Honored to Be Featured: Makers, Creators, and Eco-Warriors of Lincoln City

When the Lincoln County Leader published its recent feature, “Makers, Creators, Community Anchors: The Heart of Lincoln City,” I was genuinely honored to be included among the craftspeople and educators who help shape this coastal community. Lincoln City has always drawn people who live close to the land and sea—people who create, restore, and teach through their connection to place.

"During the winter months, Laura Joki—local business owner and author—hosts Beachcombing Exploriences funded by Explore Lincoln City. She shares her passion for Oregon's coastal geology while teaching participants how to responsibly uncover agates, shells, and fossils. She also owns Rock Your World, a beloved local shop, and is the author of the Rock Your World Rock & Mineral ID Guide."

The article celebrated everyone from surfboard shapers and glass artists to women-owned cafés and eco-stewards. I was featured for my work as a local guide, author, and owner of Rock Your World, where science, art, and story meet.

Sharing Oregon’s Story Through Beachcombing

Each winter, I lead Beachcombing Exploriences, hands-on coastal adventures by Explore Lincoln City. These programs invite locals and visitors alike to uncover the hidden geology of Oregon’s beaches—learning how to responsibly search for agates, fossils, and shells while understanding the ancient forces that shaped our shoreline.

Every Explorience begins with curiosity and ends with connection. I teach participants to see patterns in the sand, notice the clues of volcanic origin in an agate, and understand how storm energy moves rock and sand up and around the beach. We talk about how to explore safely and sustainably, keeping the coast intact for future generations.

For me, these Exploriences aren’t just outdoor walks—they’re living classrooms. The beach is a storyteller. Each stone, ripple mark, and shell is a line in a story written by fire, water, and time. My job is to help people learn how to read it.

From Field to Gallery

When I’m not out leading tours, I’m usually at Rock Your World, our geology and jewelry gallery located in Lincoln City’s Nelscott District. The shop has become a little hub for science lovers, collectors, and curious travelers who want to know more about the natural history behind what they hold in their hands.

Our cases are filled with hand-cut stones, PNW + Oregon-mined specimens, and jewelry created by local artists—including my own wirework and lapidary pieces. Every stone has a provenance, whether it’s a thunder egg from Central Oregon or an exotic treasure form our overseas friends. I believe that when people understand where their treasures come from, they begin to see geology as a living relationship rather than a hobby.

That same passion led me to write the Rock Your World Rock & Mineral ID Guide—a straightforward, field-ready resource for understanding and using proven steps to rock and mineral identification. It’s not just about naming minerals; it’s about noticing patterns, learning Earth’s language, and remembering that discovery begins with observation.

A Coast Full of Craft and Care

The Newport News Times feature also highlighted other extraordinary Lincoln City artisans and entrepreneurs—people whose creativity gives this community its pulse.

• Rob Russo, shaping and airbrushing surfboards since 1986, builds waves you can ride.

• Tyler and Shelby Cunningham, through Schooner Creek Designs, craft heirloom wood pieces meant to last generations.

• Kelly Howard, co-owner of Lincoln City Glass Center, transforms sand and fire into hand-blown art and is one of the creative forces behind the Finders Keepers glass floats that bring thousands to our beaches each year.

• Buzz Williams of Alder House Studio continues more than 50 years of tradition in blown glass and vintage design.

And the women-owned businesses of Lincoln City bring the same creativity to food and gathering spaces: Salt Café, Lighthouse Coffee, and Hearth and Table are redefining what local hospitality looks like.

All of us share one thread: deep respect for this place. Whether we’re sculpting with wood, glass, food, or stone, we’re all telling the same story—one of stewardship, creativity, and community.

Stewardship on the Edge of the Pacific

Lincoln City isn’t just a town; it’s part of a living biosphere. The Cascade Head Biosphere Region, Oregon’s only UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve, encompasses over 102,000 acres of protected land dedicated to conservation, research, and sustainable community development.

The city’s dark-sky initiative—a community effort to reduce light pollution and protect our view of the stars—is one of the reasons I created our summer night hike series. When we walk under true coastal darkness, participants can feel what it means to live in rhythm with nature again… to notice the shore in the fog, starlight, and the sensory world our ancestors once knew. These hikes bring the dark-sky movement to life, helping people understand why protecting our night environment matters as much as protecting our beaches and forests.

Why This Recognition Matters

Being featured among Lincoln City’s creators isn’t just flattering—it’s a reminder that education, craftsmanship, and care for the natural world are interconnected. My work as a guide and jeweler has always existed at that intersection. The stones I wrap, the tours I lead, and the lessons I teach all point back to one truth: we belong to the Earth, and it’s worth paying attention to.

Every winter, when the storms clear and the agates glow under low sunlight, I’m reminded that connection begins with curiosity. If someone leaves one of my Beachcombing Exploriences with sand on their boots, a few rocks in their pocket, and a deeper respect for the coastline, then I’ve done my job.

Join Me on the Beach

I invite anyone drawn to Oregon’s wild edges to join a Beachcombing Explorience this winter. You can find updated schedules and details on our website and at Explore Lincoln City.

Bring layers, curiosity, and a willingness to see the ordinary differently. We’ll walk, learn, and listen to what the coast has to say.

Closing Reflection

Lincoln City’s creative pulse isn’t just about what we make—it’s about how we live. Whether shaping surfboards, blowing glass, baking bread, or teaching geology, each of us is weaving a piece of this coast’s story into the larger fabric of Oregon.

I’m grateful to be part of it.

🪨 Visit Rock Your World in Lincoln City for stones, stories, and coastal science come to life.