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Over 60 artists express their hopes and dreams

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The Word is the Word in Coos Bay Goal Setting Session In two words much of what the Coos Bay City Council wants is "better communications."

At their annual Goal Setting meeting on Saturday, the 21, the theme was present throughout the meeting. The ﬁrst discussion centered around better communication with the Port of Coos Bay when Mayor Joe Benetti stated he’d like to see “communication and transparency” with the port. At the end of

the four hour meeting council suggested ways for the public to interact more seamlessly and with improved communication and access. Much of the dialogue also spoke to improved partnerships with the school district, tribes and the county and again improving communications. Although the mayor was credited with doing a good job of reaching out. City Manager Roger Craddock informed council of a new contracted communications professional to assist in answering the public’s concerns and speaking for the city. Councilor Lucinda

DiNovo made the case for an additional expense of consulting a Public Relations ﬁrm to assist as well. Mayor Benetti said “The way the community gets its news is different now,” in continuing to request easier ways for the public to communicate with the city. The goals included increasing the city’s mailing list by two thirds, having a drop down menu on the city’s website for easier resident communications by department, live streaming and testimony for council meetings, improved cameras so that speakers could be seen and identiﬁed more

easily. In addition they discussed an aggressive succession plan with staff so that council and the city itself isn’t caught off guard by staff shortages or changes. To that point, City Manager Roger Craddock told the council his contract expires in 2024 but he plans to step down early in order to give the current sitting council an opportunity to hire his replacement. But he also said he’ll be happy to stick around and consult the city as needed. Other goals included additional focus on tourism and a relationship with the Visitors and Convention Bureau as well as beautiﬁcation for

parks in tandem with partners and emergency preparedness. None of the city council’s goals were codiﬁed into ordinances or resolutions but were instead a discussion of the issues the council intends to tackle going into the year. Cities frequently create goal setting between council and staff to set the tone and give the city manager a heads up on what they’d like to get accomplished. The mayor and council were very clear they’d like more of an opportunity to interact and be responsive to the residents in the community through enhanced technology and communications.

North Bend pool expected to open by May 1 BY DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World

It’s beginning to look like the North Bend Municipal Pool will be fully up and running just in time for summer. North Bend City Administrator David Milliron said the city is finally making progress on receiving equipment needed to upgrade the pool, and he expects the pull to open around May 1. The pool has had an up-and-down history over the last few years as the COVID pandemic forced North Bend to close the pool in 2020. After COVID restrictions were eased in 2021, the city re-opened the pool briefly in 2021, using a state grant to offer free swimming for several months. But at the end of 2021, the city closed the pool with the plan of replacing the aging pumps and filtration system, some that dated to the opening of the pool in the 1950s. At the time, the city expected all the equipment to be replaced by the summer of 2022, but a slowdown of the economy and difficulties in finding equipment for the older system stopped much of the progress. Using a grant from the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation along with city funds, progress has been ongoing, but without the filtration system the pool cannot open. Milliron said the filtration system should ship this week, and the variable frequency drive to operate the pumps shipped last week. Once all the parts have arrived, the contractor will finish installation and will begin to train city staff on how to operate the new equipment. Milliron said he hopes that will begin in March. At that point, the city will begin hiring and training lifeguards with a goal of opening the pool fully by May 1. Tax money raised through a property tax levy to support pool operations for five years was not used to replace the infrastructure. Instead, it has been saved and will be used for five years after the pool is opening. Remaining funds for a state grant have been targeted for opening the pool for free until the funding runs out. Those interested in working at the pool, can keep an eye on www. northbendoregon.us/jobs where all jobs are posted.

Contributed photo

While progress has been slow, there has been steady work ongoing inside the North Bend Municipal Pool. As new equipment has arrived, it has been installed, including new pumps. The final pieces of equipment are expected to arrive soon, with the pool scheduled to be filled in early March.

Message in a bottle

Bandon beaches adorned with hidden treasures BY BREEANA LAUGHLIN The World

Bandon beaches are calling, and some lucky beachgoers who hear the call will receive a message – a message in a bottle. The Bandon Chamber of Commerce teamed up with local artist Kim Bell to create a fun way for beachgoers to remember their experience. Through Spring break, the Bandon Bottle Faeries will be hiding bottles containing inspirational messages on Bandon’s public beaches from the South side of the jetty to Devil’s Kitchen. The bottles are adorned with sayings like, “I’m not average, I’m awesome,” or “Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.” They are artfully decorated with beachy items such as starﬁsh, sunshine and seahorses and many have beach glass, sand and shells inside them. The bottles come in various sizes and décor, but all are designed to make someone’s day.

“I hope it brings out-of-towners to Bandon and it gives them something special to remember their trip,” said Kim Ball, the artist who designs the bottles. “We are hoping that it brightens their day when they look back on their time on the beach, because Bandon is my favorite place,” she said. These bottles are the ﬁnders to keep and can be brought into participating local businesses to claim a set of mini-lights. The mini lights can be inserted into the bottle to create an even more beautiful memory, said Bandon Chamber of Commerce sponsors. “We had been talking about doing something similar to the ﬂoats that are found up and down the coast,” said Bandon Chamber Director Margaret Pounder. But chamber members wanted to do something with a unique spin, she said. When artist Ball and her friend came up with the message in a bottle concept, Pounder said; “This is a brilliant idea.” “It’s something totally different and it’s interactive because we are getting the visitors to come into the stores and interact with some businesses and perhaps spend some Please see BOTTLE, Page A3

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