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WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025 Brookings, Oregon

Southern Oregon Coast Gears Up for Annual Azalea Festival, Honored as a Oregon Heritage Tradition This year’s theme, "Expect the UnExpected!", hints at a fresh wave of excitement alongside beloved traditions. The weekend kicks off Friday night with a lively dance party in Azalea Park. Saturday morning will see the return of the popular Azalea Festival Parade, winding its way through downtown Brookings. Following the parade, attendees can explore the bustling Street Market Fair, featuring over eighty vendors offering a diverse array of goods, from vintage ﬁnds to locally handcrafted treasures. Throughout the weekend, Azalea Park will also host a series of free concerts. Adding a new dimension to the festivities this year is the inaugural "Brookings Got Talent" show, scheduled for Sunday in Azalea Park. This family-friendly event invites

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

The vibrant beauty of the Southern Oregon coast will once again be celebrated during the annual Azalea Festival, taking place this Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd through 25th. This long-standing tradition, recently honored with the prestigious "Oregon Heritage Tradition" award, promises a weekend packed with familyfriendly activities in the picturesque town of Brookings. The festival, deeply rooted in the stunning display of native azaleas at Azalea Park, which is home to some specimens over two hundred years old, has been a Memorial Day weekend staple since 1939. The timing perfectly coincides with the peak bloom of these vibrant ﬂowers, providing a breathtaking backdrop for the weekend's festivities.

Local vendors will be on hand to showcase their goods.

Please see FESTIVAL Page 5

Rising Stars to Chetco Library Completes Shine in Brookings Health and Wellness Study, Forms Walking Group, Opens Summer Reading Registration Free Concert BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

Alexander Tutunov.

journeys. Each spring, PPA partners with SOU's Dr. Alexander Tutunov, a pianist of international renown, to audition and select four deserving student musicians for these scholarships. This highly anticipated concert, marking the finale of PPA’s 2024-25 season, will feature captivating performances by this year's gifted scholarship winners. This year’s winners are: Kyllian LeCours, alto saxophone; Andrew Davis, voice; Teagan Calkins, piano, and Alexis Edwards, voice. Talented pianist Please see CONCERT Page 3

BY LINDA LEE

Curry Coastal Pilot

The Partnership for the Performing Arts (PPA) is set to illuminate the stage with a special concert showcasing the exceptional talents of its 2024/2025 scholarship recipients. In collaboration with Dr. Alexander Tutunov, Professor of Piano and Artist in Residence at Southern Oregon University (SOU), PPA has awarded $2,000 scholarships to four promising young musicians, providing crucial support for their continued musical

The Chetco Community Public Library District is celebrating the successful conclusion of a two-year community health and wellness study, made possible through a two-part grant from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The initiative, which began in June 2023 with a $10,000 grant, aimed to explore the health benefits of low-impact exercise and foster well-being within the rural Brookings community. The first $5,000 of the grant enabled the library to launch its own health education programs. Spearheaded by Library Services Manager Erik Dongelmans, the library formed the Imagine Walking Group, a weekly gathering that encouraged residents to walk together and discuss the positive impacts of exercise and community connection on their health. Participants in the walking group also contributed to OHSU's ongoing research into the health experiences of rural residents engaged in walking and community activities. According to participants, the weekly walks yielded tangible health benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced stress levels and improved mobility. Tory Bowen, a member of the group, shared, "I’ve created some friends here that have expanded beyond just the walking group and has opened me up to conversations and points of views I wouldn’t have otherwise.” The library further utilized its portion of the funding to

Library Services Manager Erik Dongelmans just can’t seem to choose one book to read at a time.

promote healthy lifestyles through various initiatives. These included the distribution of free pedometers, the introduction of chair yoga classes, the acquisition of dance mats for future programs, a speaker series focused on healthy eating and lifestyles and the addition of wellness-themed books and resources to the library's collection. The second $5,000 portion of the OHSU grant was put in the hands of the Imagine Walking Group participants, who collectively decided to award the funds to the City of Brookings. The contribution will support the city's ongoing efforts to expand the east side walking paths within Azalea Park, Please see LIBRARY Page 5

Brenna Haley, youth services programming assistant, prepares for a fun day with the children.

PRINT CORRECTION Correction to a recent article. The paragraph should have read as follows: Jennifer Boardman, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Regional Transit Coordinator, followed up on items from a recent ODOT compliance review of Curry County as the recipient of state and federal transit funding. Fitzgerald noted that a Request for Proposal (RFP) is currently open as Curry Transit seeks to renew its contract with the county, inviting bids from other interested agencies as well.

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Phone Number: 541-813-1717 • Address: 519 Chetco Avenue, Unit 7, Brookings, OR 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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