School District planning

The North Beach School District is holding two more public sessions as part of an effort to draft a strategic plan for local schools that includes community goals and updating the district’s mission statement. The planning sessions will all be held at the North Beach Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria. The next session is March 28, from 6-8 p.m.; and the final session is April 18, from 5:30-7 p.m.

Parks help needed

New members are being sought for the Ocean Shores Parks Board, which is a 7-member committee that advises the mayor and the City Council on all parks-related matters. The Board meets once a month, at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday at the Elks Club. Applications are available at City Hall or by calling Rachel Carl: (360) 289-3099.

In a related matter, the Ocean Shores Park Foundation has identified an anonymous donor willing to match individual contributions dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. The mission of the Ocean Shores Park Foundation is to assist with maintenance, capital improvement projects, provide education and recreational opportunities for all residents and visitors. For more information call Michael at (206) 423-3081. The Ocean Shores Park Foundation is state Nonprofit and a Federal 501c(3) charity.

Purple Heart honors

North Beach VFW Post 8956 plans to recognize all the Purple Heart recipients in the area during the service this Memorial Day weekend at the Grays Harbor Expo on Saturday May 27. If you are a Purple Heart recipient or know of someone who is, please call the VFW Post and let them know in advance via mail at VFW Post 8956, P.O. Box 54, Ocean Shores, WA, 98569, or via email at post8956@coastaccess.com. The VFW hall is at 953 Trent Ct. SE in Ocean Shores.

Lantern Lunch volunteers

The Lantern Lunch Program is seeking additional volunteers to help with meals for North Beach children. The program, which operates out of Copalis Beach, needs volunteers to pack the lunches and drivers to deliver them. Call Phyllis Shaughnessy at (360) 289-2971.

Town Hall

The Ocean Shores Block Watch & Disaster Preparedness group will present a Town Hall from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 26 at the Ocean Shores Lions Club. The theme is: “Get on Your Soap Box. Speak! Listen! Plan!” Subjects include the appearance of the city, its finances, taxes and fees; public/private buildings; services such as Police, Fire, EMS, medical; amenities, parks/greenbelts/recreation, lakes, canals, fish, boating, access to waterways and the beach; street maintenance.

Elvis benefit show

The second annual Ocean Shores Food Bank benefit with Danny Vernon returning as ”The Illusion of Elvis” will be held Saturday, April 1, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. There will be a Hawaiian Luau catered by George Lee at 6 with a silent auction throughout the evening, closing at 7 p.m., and Elvis entertaining at 7:30. Tickets are on sale at the Visitor Information Center or from any OSFB director or volunteer. Price for a ticket is $30 per person, with limited premier front row seating at $300 for a table for 8. All proceeds benefit the Ocean Shores Food Bank.

Nine-hole Golf Association

All women who are interested in a fun-filled morning of golf, you are welcome to join us beginning Wednesday, April 5. We meet at 9 a.m. at the Ocean Shores Golf Course clubhouse and start golfing at 9:30 a.m. Any questions call Pat Miles, (503) 880-0877.

Model Aircraft club

The club will be meeting every second Saturday of the month, flying drones, gas and electric powered planes, and probably a helicopter now and then. The club is open to men, women and children 6 and older, with memberships for families. You must provide your own equipment for instruction. For more information on the club or sport, contact Gino at (360) 213-3882. Email at OSRCF@coastaccess.com

Roadside trash collection

Ocean Shores Block Watch group is sponsoring a roadside trash pickup effort May 6-7 headquartered at North Bay Park in Ocean Shores. Volunteers should come to North Bay Park from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. those days to pick up garbage bags and sign up for pre-designated areas. Bring gloves if you have them, and pick-up trucks are needed to help collect the trash. The city of Ocean Shores is providing support, coordination of collection, and other sponsors include McDonald’s, IGA and the North Beach Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Molly High (360) 500-7893 or online at molly.high@yahoo.com.

Spay/neuter clinics

A North Beach PAWS free spay/neuter clinic for pets of low-income North Beach residents will be held on April 15. Clinic signup will be at the North Beach PAWS dog house on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Provide verification of address, yearly income, and information about your pet including breed, age, and weight at signup. Do not bring your pet. There is a limit of 2 pets per household. Some breed/age and other restrictions apply. The clinic is paid for by The Albohn Family Foundation and is conducted in partnership with Dr. Stacy Steele and staff at the Ocean Shores Animal Hospital. Call Debby at 289-0586 or Vicki at 289-7990 for more information.

Council member sessions

Ocean Shores City Council member Holly Plackett has a weekly no-host Council Coffee at 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the Ocean Grille, located at the Quinault Sweet Grass Hotel, 845 Ocean Shores Blvd NW. Everyone is welcome, and the goal is to discuss current issues before the City Council and to gather input and ideas, Plackett said.

Ongoing

• Answers for All (AFA), meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge, 199 Ocean Lake Way SE. Join for coffee and conversation about Ocean Shores, the North Beach and the county.

• The Coastal Interpretive Center is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1033 Catala Ave SE, Ocean Shores. Its website and Facebook page has regular activity updates: www.interpretivecenter.org

• Toastmasters Club No. 3942026, North Beach Speech Masters, meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Shores Elks Lodge, 199 Ocean Lake Way SE, Ocean Shores. Phone: (360) 209-2143; Email: northbeachspeechmasters@gmail.com; Website: http://3942026.toastmastersclubs.org.

• Bingo at the Elks: Ocean Shores/North Beach Elks Lodge No. 2581 hosts bingo every Sunday at 1:30 p.m., with lunch at noon; 199 Ocean Lake Way SE, 360-289-2581.

• Ocean Shores Lions Club meets at noon on the second and fourth Thursdays in the Lions Club building, 832 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW.

• Ocean Shores Kiwanis meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month at noon at Alec’s by the Sea, 131 E. Chance A La Mer NE in Ocean Shores.

• Community Voices meets at 11 a.m. to noon every Thursday at Oyhut Bay in the loft room above the sales office. Welcome to anyone who wants to share ideas and information about local issues. Contact Susan Conniry, (619) 977-07132 or online at susan@careforthefuture.org.

• The North Beach Senior Center and Thrift Store is located at 885 Ocean Shores Blvd. Coffee and dessert every Wednesday at 2 p.m.

• The Ocean Shores Food Bank at 848 Anchor Ave. NW provides distributions of food on the first and third Thursday of every month, from 1:30 until 5 p.m. To make arrangements for transportation or food delivery, call Mitch at (309) 236-4896 or Galilean Lutheran Church, (360) 289-3313. Emergency food is available Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. by requesting assistance at the Anchor Avenue Thrift Store.

• The Copalis Community Church Food Bank is at 3140 State Route 109. Open every Wednesday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

• VFW 8956 of the North Beach meets at 11 a.m. on the first Monday of the month at 953 Trent Court SE, Ocean Shores.

• North Beach Senior Resource Center and the Olympic Area Agency on Aging have a Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisor every Thursday, noon to 2 p.m. at Ocean Shores United Methodist Church, 557 Point Brown Ave. NW.

• Women Helping Women – Women alone, sharing resources, information, support and friendship – meets at noon on the second Friday of each month at the Shilo Inn on the fourth floor. No-host lunch and speaker. Call 289-3880.

• Brookdale Ocean Shores, formerly Emeritus at Harbour Pointe Shores, is offering SAIL (Staying Active and Independent for Life) exercise classes for seniors, with instructor Daniela Werner. Classes every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at 1020 Catala Ave. SE. Public welcome, call (360) 289-9663.

• PAWS volunteers. If you love animals and have an hour and a half to spare each week helping at the shelter taking care of dogs or cats, call Lorna at (360) 289-2924.

• The Ocean Shores Animal Shelter needs volunteers a few hours a month to care for lost, stray or abandoned animals. Stop by the police station for an application.

• The Wednesday Men’s Christian Breakfast Group meets every Wednesday at 8 a.m. in the lounge at the Shilo Inn. Contact Leon Cooke, (360) 289-5735.

• There are now two bridge sessions per week in Ocean Shores. Duplicate Bridge is 12:30 p.m. every Monday at the Ocean Shores Inn & Suites. Party bridge starts at noon every Tuesday at the Community Club, 1016 Catala Ave. S. For more information, call Glenda Reade at (360) 289-2327.

• Pickleball: Learn to play, have fun at Damon Park on Monday, Wednesday Friday, 10 a.m.