THE SHORES INSIDER

January, 2023

Presented by the Ocean Shores Branch of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.

A Localized Voice for Business in Ocean Shores

Shores Business News

Ocean Shores High Dune Trail Moves Forward

The City of Ocean Shores Public Works Department held a sealed bid opening for the construction of the High Dune Trail on Thursday, January 19th, 2023. This was the first "in-person" bid opening since prior to Covid-19 that received seven bids in total. 

The design consultant, Gray & Osborne, is working towards tabulating those bids. It is imperative that we ensure that the math of each bid is correct, and the appropriate documentation is provided by each firm. The bid tab and supporting documents will then go the funding agency for final review. WSDOT review is expected to take approximately two weeks. Once WSDOT has stamped their approval, we will then bring lowest, qualified bidder to Council for award.

Groundbreaking is anticipated near June of this year. We hope that this first phase of the High Dune Trail will be completed by the beginning of October 2023. 

The City is excited to begin this endeavor and anticipates that the trail will be greatly utilized once completed.

The City Partners with the Ocean Shores Food Bank

The Ocean Shores Food Bank is a non profit organization that has long been dedicated to the mission of making sure that no one in our community goes hungry.

In an effort to supply sufficient and nutricious food in Ocean Shores, the City Council voted to afford the Ocean Shores Food Bank $50,000 dollars to assist them in their mission. This money was allocated as part of the city budget process in an effort to assist those who need help and to ensure food security for all of our citizens.

Ocean Shores Library Offers Valuable Community Services

In March, the Ocean Shores Public Library will begin its new Citizens Academy. This will be a free course, registration required, for the citizens of Ocean Shores. The 8-week course will offer information about the city, how it functions, where to find information and resources, and inform citizens about questions related to the city code, public works, the boards and commissions and city departments. 



• Classes will be held on Fridays from 10:00am – 1:00pm starting March 17 at the library
• Registration will open on February 24, 2023
• Applications will be available on the city web page (osgov.com,) the library webpage (oslibrary.info), and at the library 
• Questions – please contact Keitha Owen, Library Director, 360.289.3919 

In addition, in an annual tradition, the Ocean Shores Public Library will offer free, in-person, tax preparation services. 



• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide for all ages 
• No Appointments- - First come, first serve
• Mondays 9:00am – 1:00pm / February 6 – April 17 
• Thursdays 11:30am – 3:30pm / February 2 – April 13 
• Basic individual tax preparation 
• No business tax assistance 
• Tax forms and additional information

Shores Spotlight

Buddy and Howie's Candy Store!

After many years serving the Ocean Shores community, it was announced earlier last year that Buddy and Howie's Candy Store's owners were selling the shop.

After patiently waiting for the shop to re-open after the pandemic, Jenn and Robert Strobel saw the post and immediately made contact with the owners. The names, Buddy and Howie, come from teddy bears which felt like a stroke of fate as Jenn has her own collection of teddy bears from the past 30 years. "I couldn’t fathom someone buying it and turning it into something else," says Jenn. "So, after many conversations between my husband and I, we decided it had to stay and we would work hard to make that happen."

Knowing just how important Buddy and Howie's was to not only their own family as well as the entire community, Jenn and Robert officially re-opened the store in June of 2022. Their best seller is definitely their delicious taffy, while fudge and chocolate is not far behind. One of their most unique items is their recent addition to the business, freeze dried candy. The most popular is their freeze dried taffy along with Milk Duds, Skittles, Big Hunk Bars and Jolly Ranchers.

New candies are always being brought into to store, so keep an eye on their Facebook page to be the first to know! Read more about Buddy and Howie's new ownership by clicking here.

Thank you to Jenn and Robert for Maintaining Buddy and Howie's Candy Store for New and Old Generations of Visitors in Ocean Shores!

Upcoming Events to Watch for in Ocean Shores!

February 11th - 12th

Artisan Faire

February 18th - 19th

Antiques Show