» In and Around Bandon

Friday, May 09, 2008 | No comments posted. Trivia Night at Brewed Awakenings

Brewed Awakenings will host a Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9. Proceeds of the event will help pay travel expenses for 1-year-old Griffin Smith, a Bandon resident who soon will be traveling out of the state for surgery on his hands. Those who would like to help but cannot make the event can donate on Griffin’s behalf at Sterling Savings Bank, Bandon branch.

Brewed Awakenings is located at 490 Highway 101. For more information, those interested can call Martin Keller at 347-1970.

SEA seminar at OIMB

Southern Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Manager and Bandon resident David Ledig will make the last presentation of the season for Shoreline Education for Awareness Inc. on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology auditorium in Charleston.

Ledig, who has been with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 22 years, has had extensive experience working with birds. His presentation will concentrate on Southern Oregon coastal birds. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., including orders for a catered lunch which consists of a vegetarian or meat sandwich with choice of breads, plus fruit and chips for $6 per person, or bring a bag lunch. Morning coffee and snacks will be available free of charge. Seminars are $5 per person, but free for members and youths 17 and under with a family (new policy). Memberships are $25 for individuals, $35 for families living at the same residence.

After lunch there will be a field trip to the bay in Charleston, then to Simpson Reef to observe the coastal birds, then those desiring to continue will finish the field trip by observing migrating birds at Bandon Marsh and Coquille Point, Bandon. Spotting scopes will be available, but attendees might want to bring their own binoculars.

SEA’s interpretive season began at Coquille Point, Bandon on April 20 at the Puffin Party and will continue through May and possibly June. The Simpson Reef season begins on Memorial Day Weekend and will continue through Labor Day Weekend.

For more information, those interested can call 260-7770, e-mail info@sea-edu.org or log on to http://www.sea-edu.org.

Health talk for women May 15

May 11 to 17 Is National Women’s Week. National Women’s Week is a nationwide initiative encouraging women to get healthy by taking action. Personal health is a top priority and simple steps may make for a longer and healthier life. To mark this event, Southern Coos Health District is sponsoring a health talk for women. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, Megan Holland, M.D., of Bandon Family Medicine, LLC, will be providing a talk on “Women and Healthy Aging” in the conference room of the Bandon Public Library, 1204 11th St. S.W.

“As women age, they can expect their bodies to undergo gradual or more apparent changes, depending on their genetics and lifestyle,” said Mary Kemp, R.N., of the Southern Coos Health District’s Community Education program. “Dr. Holland will provide information on recommended screening tests for women and important things we can do to stay healthy.”

How healthy will you be? The changes women go through as they age depend on a number of things, according to Kemp.

One factor is family history (genetics). If family members have on-going problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, then those related may have a greater chance of having these problems. Lifestyle choices also determine how women age and may help reduce their chances of getting illnesses that run in families.

“What changes should women expect as they age?” Kemp said. “What do they need to feel their best at any age?”

The talk is free and open to the public. Local businesses will provide door prizes for the evening.

For more information, those interested can call Kemp at 347-1601.

Lions lunches open to public

The public is welcome to attend the Bandon Lions Club noon luncheons. Lunches are held at noon on Wednesdays at the Face Rock Golf Course restaurant on Beach Loop Drive. A monthly dinner meeting also is held at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday, with the location to be announced.

CoastWatch needs walkers

CoastWatch is appealing to coastal residents to join and help in its efforts to walk and watch every mile of Oregon’s 362-mile coastline.

CoastWatchers are asked to walk their miles at least four times a year to monitor everything from immediate threats, such as oil on the beach or violations of habitat protection areas, to long-range land use or park management issues affecting the shoreline, according to the group.

Mile adopters need not have any qualifications other than enjoying the coast.

In Coos County, the group has found it particularly hard to find adopters due to the remote, hard-to-reach miles and makes a special effort to contact potential volunteers who are vigorous hikers or perhaps sea kayakers.

To apply or for more information, those interested can e-mail Coos County CoastWatch volunteer coordinators Dave or Diane Bilderback at dbilderback@mycomspan.com or phone them at 347-1335.

Volunteers needed at visitor center

The Bandon Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center is seeking several new volunteers who would enjoy greeting visitors from all over the world.

“In the past two tourist seasons, we have met visitors from all 50 states, plus over 20 countries,” said visitor center volunteer coordinator Pauline Brown. “Our purpose is to make the Bandon visit one of the best and most memorable spots for a vacation. All our volunteers are very knowledgeable about things to see and do in Bandon.”

New volunteers would have an orientation period and work with one of the more experienced volunteers during the tourist season. Those interested in volunteering can contact the Visitor Information Center daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or call 347-9616.

RSVP needs volunteers

The local Retired and Senior Volunteer Program specializes in connecting volunteers who are 55 years of age and older with community organizations that need volunteers.

Volunteers are placed in every aspect of the community to share their skills, interests and life experience.

Volunteers who are 55-plus have a lifetime of experiences to enrich their communities and help solve community problems.  

For more information, those interested can call RSVP in Coos County at 888-7332.

Women’s support group

Those who seek help getting out of a hurtful relationship can find support at an INOKA group. A Bandon INOKA group meets at noon on Mondays at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 795 Franklin Ave., S.W.

For more information, those interested can call the Women’s Safety & Resource Center at 888-1048.

Elsewhere

Shrine Club offers clinic

The Coos County Shrine Club will sponsor a screening clinic to identify children who may benefit from treatment at one of the Shriners’ Hospitals for Children from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Road, in Coos Bay.

Dr. Hunter and his staff have volunteered to conduct the clinic with assistance from the local Shriners.

The clinic is designed to determine whether a child with a wide range of orthopedic problems, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate, and certain other health conditions can be helped by treatment at a Shriners’ Hospital.

Children up to age 18 are eligible for care if, in the opinion of Shriners’ physicians, there is a reasonable possibility they can benefit from the specialized services available. Acceptance is based solely on a child’s medical needs. A family’s income or insurance status is not criteria for acceptance as a patient.

To register a child for the clinic, those interested can call Tom Shine at 297-0086 or e-mail to tpshine@yahoo.com.

Lighthouse School orientation

The Lighthouse School will hold a new parent orientation meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at the school, 93670 Viking Lane in Hauser. The meeting is for all interested prospective parents. School officials anticipate openings for next year in grades 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8.  There are small waiting lists for K, 4, 5, and 6. Lighthouse School is a public charter school in North Bend, with a focus on integrating the arts, music and foreign language. For more information, those interested can call 751-1649.