Joanne Rideout, host of the Columbia River Ship Report on Coast Community Radio, will share stories about her work Friday, Oct. 24, at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Photo by Alex Pajunas, from Daily Astorian archives

Named by Portland Magazine as one of its best discoveries along the Coast, The Columbia River Ship Report will be brought to life as Coast Community Radio presents an evening with Joanne Rideout commemorating her 5-year anniversary of broadcasting the Report on KMUN FM, Astoria and KTCB FM, Tillamook. This event will be one night only, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

Rideout will be sharing stories of her unique reporting from the river, and with invited maritime guests, will be exploring their experiences of life at sea. In addition, she will be releasing for the first time the Fisher Poets Gathering CD compilation of recordings from the event broadcast each year live on KMUN and KTCB. This special evening will include performances by Fisher Poet favorites.

Tickets to this benefit for Coast Community Radio are $10, available at the Cloud and Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita, Beach Books in Seaside, Jimella’s Seafood in Long Beach, Wash., and at the Coast Community Radio station by calling (503) 325-0010. It is sponsored in part by TLC Federal Credit Union.

As the daughter of an avid sailor and boat builder, Rideout comes honestly by her maritime roots. She grew up around sailboats on Long Island, N.Y., where some of her earliest memories were of playing inside the wooden hull of her dad’s pet project, which was to become the family sloop.

Since its first broadcast in 2003, the Columbia River Ship Report, airing weekdays at 8:49 a.m. on KMUN and KTCB, has grown to become one of the most popular programs among listeners. Likewise, her live reports carried on KMUN and KTCB from the Fisher Poets Gathering have become an annual tradition.

About the CD and the burgeoning fame of the Fisher Poets Gathering, Rideout said, “Everyone loves a good yarn of the sea. For listeners, many of whom will likely never go to sea, it’s a wonderful way to go along on some of those seafaring adventures, even as armchair travelers.”

Rideout is the author and publisher of the “Columbia River Ship Report Quick Guide to Shipwatching,” available at www.shipreport.net

Now in its 25th year, Coast Community Radio broadcasting on KMUN 91.9 FM Astoria, KTCB 89.5 FM Tillamook and KCPB 90.9 FM Warrenton is the region’s only locally owned and programmed commercial-free, member-supported community radio station. Amassing more than 100,000 volunteer hours since its inception, the bulk of KMUN and KTCB’s programming is locally produced and live seven days a week, and can also be heard via the Web site at www.coastradio.org