ELMA, Wash. - In hopes of getting new festival and event grant applications for the 2013 Grays Harbor Tourism Festival, Event and Promotions Grant Program, Grays Harbor Tourism is pleased to bring our valued constituents some top notch education. Don’t miss this great opportunity to come and learn new how to correctly fill out the GH Festival and Event Grant forms, and IT IS FREE! Grays Harbor Tourism is partnering with Tracy Wood of the City of Hoquiam, to present the workshop at no charge to you.

This seminar will take place:

Wednesday, October 3^rd, 2012

From 1-3 pm

at the Hoquiam Timberland Library Meeting Room

You must RSVP for the workshop to Kelly Peterson-Lalka at 360-482-2651 or email petersonk@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.

Celebrate Westport’s 2^nd Annual Weekend Generational Derby, October 6^th & 7th. Teams of 2 or more family generations can register for special prizes, but the best prize will be time spent together and creating new family traditions. 

This is a wonderful way to show the kids why fishing can be a great recreation for the rest of their lives, and to enjoy the fishing experience together from Washington’s most accessible spot to catch a salmon, right off the Westport dock. There’s no derby ticket purchase required.

The Generational Derby is part of 2012’s Boat Basin Salmon Derby at Westport that started September 15^th, where everyone can compete for prizes that the whole family can enjoy – and a grand prize of a 2013 charter boat trip and 2-night stay at one of Westport’s motels.

The Boat Basin Derby runs through October 31, and no derby ticket purchase required for this event.

Call the relatives and make plans now for the derby within a derby – Go tohttp://www.ExperienceWestport.com Events Calendar for details and rules, or contact Mike Coverdale at 360.581.3399.

Be a part of the very first "Salmon Tales" on September 22nd from 11am to 4pm. Included in the event will be vendors, smoked salmon contest, charter boat bingo, live music and beer garden. During the event 4 different salmon derbies will be going on! Join the fun.

Smoked Salmon Derby
One of the most popular ways to enjoy salmon is smoked. There are as many brines and techniques as there are tales to tell in this town! We have assembled an impressive panel of judges and an equally impressive number of professional salmon smokers, one of whom will be awarded the title of “Best Smoked Salmon in the Pacific Northwest.

Popular Vote winner will be awarded based on your participation. Purchase a tasting card and enjoy a sample of smoked salmon from each participant in the professional division and then vote your tastebuds!

A judged Amateur Division is also planned and an award will go to the Best Home Smoker

Charter Boat Bingo goes all day – purchase a bingo-style card and go to area businesses to find boats marked with card square numbers, and qualify for drawings for charter fishing trips. Grand prize winner gets a 3-day fishing holiday. A total of 20 trips will be awarded.

Do you think you know Grays Harbor County? Are you ready to be challenged? Pick your teams and join us for an exhilarating day of clues, challenges and trivia while you hunt the harbor! The 2^nd Annual Hunt the Harbor, a charity fund raising event that benefits Grays Harbor 100%, will take place on September 15^th.  The search area will cover East Grays Harbor County and the hunt will begin and end at Friends Landing in Montesano. The hunt begins at 10:00 a.m. with team check-in starting at 9:30 a.m. The hunt will be followed with music, food, raffles and fun at Friends Landing. 

It is up to you whether you bring brains and/or brawns to this competition. Teams can consist of up to five people and the cost to enter a team is only $50 if received by Sept. 9^th ($65 up to the day of the event). Proceeds will be added to the Charity of Your Choice pot, which will be split 60/40 and awarded to the First and Second place team’s chosen charity. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.hunttheharbor.org or you can request one by emailing hunttheharbor@hotmail.com or calling 360-580-7485.

September is National Preparedness Month. Pacific County residents, you can learn how to take care of yourself and your family in a tsunami or other emergency by joining presenters from Pacific County Emergency Management at the Pacific County Timberland libraries this month.

Learn how to make a family emergency plan and a survival kit for home or car. At some of the libraries you will also be able to make and take an emergency light jar. The programs are one hour each.

“Get Prepared” program schedule:

Sept. 8, Saturday, 1 p.m., Ocean Park Timberland Library, (360) 665-4184

Sept. 18, Tuesday, 6 p.m., Raymond Timberland Library, (360) 942-2408

Sept. 19, Wednesday, 5 p.m., South Bend Timberland Library, (360) 875-5532

Sept. 25, Tuesday, 6 p.m., Naselle Timberland Library, (360) 484-3877

Sept. 29, 11 a.m., Ilwaco Timberland Library, (360) 642-3908

For more information, please contact one of the libraries or visit the Timberland Regional Library website, www.TRL.org.