As I See It: Finding shelter

In the background you can see the gymnasium, next to the high school. Both buildings survived the fire, and the gym was used to house the elementary school students, after the grade school (in west Bandon where Ocean Crest now sits) burned. The new grade school opened in 1939.

The second photo is "The Little Brown Box," which the late Careen Pierce wrote about in the Randolph Community Club booklet, published in 2001, highlighting 75 years of the club.

"There was a little brown box that traveled up and down the Coquille Valley and across the River. It was hand-crafted by a gentle white-haired man, Daddy Lennon. The first time I saw the contents of the box I was amazed at all those pieces of silverware, enamel cups and plates. I'd never seen an enamel plate before because we used Fiesta at home. The service was used for Randolph Club meals. After every meal the ladies washed and dried the utensils and plates and packed them gently in the box for the next trip. I could hardly wait for it to arrive at my house, but when it was time for my family to host the meeting I was always at school. After I was married, my husband (Don) and I moved to Bandon -- and it was suddenly my turn for the brown box to come to my house!"

Careen taught school here for many years, and her husband was the city's public works director. Their daughter Tauna Ree was in Bandon recently, celebrating her 50-year class reunion.

The third picture is of Bayard "Bay" Forrest, who was recently inducted into the Small College Hall of Fame. The 6-9 Forrest, who graduated from Bandon High School in 1972, played for Grand Canyon College of Phoenix, the alma mater of his father, Nelson Forrest, prior to playing for the Phoenix Suns. During his years at BHS, he was coached by the late Butch Neff. Bayard is married to the former Peggy Ward, and the couple is very involved in the Christian ministry.

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Lori Osborne of Farm and Sea is beginning a new event, to be known as the Tuesday Social "Meet and Greet"  which will feature a guest speaker weekly, beginning this Tuesday, Nov. 7, during the lunch hour.

I have been asked to be the first speaker, and Lori said I can talk for 15 to 30 minutes, beginning at 11:30 a.m., with the program of my choice. I will probably combine a bit of history with some of the big stories I covered during my 64 years in the news business.

So, if you want to know more about the history of Bandon or about me, other than what you may have already read in my column, you are invited to stop by at the Farm and Sea building on the waterfront.  Lunch will also be available. Lori says it's like the guest speaker programs at Rotary Club, but without having to join an organization.

I will also be open to questions, but will not be able to talk about Gravel Point as I am pretty sure it will be called up by or appealed to the city council.  It was approved by the planning commission Thursday night on a 4-2 vote, with Gordon Norman and Bill Frey voting in opposition. In favor were Sally Jurkowski,  Don Starbuck, Catherine Scobby and Tom Orsi. The chairman Gerald "Bear" Slothower did not vote.

It should be a fun hour or two, especially if you happen to be new to Bandon.

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I have learned who died in the two-vehicle accident Thursday north of Bandon near Weiss Estates Road and Highway 101. I am not sure of the exact location as one poster said it was near the intersection of Seven Devils Road and 101.

The person who died was Carole Voliva, 77, who lives on Seven Devils Road. She was reportedly taking her two cats to the veterinarian, and as a result of the wreck which took her life, one of the two cats, Ruby, ran off and the other, Buster, suffered a broken pelvis.

The other vehicle was driven by a 17-year-old female, who was seriously injured and is hospitalized, according to the Bandon Police Department.

The Oregon State Police is handling the investigation.

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A spokesman for Holiday Meals has put out a press release about the full Thanksgiving meal, to be known as Old Town "FriendsGiving' Feast," featuring take-out and homebound delivery.

Raven Salt Water Grille, Alloro Wine Bar and Restaurant, and Bandon Brewing have collaborated with Holiday Meals to create a new free Thanksgiving meal this year. Take-out meals for Bandon residents must be reserved in advance by calling Colleen Wiesel at  916-221-0318 no later than Wednesday, Nov. 15, by giving your full name, address, phone number and number of meals requested.

One hundred percent of any donation will benefit Bandon Community Youth Center.

Anyone wishing to lend their support can contact Sue Miller at 206-604-6136 or Danielle Benjamin at 541-404-9474.

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I have learned that former Bandon resident Marilyn Noorda, 85, of Utah died Oct. 8 from injuries suffered in a fall. She was visiting a friend in Salt Lake City. She took a wrong step on a stairway landing and tumbled down, hitting her head. Marilyn and her late husband Darwin were active with the Bandon Library and the local museum. Marilyn also served a term on the Southern Coos Hospital board of directors. When she could no longer drive because of macular degeneration, she moved to Utah to be near family which included two sons.

Her sister, former Bandon city councilor Nancy Drew, who now lives in Utah, said that donations in Marilyn's  name could be made to either the library or the museum.

I also learned that long-time Bandon businessman and real estate agent Christo Schwartz, 74, died last Tuesday morning. Among his survivors is his wife, Ginney Etherton. Christo worked for Oregon Properties for several years, working out of the office across from the post office, and also owned Bandon Rentals Property Management, LLC and Bandon Custom Homes.  

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 The Travel Adventures to Norway program, scheduled for Nov. 11 at the First Presbyterian church by Mardelle Probasco, has been canceled due to illness. It will be rescheduled after the first of the year.

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Bandon Showcase will present fiddler Geoffrey Castle performing his joyful Celtic Christmas Celebrations, Friday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sprague Theater. General admission tickets are $35 and are available at www.BandonShowcase.org or at the door. Bandon Showcase thanks its community partners, including Bandon Inn for providing lodging for the presenters, as well as Coastal Mist and Larry and Sheila Langenberg, for complimentary desserts and wine during intermission.

Bandon's local history museum will hold a Veterans Celebration Saturday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. including military vehicles and special exhibits. Capt. Robert Thrush, USMC, Marine Corps F-4 fighter pilot during the Vietnam era, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Free admission is courtesy of American Legion Post 26. Bring the family and celebrate our vets.

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People are invited to celebrate Green Fridays on Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by planting native species at the Johnson Creek Park (old Face Rock golf course), sponsored by Friends of Bandon Parks and Recreation. For more info call 541-260-2182. Planting  of native trees and shrubs will also take place in City Park on Nov. 18, starting at 11 a.m., rain or shine

You are reminded that on Wed., Nov. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m., you can bring clean and sorted recyclable plastics, nos. 2, 4 and 5, to the Sprague Room at the library in City Park. For more information, call 541-347-3221 during library hours and ask for Cody. Volunteers are needed to accept plastics.

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Fire departments from the south end of the county, including Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point and Sumner, responded to a large fire at Ficher Dairy at Arago Saturday to help put out a fire that destroyed the old milking parlor and saved the surrounding structures including the new milking parlor. A video of the blaze, filmed by a neighbor Dana Mills, who urged onlookers to stay away from Arago to allow fire trucks to get to the dairy, showed that they were fortunate to save most of the dairy, without losing any cows from the herd. Joe Ficher is a major employer in the Arago valley. It appeared an old mast on one of the buildings may have arced, causing the blaze, but there had been no statement from the fire department at the time I was writing my column.

Neighbors from across the Arago valley joined to assist with saving the herd, while Watermans provided additional water and all rallied around Joe Ficher, who was in California celebrating his 65th birthday, on the day of the fire.

"That's what neighbors do in a small community like ours," said Mills as he filmed the explosion of two propane tanks and burning power poles at the height of the blaze, all the while urging people to stay out of the firemen's way and doing what he could to help save the cows.

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I've been here many winters, but I have never heard a clap of thunder as loud as the one that hit us Sunday evening. It actually shook the house!