Enterprises out of Vancouver, Washington, and they completed the project in just over a week's time. They removed about 50,000 cubic yards of material and transported it down the Yaquina River to a designated ocean dumping site.

Below, they are shown working on the area in front of the docks leased by Yaquina Boat Equipment, a very important part of the local economy that serves the larger commercial fishing boats. In recent years, the boats would end up stuck in the mud, even at higher tides, when moored at the dock for work. Doug Alldridge of Yaquina Boat is very pleased that this project finally got finished.Last year, the project was well underway when it was abruptly halted. The original contract called for 119,000 cubic yards to be removed from the slough, with the last 50,000 removed this month. Peter Friedman and Ray Bucheger, with FBB Federal Relations, were instrumental in getting the project completed, as were the Governor's Economic Recovery Team and Dave Harlan, Ports Manager for the Oregon Business Development Department.

The last complete dredging of Depot Slough was in 1995, followed by a record high-water year in 1996, which helped to start the re-sedimenting process very quickly. This area of the slough is where the Port's planned transient tie-up dock will be located. The transient dock will allow extra space for boaters who wish to use the dock for a short period when they stop in to Toledo to visit the local businesses and facilities.

The transient dock is expected to be completed and in place by the summer of 2011. Here is an idea of what it will consist of.

Meanwhile, the Port's docks are back in place for moorage holders and 'back in business'.

Dredging has been an ongoing concern for the port, starting with its inception in 1910... one of the first items on the agenda was dredging the slough and river. Optimally, dredging should occur once every ten years. Soon it will be time to plan the next round of dredging to keep the slough - a viable and important link in Toledo's economy - usable.

2010 Wooden Boat Show

2010-08-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

2010 goes into the record books as the best Wooden Boat Show ever! The weather was perfect, not too hot and just enough breeze to make sailing around the slough a blast!
Participants in the Yaquina Run-Off people-powered boat race line up for the starting horn, above. You can choose from a 3-mile short course or a 9-mile long course. It's a beautiful paddle on the Yaquina River.

One of the most popular events at the boat show is the kids' toy-boat building booth where you can create your own floating work of art! We saw many a beautiful boat.

We saw some very beautiful wooden boats from all over the Northwest.

MaZu under sail. She is a 17-foot teak lady sloop, donated to the port by Jim Hitchman of Waldport for use in its fledgling Youth Boating Club. A beautiful and very graceful boat!

Another fun event at our boat shows: the family boat building. Teams start out on Friday morning with all the materials they need to build their own 9 1/2 foot featherweight dory. They are finished by Sunday afternoon and launched in Depot Slough for their maiden voyage. We saw some very happy faces at this booth.
Rick Johnson, above, local shipwright, provides instructions and hands-on help with the boats.

John, above, has been paddling in his new boat every day since he built it. Go John!!

The kids take to the water in their new boats and away they go! They are very stable, very fast little boats. What a joy to watch the kids as they discover what fun boats can be.

We had lots of other activities over the weekend too, including a free fiddle workshop in the new Youth Boating Club's floating clubhouse, live music all weekend, a poker paddle, excellent food booths, art and craft booths, and of course, plenty of boat lovers to chat with.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the third weekend in August, next year's Wooden Boat Show will be held August 20th and 21st, 2011.

Many thanks to all who participated, volunteered and enjoyed our boat show! See you next year!

Family Boat Building

2010-08-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Each year at our Wooden Boat Show, one of the most popular activities is building your own boat! Teams start on Friday morning (August 20th this year) and work on their boats during the festival, with a launch party on Sunday (the 22nd) at 3:30, where the "Nuf"s take their owners on a maiden voyage.

The "Nuf" is a 9 1/2 foot Featherweight (30 lbs.) Dory designed by Carl Chamberlin of Port Townsend, Washington. All the materials and instruction are included in the $400 fee. You'll work under the supervision of Carl and local boatwright Rick Johnson to complete your own boat.

We still have two slots available, so visit our website for more information and registration forms. www.portoftoledo.org. You'll also find the 'Suggested Tools' list there.

We also have scholarship forms on the website for those who would love to build their own boat but maybe can't afford the fee.
Bon Voyage! We'll see you at the boat show!

Our Wooden Boat Show Poster

2010-07-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the poster for this years' boat show.
You'll soon see them all over town! They are also available for purchase here at the Port Office for $6 each, suitable for framing! We are all looking forward to the boat show, it will be the best ever!

Local Shipwright Rick Johnson

2010-06-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Teak Lady Sloop Ma Zu, a generous gift from Jim Hitchman of Waldport for the Youth Boating Club, as posted here, was damaged in a crash in Yaquina Bay last year...and the beautiful sailboat is undergoing repairs under the highly-skilled hands of local boat builder Rick Johnson.
Rick took a few minutes to chat about his work, but he never did stop working while we were talking. He's been interested in wooden boats since he was a boy, and told me when I asked how he got started in wood boat building and repair that he'd been lucky enough to be chosen as an apprentice in the Bumblebee boatyard in Astoria in the 70s.

Fitting all the pieces together perfectly is an amazing skill, requiring loads of patience. It's neat to watch Rick at work, quietly planing here, chiseling there, all the time very focused on his work. He is very personable and friendly, and interesting to talk with. His river-side workshop is full of exotic and beautiful woods, and he's very knowledgeable about the various aspects and properties of each.

He says he'll have her all fixed up and looking good again in time to have her on display at our Wooden Boat Show, the third weekend in August. She really is a beautiful boat, and we're very lucky to have Rick here to heal her wounds and make her whole again.

The 2009 Wooden Boat Show poster depicts Rick and a boat he and Michael Bogoger built:

Rick and Port Townsend boat builder Carl Chamberlin will be teaching folks how to build their own wooden boat at our event in August. Make sure you stop by and say hello and take a look at what all goes into building a small dory. There are still slots available if you want to try your own hand at it, under Rick and Carl's skilled tutelage. It's an experience you'll never forget!

For the kids!

2010-06-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

We will be auctioning off this Cal-29 sailboat on Friday, July 2nd, here at the Port office at 11:00 a.m. Here are some of the particulars:

Documented length - 29 feet; beam - 9.2 feet; draft - 7.5 feet. S/V Skye is an auxiliary sloop built in 1974. Propulsion provided by a Faryman 1 cylinder, 6 horsepower diesel engine. Includes sails: Dacron mainsail, 3 headsails, 1 spinnaker.

Deck gear includes Lewmar and Barient winches: 4 - deck, 4 - cabin top, 1 - mast, and 1 chain/rope manual anchor winch.

Other equipment includes a Furuno 16-mile radar, a Horizon 25 watt VHF/FM marine transceiver, Binnacle mounted compass and Navico autopilot, and a sextant with charting tools.

Will be sold AS IS/WHERE IS, starting bid is $3,000. Call or email the Port Office for more information. She is at the Port Docks now for viewing.

Proceeds from the sale of this donated vessel will benefit the Toledo Youth Boating Program, which will encourage kids to get involved in boating, sailing, water safety and teamwork.

Scenes from a Celebration

2010-05-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some images from last Friday's Centennial Celebration.

There was live music by Tony Johnson, who is a Port employee, he works with Maintenance Supervisor Les Hall on most everything that needs to be done for the Port properties... he and Les do an awesome job. Terry Dillman of the News-Times and Fire Chief Will Ewing peruse the historic photo albums and scrapbooks on display.

People entered their suggestions far a new name for the property. The list of suggestions will be put before the Port Commission so they can choose the very best one. Here former Port Manager Penny Ryerson, Anne Stangeland and Commissioner Stu Strom give us their best ideas. Folks had a good time rubbing elbows with others and taking a closer look at the hand-crafted wood boats that were on display.

Commission President Chuck Gerttula said a few words about the Port's history and future.

People enjoyed the new art park during a brief sunbreak. It's a beautiful spot to sit and rest a while, with metal sculptures, bordered by beautiful mature trees and some newly-planted ones as well.
The new Art Park is officially dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Port Staff, Commissioners, CSC students and the metal sculpturists whose art is featured at the park.

Many thanks to everyone who was involved in the project, and also a big thanks to everyone who attended, making the Centennial Party a great success! Special thanks to Island Wild Seafoods for providing the yummy seafood treats and to Toledo JC Thriftway Market for donating the soft drinks and a beautiful (and yummy!) custom-made cake.

It's a Party!

2010-05-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Come join the party tomorrow (Friday May 21st) from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Old Fire Hall. We'll be celebrating 100 years (to the day! The Port was incorporated on May 21st, 1910) with cake from Toledo JC Market (thank you!!), refreshments from Island Wild Seafoods (thank you!!), a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-finished adjacent Art Park, and an opportunity to rub elbows with local dignitaries. A special treat will be live music from Tony (the Kid) Johnson, and an opportunity to enter your suggestions for a new name for the "Old Fire Hall". See you there!!!

Progress!

2010-05-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

The Port of Toledo has successfully applied for funds from the State to purchase the former Fred Wahl Boatyard at Sturgeon Bend in Toledo, Oregon. The Port received its letter of award on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, informing the Commissioners and staff that Oregon Business Development Department’s new Infrastructure Finance Authority will award a $1.2 million loan from the Port Revolving Fund. An additional grant for $350,000 has been approved by the Governor from the Strategic Reserve Fund. These awards secure the needed funding to close on the purchase with Fred Wahl.

Trace amounts of contaminants were discovered in the sediments in the waterway adjacent to the property. The upland areas tested qualify for a 'no further action required' ruling, with a deed restriction placed on the property that calls for industrial uses only. The contaminant clean-up will be aided with the recent award of a $250,700 Brownfields Redevolpment Fund Grant from Business Oregon, using lottery funds.

A prospective purchaser agreement will be entered into between the Port and DEQ. We hope to have the transaction completed by mid-July.

Boat-Building 101

2010-04-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

Wooden boat enthusiast and South Beach resident Michael Bogoger has been heading up an interesting project lately. At the Toledo Junior/Senior High school, he instructs students in the processes of building a 16-foot 'Bank Dory'. He says that this particular design was the same one he used to build his very first wood boat 35 years ago. Here he is rough-cutting one of the two hand-made oars.
Students Tyson Hottinger and Sam Brandt help with the cutting.
According to Bogoger, the Bank Dory design has been used for many years in the Newfoundland cod fisheries. Tyson, left, and Sam gamely pose for a photo op.

The detail on this boat is just beautiful.

Michael Bogoger has more pictures of this project (and others) on his Flickr site. He is a Port of Toledo moorage holder and also serves on our Wooden Boat Show Advisory Committee.

He has promised to have this beautiful new boat on display at our Wooden Boat Show, August 21st and 22nd. Come down and have a look for yourself!!

Celebrating the first 100 years!

2010-04-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

On Friday, May 21st, we will be throwing a bash to honor the Port's Centennial year. It will be in conjuction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Toledo's former public safety building, at 496 NE Highway 20, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The party will include live music and refreshments... and birthday cake!

The public is, of course, invited to attend! Come and take a look at the newly remodeled building, the new adjacent art park, and the historic information and photos we'll have on display.

You'll have an opportunity to meet some of the CSC staff, the Youth Construction Program students and their leader, who have worked so hard on the 'old fire hall' project, and the Port Commissioners, crew and staff who have all been instrumental in bringing the vision to fruition. Here is a recent picture of the CSC students and crew leader Peter Lohonyay working on the park.
Since we still haven't settled on a name for the property, we'll be soliciting suggestions for a clever and suitable name. Bring your ideas and your friends and join us for our Centennial Party!!

Upcoming Highway 20 Closure

2010-04-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Work continues in earnest on the US 20: Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville project despite some recent setbacks.

According to the Yaquina River Constructors/ODOT project website, "We are planning a full closure of U.S. 20 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 14 until 6:00 a.m. Monday, May 17. There will be no through-travel between the valley and the coast along U.S. 20 during that time."

It continues: "We apologize to the fishing community for the inconvenience caused by scheduling the blast during the opening weekend of Halibut Season. All of the weekends in May impacted people traveling to and from the coast for major holidays and events. We couldn’t wait much longer to do the work because we can’t close the highway during the summer months. OR 34 is the primary passenger and recreational vehicle detour. " You can also view the detour map on their website.

The YRC/ODOT website also features some awesome still images and video of the project. (Quick Time software required, which is a free download.)

An update on this project is also featured on the front page of today's Newport News-Times... you can view that story here.

And on YouTube, you can watch a video, shot about 6 months ago by local man Brad Moore from his GyroCopter, of a fly-over of the entire project, end to end. It's a very impressive project!

Depoe Bay's Wooden Boat Show

2010-04-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

Depoe Bay's 14th Annual Wooden Boat Show is scheduled for April 17th and 18th this year. Featuring many beautiful wooden boats on display, boat building demonstrations (including participation by the Port of Toledo), a crab feed and ducky derby, this is a fun annual event on the coast. Make sure you put it on your calendar of things to do!!

Here are some images from past events...

Below, Rick Johnson, Michael Bogoger of Toledo and Jack Brown (right) of Depoe Bay work on the boat they built in the Port of Toledo's booth. Rick, Michael, Jack and his wife Maggie have all been amazing supporters of our own Wooden Boat Show, offering lots of time, effort, help, resources and advice. We wouldn't be able to do it without them!! When you go, make sure to look for the Port of Toledo booth and say 'Hi' to the crew! We'll be building another boat on site this year, and will be on hand to answer questions and to offer information and a friendly 'hello' to everyone.

See you there!

History by Hitchman

2010-03-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

As mentioned previously here, Mr. Jim Hitchman of Waldport has been hard at work on a book project about the Port of Toledo's first 100 years, a historical account of the trials and tribulations of a small port district. Here he is, buried in his research.Last July, Mr. Hitchman donated his Teak Lady Sloop, the Ma Zu, to the Port of Toledo. She is 17 feet long, 6 feet wide, and was built in 1958 in Hong Kong.The sloop has some pretty significant damage caused by a crash with a 36-foot fishing vessel in Yaquina Bay last summer. Once it is restored to its previous condition, the Ma Zu will be used in the Toledo Youth Boating Club Program, and will be on display at our 2010 Wooden Boat Festival as well. Here she is last year with Port Secretary Debbie Scacco. Here is a shot of Mr. Hitchman working on his beautiful boat in South Beach before it was damaged.Rick Johnson, left, and Michael Bogoger are hard at work restoring the vessel to her original beauty. She is pictured behind them here.The Port is very grateful to Mr. Hitchman for his generous donation of this beautiful sailboat, and for all his hard work and diligence in his historical book project. Salud!! We are very much looking forward to seeing the book.

Ground Breaking

2010-03-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday marked the groundbreaking of the pocket park adjacent to the former Fire Hall. The weather was cooperative, and several local dignitaries were on hand to commemorate the occasion. Here, Toledo Mayor Rod Cross addresses the group and Port Commission President Chuck Gerttula.
Next up was Instructor and Crew Leader Peter Lohonyay. At left is School Board Member Brenda Brown.
Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall thanked everyone involved in the project. Port Manager Bud Shoemake is pictured here in the center.
Bud Shoemake, Janet Hessell, Jon Holbrook and Whitney Clerf listen to the speakers. Holbrook and Clerf have been instrumental in creating the park's design.Martha Lyon, Carol Zekan, Evelyn Roth, Dee Teem and John Asher enjoyed the ceremonies.

Students from left: Frank Aguilar, Ashley DeVries, Remington Iverson and John Weaver smile for a photo op.

Left, Dee Teem, CSC Workforce and Education Program Advisor and Port Secretary Debbie Scacco give me a nice smile.

A view through the scaffolding inside the building.

Bud Shoemake chats with Martha Lyon about the project.

Toledo City Manager Michelle Amberg and County Commissioner Don Lindly share some thoughts.

And then it's time for the whole crew to turn some dirt. The official groundbreaking.

Not missing a beat, the students got straight back to work preparing the interior for painting.

This is an exciting project for everyone involved!

At the Marina

2010-03-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, on a chilly, windy day at the Port of Toledo Marina, work continues on the F/V 'Relentless', based out of Newport, Oregon. She is in Toledo this month getting new cap rails custom made and installed by local boat builder Rick Johnson.

Owned by husband and wife Jan and Sue Peterson, the 47-foot aluminum vessel is used in the Oregon and California salmon, albacore and crab fisheries, as well as a live-aboard home base for the couple and their dog.
After the cap-rails are complete, more work is in store for the interior. Here Mr. Peterson takes a moment from his lunch break for a photo op before he goes back to work.

Working Together

2010-03-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

The rehabilitation and remodel of Toledo's former Public Safety Building has truly been a team effort. Port employees have been working alongside students who are gaining invaluable experience and on-the-job training in construction trades. The Community Services Consortium is working with crew leader Peter Lohonyay to complete the rehab, turning the building into usable space and making the exterior look fresh and new.

According to an article in the March 3rd News-Times, the CSC program is open to youth ages 14 to 24, and once accepted, students learn a trade while earning minimum wage. "They receive job training, they learn professionalism, all of the work readiness skills that are transferrable to just about any job," said Diana "Dee" Teem, CSC workforce and education program advisor.

The program is supported through federal, state and local government funding and private foundations. Grant and stimulus dollars through the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps help fund Lohonyay's crew, as well as $15,000 from the Lincoln County Economic Development Grant.

Youth Construction team members have sheetrocked, plastered and textured the interior in preparation for painting, which they will be completing soon. Next on the agenda is the ground-work for the pocket park which will be adjacent to the building. It will occupy the space where the administrative wing of the structure used to exist.

New Park Plan

2010-02-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

Things are starting to look very different at the building that formerly housed Toledo's Public Safety offices. The Administrative portion of the building has been demolished, the existing structure is undergoing major rehabilitation, and soon to be installed: a beautiful pocket park. Here is a drawing of the park layout. The building is on the left.In 2009, the Port acquired the building from the City of Toledo, which housed the Toledo Fire and Police Departments and the dispatch center, which affords the Port an opportunity to rehabilitate the building and grounds and use the property for economic development. Work is progressing on the building rehab, and is expected to be finished in the spring of 2010. Below, after port employees carefully deconstructed the administrative section of the building, the materials were recycled and reused to fabricate the new exterior wall.
The interior is being re-finished thanks to the Community Services Consortium and a local 'Youth-Build' program where the students get hands-on experience in the building trades. Once the students have the interior finished, they will begin constructing the park features.
Here are a few more images of the project.
The roof beams are carefully removed so they can be reused. The Admin section of the building is shown on the right. Doors, windows, framing materials and many other components were salvaged to be used to finish the building. Salvaged materials make up most of the new wall the Port crew built.

Demolition is completed and the Port crew is shown installing a new roof.
New siding and a fresh coat of paint make the building look brand-new again.

The pocket park is being designed as a collaborative effort with Port Manager Bud Shoemake, Jon Holbrook Drafting and Design, Sam Briseno, Whitney Clers, and Oregon Coast Aquarium staff, among others. It will be a very beautiful and pleasant spot to take a moment to rest and people-watch.

Plans are also in the works for updates to Toledo's Waterfront, including public restrooms and a park pavilion. You can see the Waterfront Master Plan in PDF form here.

The First 100 years

2010-02-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Established in 1910 along with the Ports of Newport and Alsea, the Port of Toledo is celebrating its Centennial this year.

Jim Hitchman of Waldport is currently working on writing a comprehensive history of the Port's first 100 years. We plan to have the book published in time for our Wooden Boat Show in August, 2010. If you have information Mr. Hitchman might be interested in reviewing, please contact the Port Office at 541-336-5207 or send us an email. Thanks!!

(Photo Courtesy of the Lincoln County Historical Society)

Welcome

2010-02-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to the Port of Toledo blog. Here you'll find news about what the Port is working on, activities and projects we are involved in, and other notes of interest.

Thanks for visiting!! Please check back often for updates!