About 50 folks braved the wind and cold rain Saturday to attend the kickoff event for the Ocean Shores 50th Anniversary Celebration, the dedication of a plaque recognizing the significance of the “Welcome to Ocean Shores” sign at the city gates.
Sue Darcy, who owns and operates Sooz Rusty Nail, a shop in Pacific Beach that offers an eclectic array of vintage, repurposed and salvaged items, welcomed the crowd and read comments from Judy McVay, the pioneering chainsaw artist who made the sign, and many others that are scattered throughout the North Coast.
“I am truly honored with the recognition,” McVay wrote, adding that, “This particular sign carries fond memories of carving and painting it, along with my grandson, Alex Chalk.”
Museum of the North Beach Executive Director Kelly Calhoun spoke about the historical significance of McVay’s work and announced the publication of a brochure on her life and legacy, including locations of a dozen of her signs.
Coastal Interpretive Center Board President Nancy Eldridge said the 50th Anniversary of Ocean Shores’ incorporation as a Washington city “is a very exciting time for Ocean Shores,” and added, “I will be the first one to admit, I’ve driven by this sign for 20 years.” It wasn’t until she got involved in the sign dedication event “that I started to realize how prolific and talented this woman is.” She noted that the McVay brochure is available at the Interpretive Center and said it has received one of her signs, which will be featured in an upcoming display.
Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler concluded the event by telling the crowd, “This is an exciting moment for us … I am so proud of our community and all the people who have been putting this together. One of the things communities do is celebrate the past and people from the past who have really made a difference, so let’s make it really great.”
The entire ceremony was recorded by North Beach Community TV and has been posted on YouTube as “Ocean Shores 50 Kickoff Celebration.”
Photos by Scott D. Johnston Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler spoke to the crowd on hand for the ceremony dedicating the Welcome to Ocean Shores sign and recognizing the life and legacy of its creator, Judy McVay.
The dedication plaque.
The dedication plaque.
